Your Ultimate Guide To Online Grocery Shopping

Online grocery shopping has been popular since the beginning of the pandemic where people were restricted from going out. But until today, even after the lifting of the lockdown, customers still use an online grocery shopping service to buy food and other household goods from a supermarket or grocery store due to how convenient and time-saving it is.

If you are one of the people who have no time to go out and do the grocery, this article is for you. Get ready to dive into the world of online grocery! From tips and tricks to the latest trends, we’ve got everything you need to know right here.

What is Online Grocery?

Just like what you usually do when shopping or buying groceries, online grocery is generally buying the basic necessities from food, toiletries, and other household items through the internet.

This allows consumers to order a wide range of food products, beverages, cleaning supplies, and other essentials from the comfort of their homes or through mobile devices, and have these items delivered to their doorstep or prepared for in-store pickup.

What are the advantages of Online Grocery?

Aside from the convenience benefits, here are more in-depth advantages when shifting to online grocery:

  • Variety and Comparison

Browsing online lets you view a wide range of products including the size, price, manufacturing details, or whatever is best suited to your budget or need. You can pick the product with great deals when you shop online. With that, you can manage shopping lists, making it simpler to organize your purchases. You may also read product reviews and ratings to make informed decisions. Take note that sometimes, the exact items you ordered may be out of stock. The store might offer substitutes, so be sure to specify your preferences in advance.

  • Accessibility

People who have difficulty getting to a physical store, such as the elderly or those with mobility issues, can benefit. You just need an internet so you can shop from the comfort of your home or anywhere.

  • Time-saving

Many online grocery stores offer fast and convenient shipping options. Get your groceries delivered to your doorstep, eliminating the need to carry heavy bags or travel and get stuck in the traffic. The best thing? Skip the checkout lines and parking hassles associated with in-store shopping.

Preparation and Delivery Pickup  - Copy

Top Online Groceries in the Philippines

There are a few considerations when doing your grocery online such as delivery fees, potential for items to be out of stock, and the importance of clear communication about preferences and substitutions. So it is very important to choose a reputable and reliable online grocery service to ensure the quality and accuracy of your orders. We have prepared a short list for you as to where you can conveniently buy your necessities, they are:

  • SM Grocery Online

SM Markets are almost everywhere! Before you start grocery shopping online at SM, they will let you choose the nearest branch to make sure that the delivery service won’t take long and you won’t have to worry about the freshness of some of the items. The system will automatically give you options of the branches near you that could be an SM Supermarket, SM Hypermarket, or a Savemore Market. The steps are easy, simply navigate to smmarkets.ph via your computer browser and select the store from which your items will be picked up. Put things in your virtual shopping cart. Create an account or log in. Then proceed to checkout and double check your order’s data, including the address, payment method, and delivery method. The SM Markets Online have over 60+ participating stores, so whether you are from Metro Manila or any part of Luzon, Visayas, or Mindanao, there will surely be a branch near you! They can deliver within 5km from the participating store selected.

  • All Day Supermarket

Dedicated to giving Filipinos a world-class shopping experience, AllDay Supermarket is a chain of supermarkets with a strong sense of national identity. AllDay is pleased to provide a superior in-store shopping experience for customers by combining store design, comfort, accessibility, and convenience. They also run the e-commerce website www.allday.com.ph to enhance their superior in-store experience. The company firmly believes that supermarkets everywhere will soon undergo a digital makeover. In support of that, their online platform offers customers a responsive, secure, and quick online buying experience. Customers can also use their Personal Shopper Service to complete their purchasing.

  • GrabMart

We are sure that you are familiar with Grab, the number one leading delivery service in the country. With daily services that matter to customers, Grab is the top mega app platform in Southeast Asia. Over 214 million mobile devices already have the Grab app installed, offering consumers access to millions of drivers, retailers, and agents. It provides a variety of on-demand services, including as transportation, food, package, and grocery delivery, mobile payments, and financial services. Grab has partnered with SM Markets where users of the app may order from a few SM markets—including SM Supermarket, Hypermarket, and Savemore—and have their items delivered in just one hour to their homes. Along with this wonderful new relationship, SM and Grab teamed up to encourage safe shopping within SM Malls. This includes making it possible for GrabPay customers to top off their accounts at SM Supermalls.

How does online grocery work?

  • Select a grocery store platform

First, you just have to find the best online grocery store that is convenient for you. Make sure that it is your trusted store, it is near you, and offers the best deals.

  • Register and save the required information

Some of the grocery stores with an online platform require you to register your name, email address, and delivery address. You just have to be mindful of sharing your confidential information.

  • Browse and Add the items to the cart

Once a product is found, you can click on it to view details, images, prices, and customer reviews. Navigate the website or app to browse the available items. Items are usually organized by categories such as fruits, vegetables, dairy, meat, pantry items, etc. Add desired items to your virtual cart. You can also compare similar products.

  • Schedule the delivery or pick up

Depending on the platform, you might have the option to have the groceries delivered to your doorstep or to pick them up at a designated location. Some platforms offer both options.

Your Ultimate Guide To Online Grocery Shopping

  • Checkout 

Proceed to checkout when you’re ready. Review your cart, make any necessary adjustments, and provide your payment and delivery details. At the checkout, shoppers provide their shipping address, payment information (credit card, debit card, PayPal, etc.), and may apply any relevant discount codes or coupons. The online store processes the payment securely using encryption to protect sensitive financial information.

Note that some platforms charge delivery fees, and tipping the delivery person might also be customary.

  • Order Confirmation

Input your payment information and complete the transaction. Some platforms also allow you to save your payment information for future orders. After the payment is successfully processed, the shopper receives an order confirmation with details of the purchase, estimated delivery date, and a receipt.

  • Preparation and Delivery/Pickup 

The grocery store will gather your selected items and prepare them for either delivery or pickup. If you’re getting a delivery, the groceries will be brought to your specified address. If you’re picking up, you’ll need to go to the designated location at the chosen time.

If the shopper is not satisfied with the product, they can typically return it according to the store’s return policy. Customer service is available to address any issues or answer questions.

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