Online grocery shopping
11:39 AM Edit This 4 Comments »
One of the most amazing things I discovered when I came to the UK was the online grocery shopping services available. Asda, Tesco, Sainsbury, they have all got online shopping services and (almost) everybody here uses it. Before coming here, I didn't even know that it was possible to shop for chicken, eggs, fruits, furniture, towels etc just by clicking at pictures, paying by card and having them delivered to your door. I mean, I know that the local kedai runcit delivers our gas but thats it.
All my life, grocery shopping was considered a big deal for our large family. It became like a ritual, all of us off to Giant, or Tesco, or before that Macro/Tops usually during the weekend to stock up on everything. At the hypermarket, we would all disperse to look at stuff we wanted (leaving mom with the cart and long shopping list) and would meet up again, usually when it was time to pay. Great kids, eh. lol.
Anyway, I thoroughly enjoyed these shopping trips because it was during these trips that I learned how to pick up the ripe fruits or freshest veggies from my mom/dad. It was here too that I became aware of the importance of making grocery lists, sticking to a budget and the price of food in general (thus, not wasting them when I got home). For my siblings, they had fun running around the store, looking at live catfish, taking a candy bar or three and riding the shopping cart with the food in their laps. Grocery shopping for us, and for many other Malaysian families out there, was like a fun family trip to the park (better, even). Just go to Tesco on Sundays and you'll see what I mean. Even the grandparents come along, not to mention the little kiddies in their jammies (ko ingat nak g pasar malam ke hah!).
Err, couldn't find a picture of a packed Tesco in Malaysia.Sorry.
So after a few days here, I decided to try out this grocery shopping online. I even shopped for my bed sheet + comforter, cutlery, toiletries and electronic appliances too. Wow. That was all I could say. When it got delivered I gushed to my parents about the joy of not having to push the annoying makciks away from my tomatoes and not having to queue to have it weighed. I was ecstatic about not having to even move my butt to get anything anymore. All for a small fee, of course., but hey, nothing is free in this world right. Thus began my days as an online grocery shopper. Every two or three weeks, I would open the store's website and browse for potatoes, pans, soap, you name it, booked a slot and just waited for my stuff to arrive. Easy life.
This went on for a few months. It was convenient, fast and fun. Recently though, I've had more time on my hands so I decided to go to the store myself today. Ok, the first thing I realized was how I missed the atmosphere of a hypermarket, the smells, the announcements (I once wanted to work as an announcer at Tesco btw) and people. You can also really feel the thrill of buying stuff (shopaholics say holla!!) that you definitely don't get when shopping online.
I also realized that I missed the feeling of able to touch and poke/pick up my food. I could test its ripeness, whether there were holes or worms in it, whether the expiry date was near or if the can of tuna was dented etc. Staring at a tiny picture on a computer screen seems ridiculous now because the pictures they put up are always perfect; wouldn't do to have a picture of dented cans of tuna scaring off the customers, right. Unfortunately most of the time, you do get the dented cans or crappy fruits or near expired bread, very different from the standard picture shown. Thats the thing I hate most about online shopping.
Contrary to popular belief, the blond woman is not me. Surprising, right?
Then there is the variety of stuff available. On the website, they only display certain stuff and if you're a lazy bum like me, you wouldn't like to go to page 46 of the dairy section just to get a different type of yogurt so you end up getting the same ones everytime. In the store however, everything is displayed there, just take your pick! Heavenly!!!
Nope, this is not me either. Whats wrong with you people?!
After paying up, the bitter truth emerged. With the same amount of money, you get more stuff when you shop at the store. The same shopping list, the same kinda stuff that I buy everytime, but it all costs less. This is mostly because there are TONS of offers like 2 for 3 pounds or 4 juices for 2 pounds, that aren't available online. Hence, more value for my money.
So after nearly 6 months here, I can conclude that although online grocery shopping is convenient and saves you time and energy, going to the store itself is definitely better. You do have to struggle with the bags yourself, subjecting your arms to torture and near dismemberment, but seeing all the fresh fish and vegetables that you so carefully scrutinized before buying, its totally worth it.
Finally! Yes, this is definitely me with some of my shopping. Boy, do I look cool doing grocery shopping!
It was also kinda sad to see how deserted the stores are here. You don't see families shopping together like in Malaysia. Most of them are old folks or foreigners like me. You can see that online grocery shopping has really replaced traditional shopping, judging by the empty aisles. I think thats a shame because parents are missing out on the chance to teach kids what a whole chicken looks like or the many varieties of lettuce available etc. Thats what I think anyway. I kinda miss the hectic tesco/giant stores back home where there were huge traffic 'jams' in the aisles where everybody refuses to budge their carts and make any eye contact with strangers. Fun times!
Sums everything up pretty well.
So if anyone dares to tell you that Malaysia sucks for not having online grocery services, tell them to stick it up where the sun don't shine because now you know the truth!!!
What do you guys think, would/do you shop online or prefer going to the store?
4 smelt it:
if grocery, yes..i wanna go there n pick meself cz to start w grocery shopping is like myy favourite!
however when it comes to buying makeups and lingerie..i prefer online cz when u "swipe" ur Maybank2u, u dun realise how much is going out so tak rasa bersalah sgt.lol..
i missed u! will u b back for my wedding?
miss TESCO shopping ngan mok n ayoh and adik2 and sme org... ;(
isk..isk..
definitely online shopping can't beat the atmosphere of real life shopping!
=)
online grocery's soo not my thing. there's this satisfaction when it comes to walking down aisle by aisle browsing thru everything thats on the shelf..looking at their ingredients and calory contents (haha. i looove being psycho when doing groceries:p)
bad side is more often then not 80% of whats on the checkout counter would not be on my shopping list:p
but i guess its also understandable why its becoming increasing popular. unlike msia, shops here close at 5-ish.. and sometimes closed on weekends, so like the only way working people or students who have a full time table can do their shopping is online..
i like going to the store.. so i can touch the items..compare the options.. and buy the many things that i think i need, but dont actually need it! hahahahaha
but nowadays i shop for clothes online most of the time. hehehe
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