Helen RandellGrocery shopping online
June 24th 2010 01:21
It's 6.35pm on a weeknight and I have just received my first delivery of groceries, ordered via Coles Online. A pretty simply process, it took me about 20 minutes to do my ordering for a weekly shop, and I was able to sit in my lounge room and enjoy a beverage while doing so.
I was also able to add and change my order right up until the night before it was delivered, so when we discovered the next morning that we were almost out of coffee, it was a simple matter of logging on and adding some to the list.
However, despite it's simplicity, I am torn about the idea of using online shopping regularly. There were a few products which I couldn't order exactly as I would like. For example, sliced deli meats appear to have a minimum order of around 250g, about double what I would normally use. Also, the pre-packed meats were slightly larger quantities than I would usually go for, and I couldn't order the larger size of yoghurt which I prefer ( I ordered the smaller size, but that has actually all been eaten already so I'll need to go to the store to get more!)
When the order arrived we checked everything off the list and found that it was all there and intact. I will also state that the few fruit and veg items I ordered were very fresh and of good quality. The groceries were delivered in biodegradable plastic bags, which are a bit of a novelty for us here in South Australia where plastic shopping bags have been banned for over a year. I didn't mind though, it means I don't have to buy bin liners for a few weeks!
The shopping is picked and delivered from the Coles outlet around 40kms from my house, which doesn't fit very well with my feelings about lowering food miles. Although, truth be told, if I am buying groceries from the Coles supermarket near me, they probably come from there anyway. In some ways this distance also means that I am not supporting the local jobs which are available in the area, but a quick chat with the delivery driver uncovered the fact that he lives just a suburb over from us.
Delivery via Coles Online is currently free in my area. Delivery prices will very much depend on where you live and the time window you are willing to receive your groceries in. I would rate the cost of the products as comparable to what I get in my area, and I probably saved money by not heading to the store and picking up other things not on my list as one is want to do on their way around the aisles.
So, will I keep ordering online? I am going to for the next couple of weeks while delivery is free. Then it will be time to reevaluate and draw up a list of pros and cons, things I can and can not get and make a decision as to whether it's fine to order online, but then I just end up running to the local shops for more yoghurt anyway.
What are your thoughts? Have you ordered your groceries online and what was your experience like?
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Comment by Anonymous
Comment by Jason King
Sydney Table
Salty Popcorn
Total Randomness
I would love sitting down with a bevvy and placing my order
Comment by Sarah @ For the Love of Food
Cheers
Sarah @ For the Love of Food
fortheloveoffood.wordpress.com
Comment by Anonymous
We did ours via woolworth online this week to compare but I think the Coles website is better- still waiting to see how the delivery/service measures up when we get it tomorrow night.
xx S
Comment by Helen Randell
Rough Cooking
Comment by Helen Randell
Rough Cooking
After hours delivery is almost insisted upon. If you're going to give it a go, I would recommend booking in your delivery time before you even begin shopping. They have three hour windows at the moment, but I believe when they charge you can select a two hour window for an increased fee.
If nothing else, it definitely saves you time
Comment by Helen Randell
Rough Cooking
Cheers for the heads up on free delivery xx
Comment by angelbird72
Cooking with Feeling
Usually we just walk to the shops and back, but for really big lots, like for parties, we tend to order online since we'd just have to get a taxi anyway.
We go through Woolies since I have no idea where the nearest Coles is, and they're pretty good. I also like that if they don't have something, most times they'll substitute something of a more expensive brand or larger size. Either that or give us a credit.
Comment by Helen Randell
Rough Cooking
Comment by Sarah @ For the Love of Food
I couldn't find out how much they charge for delivery in SA normally? I don't know if they charge more for items online or not but it seemed about the same to me.
The only annoyance I experienced is that if you want to add items after you've ordered you have to redo the whole paying thing and when I did this on my second weeks order the pay mechanism froze up and I had to call and pay over the phone which took up quite a bit of time.
Comment by Helen Randell
Rough Cooking
I am also not sure on delivery price, although the promotion runs out on the 10th, so I am sure pricing will be back on their site soon.
Comment by Sybil