Why Has Online Grocery Shopping Never Taken Off In The US?

I remember about 10 years ago in the UK when it first started, it actually took off really quickly and you can still order your weekly groceries online from most supermarket chains in the UK...

http://www.sainsburys.co.uk
http://www.somerfield.co.uk
http://www.tescodirect.com
http://www.iceland.co.uk
http://www.asda.co.uk

Yet i dont recall having seen ANY major US supermarket chain offering online grocery shopping with home delivery.

How comes?

You would think the fattest, unhealthiest country in the world would have been one of the first to offer this service $0.02

Regards,

Lee

The lack of a really good cost-effective delivery system I think.

One of the innovations I think we can hope for in this century - a super-reliable automated mass shipping system. Move goods not people.

I want to pick out my own bananas, thank you.

It would be fine to have non-perishables delivered, but I definitely want to pick out my own vegetables and fresh foods. Also, as a red-blooded American ( I _do_ drive a truck after all ) and resource-waster, I drive by the grocery store 3 or 4 times a week already. Stopping in and getting what I need is convenient and on my own time -- I do not need to be home for any delivery. And my third reason is that I _like_ going to the grocery store; I want to be human and not do everything at my computer!

I can see how for some people it would be very convenient but online grocery shopping is not for me.

You know... I don't like shopping on line, I've decided.

EVery time I do, it seems I get something I didn't want. I get on a spam list, I get signed up to some magazine subscription, I get enrolled in a "golf club" or I get on a list where they send you a book and then bill you for it.

Things arrive the wrong size, the wrong color or a lot smaller than they looked on the computer screen. They arrive broken, they arrive late. Getting a return and refund for something is next to impossible.

Things look cheaper when they arrive and you can't really get much unique stuff.

Chad is also right.. I shop almost exclusively at an organic grocery store and I'd prefer to choose my own cuts of meat, my own fruit and vegetables, scoop out my own bulk oat meal and my own nuts.

I like to grind my coffee and I like to look at the ingredients of every kind of almond butter. I'll choose what kind of cheese I want and how much.

I guess if you just buy mainstream, processed and pre-packaged food it makes sense if you're lazy and never leave your house. But who's like that now?

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Originally Posted by Jasun

But who's like that now?

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99.99% of Americans if you look at the stock trends of the processed food manufacturers over the past 12 months ;)

Regards,

Lee

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Lee

99.99% of Americans if you look at the stock trends of the processed food manufacturers over the past 12 months ;)

Regards,

Lee

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I'm more thinking about people who are always home. The Stay-At-Home mother is a thing of the past, mostly. Now couples have to both work just to scrape by.

I shop almost exclusively at EarthFare for food.

I want to smell each of the 70 different types of cheese. I want to squeeze them and feel which ones are to soft and fatty, which ones are to hard and the ones that are just right.

Where I shop, the shopping is an experience with real friendly knowledgeable people and a huge variety of products. Shopping online would take away from all that, make me stay home and wait, and force me to tip someone for driving a mile down the road to deliver. no thanks

Not to mention I pass two stores twice a day, everyday already when taking my son to school and picking him up from practice.

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Originally Posted by Jasun

I'm more thinking about people who are always home. The Stay-At-Home mother is a thing of the past, mostly. Now couples have to both work just to scrape by.

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Which is why it would make sense that they did their grocery shopping 'online' because they do both work and are short on 'time'.

Regards,

Lee

Have any of you actually looked what people have in their grocery carts at most supermarkets while you are waiting to checkout?

We actually had someone behind us a few weeks ago comment that EVERYTHING we had in our cart was fresh and not pre-packaged.

It was said out of shock more than anything based on what this woman considered to be 'expensive' and upon looking, her entire cart was full of soda, canned goods and frozen pre-portioned meals.. That she obviously fed her entire family with.

I dont think most Americans do buy fresh produce because they consider it to be expensive, they dont realize all the processed crap they are buying has virtually no nutritional value to it, is actually more expensive and just doesnt taste very good but, that is what they are used to eating.

Earlier this year when i stopped smoking (i am smoking again now though) i was actually quite suprised at how many different food stuffs we buy on a regular basis tasted different, fresh foods especially, and i actually found myself enjoying eating these foods more, no matter whether they were raw or cooked.

Next time you go to a regular grocery store, like a publix, or a walmart or a winn dixie, actually take a look at what the person in front of you and behind you has in their cart compared to yours, you really will begin to realize why the country is the fattest in the world.. The main ingredient in most peoples shopping carts are chemicals.

Regards,

Lee

I use SafeWay.com all the time, free delivery, get to pick the time when the come back. And better yet all their delivery boys are hot. lol Since it is the same guy all the time he even helps put everything away.


There are my 2 cents lol

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Originally Posted by Lee

Which is why it would make sense that they did their grocery shopping 'online' because they do both work and are short on 'time'.

Regards,

Lee

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True. But you need to be home to get it.

I can't ever get anything delivered to me when I'm home.

Lee, you're right about the garbage that people ingest.

A few months back I saw two young boys walking through the parking lot of a grocery store. They were both about 10. They weren't fat, they were obese. HUGE.

They were both carrying family-sized bags of chips and carrying those portable video game players. Behind them, their mother who was just as fat was pushing a grocery cart full of Mountain Dew, Captain Crunch, Pepsi, Chips, Cookies, Wonder Bread and Cheese Whiz.

No wonder people are all dropping dead of cancer and diabetes. Those kids don't have a chance. Those kids just sit at home eating junk, playing games and exercising nothing but their thumbs. It's sad.

I felt like I was seeing abused kids.

there was a grocery delivery service here - they had a HUGE launch, then after a year and a half or so, they went out of business. and i admit that i never used them - my experience is that no one picks the vegetables and fruits i would choose.

btw, albertsons delivers
https://shop.albertsons.com/eCommerc...n=browseOnline

Acme here in Pennsylvania delivers, but I would never use it, I can't go through a drive thru around here and have them get my order correct, why would I trust some dumb ass to get my grocery order right.

Customer service standards have gone to crap in all types of business, it's sad.

If you ever watch Carol Beers on Little Britain USA, the one who works in the hospital in PA, they are not far from the truth, the people here are really that rude.

I think the reason it doesn't catch on is they charge extra for it usually and personal safety and trust issues. The less strangers that handle my food the better.

I am agreed with what was mentioned earlier that I like to pick my own ( interpreted: fresh fish shouldn't smell "fishy" and their eyes should be crystal clear. ) and depending on the conditon of the produce dictates how soon it has to be prepared. ( interpreted: I buy fruits and vegetables semi-ripe so they they last longer and/or ripen as I need them. )
I really don't know why it hasn't taken off , especially with the way people here in hawaii are in "grid-lock" at certain mcdonalds and starbucks daily.

jim

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Originally Posted by Jasun

I felt like I was seeing abused kids.

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I feel the same way when i see that, its actually saddening.

I know i have said it before but ill say it again, to be a parent adults should have to take some kind of 'test' it would cut a lot of the generational issues we have seen over the past 10-20 years and would cut back on a lot of the issues we're going to see for the next few generations.

Right or wrong, China actually has the right solution, only allow parents to have 1 child, perhaps then, like China, these parents will take care of their children.

America really is turning in to the nation epitomized in the movie Idiocracy more and more with each passing month $0.02

Regards,

Lee

I love yummy.com when I'm sick. Other than that I'd much rather go to the store as well. I read packages and have been trying to ease into a much healthier way of eating.

I would love to have a regular delivery of basics like bread, milk, fresh vegs, etc. If it was affordable and reliable, of course!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Lee

Right or wrong, China actually has the right solution, only allow parents to have 1 child, perhaps then, like China, these parents will take care of their children.

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Oh this reminds me of breaking news yesterday.. I'll make a separate post

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Originally Posted by HunkMoneyLuke

I would love to have a regular delivery of basics like bread, milk, fresh vegs, etc. If it was affordable and reliable, of course!

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Its called a milkman in the UK, pretty much every town has one, they do milk, yogurts, juices, fruits and veg, at least our local one in the UK did, every day we'd open the door to a couple of pints of REAL full cream milk, a fresh pint of orange juice and every Saturday we'd get fruits and veg from the guy :)

Regards,

Lee