FillYourCart.Com
You may never stroll the produce aisle again,
thanks to cyber-markets that take your order online and deliver to your door
Grocery shopping on the Web is a booming business. In 1998, fewer than 100,000 people in a handful of major metropolitan areas used the Net to order in foodstuffs; but the numbers are multiplying daily as more e-grocers set up shop in smaller markets nationwide. By 2002, the analysts at eMarketer.com predict, more than six million Americans will be emailing their grocery lists, opening their doors to cheery delivery people -- and completely forgoing the hassles of check-out lines.
By 2007, some industry analysts predict, nearly 1 in 5 U.S. households will be food shopping on the Net, to the tune of some $80 billion dollars worth of purchases.
Aficionados of the click-and-deliver shopping experience say buying groceries online not only saves them time, but money. For example, they say, not actually seeing and smelling the products cuts down on impulse buying: a GIF digital image of a freshly-baked donut just isn't as irresistible as the actual item!
Though online grocery shopping has its advantages, there also are drawbacks that Net merchants haven't quite worked out yet. Ordering can be cumbersome. Delivery schedules are not always convenient. If alcoholic beverages are to be delivered, an adult must be home to sign.
From purveyor to purveyor, there can be great variations in everything from produce to pricing. Some of the online grocers link up with local stores to provide goods, so their prices and picks depend on their individual suppliers. Others, such as Webvan, stock their own warehouses, which may give them greater quality control but may also sometimes result in less product variety.
Here, a look at some of the major Net-grocer companies who may now be appearing in your neighborhood, bags in hand:
Peapod.com One of the largest and first to the market, Peapod, based in Skokie, Ill., is now making deliveries in nine markets nationwide. Peapod links up with local grocers, which means you can pretty much tell whether you'll like their selection and quality by visiting their partner store. For example, in the San Francisco Bay area, Peapod is teamed with one of the high-end grocers, so its prices tend to be higher than the same items would have been at a mainstream grocer. "I loved that they delivered to my third floor condo," says Peapod customer Jeanessa Morrison, a computer technologist in San Pablo, Calif. "But I found the prices a bit high."
A Peapod customer in Boston complained of the quality of the produce he received; but overall customers who rated Peapod at Epinions.com reported high satisfaction with the service. Delivery on totals over $75 is free, with a $4.95 service charge for smaller orders. Delivery of pharmacy products is coordinated through an agreement with Walgreen's.
Webvan.com Delivering in Altanta and the Bay Area, Webvan warehouses its own stock. Delivery is free on orders over $50; prices seem, on average, in range with area brick-&-mortar grocers. Extras such as postage stamps and public transportation tickets are available in some locations.
Having problems placing an order? A live service person will pop up on your screen via email within minutes of being summoned, so you can chat about what's eating you (or what you'd like to eat).
Netgrocer.com For non-perishables, this New York-based service delivers nationwide though Federal Express. Orders take up to a week, and shipping charges are extra. Good for staples in those areas not served by the faster purveyors, but users report some frustration with the shipping issue. Among NetGrocer customers who've offered feedback: Allison Hennings, of Durham, N.C., cited a limited product choice as a drawback of the site, but said that prices were attractive thanks to coupons the company offers.
Streamline.com Launched in Boston, Streamline now operates in 4 metro areas and plans to expand into a total of 20 major markets by 2004. Streamline delivers food as well as videos, stamps and cooked meals for a set charge: $30 a month for four visits. Streamline will deliver if no one is at home, and will provide a refrigerator for your garage or basement to ensure the perishables in your order stay cold. Customer reviews are mixed on this one: some users feel the monthly fee is too high, others commend the breadth of services.
Homegrocer.com Only in Seattle, Portland, Los Angeles and Orange County, Calif., for now, Homegrocer plans on opening 18 more markets in the next year. The service gets uniformly high marks from users. Orders of $75 or more are delivered free; customers enjoy bonuses ranging from free vegetables and other products to discount coupons.
Homegrocer customer Sharena James, of Aliso Viejo, Calif., reports that since she did not place her order until 10:30 p.m. one night, she was particularly thrilled to get on-time delivery the next day. Compounding her delight: "When my husband tried to tip the driver, he refused as per company policy."
Kozmo.com When overnight isn't fast enough, Kozmo.com -- now in Boston, New York City, San Francisco, Seattle, Chicago, Atlanta, Portland, Houston, Los Angeles and Washington, D.C. -- promises delivery to your door in under an hour. Offerings include a limited range of meals and snack foods as well as household items, over-the-counter drugs, videos, books, newspapers and CDs. Once you've given Kozmo your credit card information, the costs of your orders are billed to that card monthly. Deliveries are free (though videotape pick-up is $1, unless you're making another order).
San Francisco Bay area customer Jenni Olsen, a Web site producer and mother, is a Kozmo fan. "Juice, a half pint of Ben & Jerry's chocolate chip cookie dough, and even diapers for the same price as my corner store," she raves. "It's really great if I or my child is sick." Or more precisely, she says, "It's great -- and remember just how many times I splurged on ice cream!"
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