Many of us like to shop online, but simultaneously, don’t we miss the feeling of shopping in supermarkets? Talking specifically about grocery shopping, one can never put to rest the debate on which one’s better: shopping grocery online or in the physical setting?

Both of them have their unique set of pros and cons. You may choose one over the other at times suitable, but there can never be a clear line of distinction between the superiority of one over the other.

Buying grocery online

More and more people are shifting from brick-and-mortar stores to easy-to-use online portals. Because of this paradigm shift in consumer behavior, online grocery brands have taken a huge leap to convert their grocery business completely online.

Pros of buying grocery online:

• You save time on travelling. Also, since there’s no necessity to move out of the home, the expenses levied on gas and the time spent in traffic are cut down to zero.
• Comparing grocery prices on different sites gets easy. All you need to do is slip into comfy PJs and open the app and shop!
• The shopping experience is distraction-free. When you visit the store to buy fruits and vegetables, it’s very natural to buy more units than required.
• The possibility of impulse buying is zero. In malls, there are so many seasonal groceries on display that we involuntarily get tempted to buy whatever we can lay our hands on!
• You have your own customized shopping list. When you repeatedly shop from a grocery app, you get suggested options based on your past orders. Doesn’t this sound great when on the run to work?

Cons of buying grocery online:

• There might be shipping charges levied according to the size of your purchase. Plus, if the eggs are broken or the bananas seem to be stale, you’ll have to pay more to get them returned.
• The limitless options are overwhelming. There are so many variants we may not even be aware of!
• There’ll be an endless stream of emails regarding the upcoming offers and deals on buying grocery online. You shouldn’t be surprised if you see your spam list brimming with emails!
• Let’s face it, the experience is not as real as buying grocery from the store. When buying grocery online, you are alienated from the feeling of touching and feeling the products for their freshness.

Buying grocery from supermarkets

In spite digitization, there is a section of customers who continue preaching traditionalism, grocery shopping in-store being one of these customs. About 50% of Americans still prefer buying groceries in brick-and-mortar stores than ordering products at home.

Pros of buying grocery from your nearest supermarket:

• You get to feel the products before you make a buying decision. Since what you see is what you get, there’s no possibility of taking home things that are stale or rotten.
• You get to interact with shopkeepers and attendants. In addition to this, you can enjoy the real hustle and bustle of a grocery market. Moreover, if you get lucky, you might even spot a store that is offering huge discounts on the available stock!
• You pay the bills and leave with your requirements. This is not the case when shopping for grocery online because once you place the order, you need to wait for the item to arrive after maybe a week’s time.
• You can spend some quality time out of home. Isn’t visiting the market a mini-break from your regular routine?
• When you visit a grocery store during the wee hours of dusk, there are high chances of availing some discounts. Therefore, plan your trip to the grocers accordingly.

Cons of buying grocery from your nearest supermarkets:

• The costs incurred on gas and the time invested in traveling are a major deterrent. Also, you cannot just step out of home in the comfort PJs unlike when shopping for grocery online.
• You could honestly end up spending more than you originally intended to. This is so because all the items in the market are fresh stock and equally tempting to the eyes and the tongue!
• At times, you may not get what you are looking for. Grocery is perishable, and therefore, it gets out of stock as quickly as it is loaded on the shelves.
• Fulfilling the requirements of your toddler might get on your nerves. After all, how many items can you actually carry on your shoulder?
• You are not always alerted about the upcoming discounts and offers. When it comes to shopping online, you always have online coupons delivered to your inbox.

So you see, there is no hard and fast rule regarding which one is superior or inferior. Shopping for grocery online or in stores has its own chain of advantages and disadvantages. It is only once you start indulging in the activity that you’ll figure out which works better for you: shopping for groceries online or from your nearest supermarket.