I was talking to someone yesterday who does all their shopping on the internet. I use e-bay, Amazon etc, but have any of you any experience of doing your weekly shopping on the internet (meat, groceries etc) and would you want to buy without seeing?
I have used it and thought it was ok but some of the fresh stuff was a bit close to the sell by date. Now I tend to do huge shops for all the heavy stuff about once every three months - normally when they send me a free delivery voucher, I'm a canny Yorkshire lass after all- but still pop to the local shops for fresh food.
YEs we do all the boring stuff online from TEsco or Sainsburys usually and it's fine. Cans, toilet rolls, washing machine powder etc gets ordered monthly. Means when we shop in person we are only buying stuff where you want to choose your own ie fresh produce. We get lamb and beef from a local farm. You can phone/ email/ or go along and pick your beast. I'm afraid I prefer to phone or email. They do pork too. I'm looking for a local supplier for organic poultry but haven't found them so far. Hopefully in the not too distant future we'll be largely self-supporting in vegetables. 8) ;)
I was thinking more along the lines of the fresh stuff. Personally I like to have a good look at fresh produce before I buy (BTW, love the avatar grawrc :))
We use Tesco. They have a comments bit where you can tell the picker how you like your fruit and veg. I must admit we havent tried that bit out much but are generally satisfied with the service - oh and it is possible to do interesting things like gardening or looking after ones pets and animals whilst somene else trudges round the isles, and all for a fiver.
Waitrose are lovely, if very expensive. It saves me carting stuff back on the bike/bus, especially for buying things like washing powder and toilet roll. Oh, and beer :D
I prefer getting meat daily from the local butchers, but don't mind getting stuff from Waitrose, as they're one of the less vile supermarkets and try to stock more local produce. Veg is much the same; while I'd rather get it from a farmers' market or grow it myself, sometimes it's easier to do it online.
I did virtually all my Christmas shopping on the internet this year, as well as sending up food deliveries to my Dad's flat, where I spent the holidays. I do all my banking on the internet as well. What I'd like is to find an organic-type retailer online that delivers - that would then serve as my main bulk shop so I could do more of the rest face to face in local shops. The daft thing is that I prefer using small local shops and having a bit of a chat - it's just so much easier to order two weeks shopping on your teabreak and have it delivered the following evening ten minutes after you've got home :D
But don't you think this is just another weapon in the supermarket war to crush the small family retailer? :(
Yes, that's why I don't buy fresh produce there, although I have been known to get milk, yoghurt etc.
we try to buy as much as possible from local producers where fresh produce is concerned. Not only does it support local businesses but it cuts down on the huge and environmentally unfriendly transport costs.
Another problem with supermarkets is the availability of out of season produce. I wouldn't consider buying lettuce from Spain in winter for example. Or strawberries in January. I actually enjoy things more when I'm deprived of them for a bit. I have an old cook book called The Cookery Year which lists for each month what is in season and I go by that.
Except for the breakfast mangoes and kiwis it has to be said... :-[ :-[
;D
I loathe shopping, so the internet is like manna from heaven for me! Have not been bitten by the ebay bug, but do as much as I can online and let the postie bring it to me...clothes, books, cd's, supermarket stuff, SEEDS, cant think of much i cant get!!
That just leaves farmers markets to do when I can and meaty stuff from local butcher...oooer mrs!!!
;)
So does our cyber shopping help to destroy the support for local produce? :-\
Quote from: Badger1 on January 23, 2006, 23:06:33
So does our cyber shopping help to destroy the support for local produce? :-\
I would have thought the opposite as you are more likely to use the small shop to pick up your daily groceries, (milk,bread etc) instead of another trip to the supermarket.
I like to see my meat before buying, and taste the cheese, so my local butcher/grocer sees me more often now we get the bulk online.
I too am a total online shopper because I HATE shopping!
I do use our local greengrocers for fruit (and veg in the winter) sadly our one and only butchers closed down, so am trying to find good local meat, at a good price.
Quote from: ipt8 on January 23, 2006, 17:42:47
We use Tesco. They have a comments bit where you can tell the picker how you like your fruit and veg. I must admit we havent tried that bit out much but are generally satisfied with the sercvice - oh and it is possible to do interesting like gardening or looking after ones pets and animals whilst somene else trudges roun the isles, and all for a fiver.
I do an awful lot of internet shopping, including occasional forays into Tesco and Asda's home delivery. I do resent paying for the delivery, however, and work very hard to cover the delivery cost by getting BOGOFs and buy two get one frees on things I might still have in stock but won't spoil - we quite often have a lot of loo rolls in the house! I usually manage to cover the delivery...
Margi x
As above, I probably use local butchers and greengrocers more now that I can get the bulk boring stuff delivered. I don't mind shopping daily for my dinner, it's quite fun, but I don't want to be buying heavy bulky stuff that I have to lug home on the bike.
I've also stopped using Blockbusters (not least because they're evil) as Screenselect now deliver all the DVDs I could ever want to watch.
I use Tesco's home delivery for my main shopping. Charges vary from £3.99 to £5.99 according to the day it is delivered. For me it saves a 28 mile round trip and probably 3 to 4 hours of my time. I always put a note against perishible items for a long use by date and have rarely been disappointed since doing this. If I have received anything not up to standard I call the Internet line and they refund that item on my credit card. I always look at substitutes before the delivery man leaves then if I do not want the items he can take them back with him. (I'm not being sexist but haven't had a lady delivering my groceries yet!).
It was really handy having Tesco deliver during Christmas week as I didn't have to do battle in the Tesco store. I have arthritis and spinal problems so spending several hours on my feet getting groceries can be very painful. I also use E Bay and Amazon for some of my pressies.
8)
Ooooh Screenselect!!!! Just had a look, thanks for the heads up Bupster!!
;D ;D
Quote from: katynewbie on January 24, 2006, 12:42:03
8)
Ooooh Screenselect!!!! Just had a look, thanks for the heads up Bupster!!
;D ;D
Believe it - it's fab! I get probably 2 films a week from them, for a total of £10 a month... bargain!
Margi x
Quote
Ooooh Screenselect!!!! Just had a look, thanks for the heads up Bupster!!
Believe it - it's fab! I get probably 2 films a week from them, for a total of £10 a month... bargain!
Margi x
I pay £20-ish for four at a time, and usually watch around three a week, sometimes more. I have 417 items in my selection. Oop.
It's like getting a Christmas present twice a week. :D
I think the cyber shopping probably helps local produce, cos there are some things you just want to choose yourself so you go local to get them. Stuff like cleaning products etc isn't produced locally anyway for most of us so it has to be transported from wherever it's produced.
I would love to use the internet for grocery shopping, only, last time I enquired the big supermarkets didn't cover my area. I would still use my local shops for everyday sorts of things.
I think Waitrose is the best - most reliable but we don't get it in Scotland. I'm sure it will come everywhere eventually. unless you're on Muck or Eigg or somewhere equally ickle.
What about delivery charges and the like (can't be bothered to visit their sites right now :-[)?
Badger Tesco's charge between (off the top of me head here) £3.99-£5.99, depending on which day you pick.
To me it is worth the money in time and fuel costs, we only have a Waitrose in our town, and though I think their produce is wonderful, we find it a lot more expensive.
I think it's Sainsbury's who have free deliveries on Tuesdays and Wednesdays maybe? :-\
According to Sainsbury's customer service centre just now, it's Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday if you spend over £70 - I won't be taking advantage of their kind offer!
Margi x
Sounds about right. We do because we buy bulk so usually over £100. (It's amazing what 6 people get through in a couple of months :o)
Sainsburys are good for their 'free' days, but I think Tesco far outdo them by being able to tell them what substitute you would like or putting a note for the picker, we very rarely have something not right with them. I was chatting to our delivery lady last week and she was explaining how they work out their deliveries to save petrol, so it is helping with greenhouse gases etc.
I find it brilliant when dieting as I am not tempted by seeing things and buying them - helps the purse too. And their offers are always easily accessible to view.
I suffer from vertigo so they are a godsend when I am poorly too. And the delivery in chrsitmas week was wonderful too. Once you have your favourites list you can just run down it quite quickly ordering your regular stuff. I think Tesco comes out on top in that too as it is one long list and not separate pages.
Sorry, I could go on..... but most of you are converted anyway...
Our thoughts? A great help, & we do the occasional bulk shop that way. But it can take as long to e-shop as to go the 4 miles to Tesco.
To be fair, it is not possible for pickers to select the fresh produce that you would choose. You've seen the speed at which they have to work?
Local suppliers? Always, for free-range & organic meat, but there are no corner shops left for fresh fruit & veg. The damage has long been done. Even the newsagents will go soon. And then what about home delivery, as we have??
Quote from: tim on January 26, 2006, 09:42:26
Our thoughts? A great help, & we do the occasional bulk shop that way. But it can take as long to e-shop as to go the 4 miles to Tesco.
To be fair, it is not possible for pickers to select the fresh produce that you would choose. You've seen the speed at which they have to work?
Local suppliers? Always, for free-range & organic meat, but there are no corner shops left for fresh fruit & veg. The damage has long been done. Even the newsagents will go soon. And then what about home delivery, as we have??
I think if I had a Tesco 4 miles away I probably wouldn't bother to order online, the exception perhaps being Christmas time, but for people like myself who live out in the sticks, it is a real bonus.
As I said earlier, if produce is not up to scratch, Tesco refund over the phone, but there are not many times when I have to do that, in fact not at all over the past 6 months. I think they have taken these complaints on board and their service is very much improved compared to when it first started.
I still use our village Farm Shop occasionally which also sells meat. However, they are very expensive. There are local shops in Wilton and Amesbury, both about 6 miles away, but to be honest, their produce is often not as fresh as Tesco's, probably because they do not have the same turnover.
My nearest Newsagent is a garage 2 miles away but there is someone who delivers papers to our village even though he doesn't run a shop.
Times have changed regarding our shopping habits but it is my belief that it is for the better.
Would you say the service varies from one retailer to another?
I have only used Tesco. I am saving their vouchers so we can have a free trip to France with our caravan on the Chunnel next year ;D ;D
Pauline - 'better'? - for whom?
Quote from: tim on January 26, 2006, 18:53:05
Pauline - 'better'? - for whom?
For most people Tim. The more competition we have the cheaper the prices and a greater choice of goods!
I'm old enough to remember being sent out to the local shops with a 10 shilling note and coming home with a full shopping bag.
You learnt loads about weights and measures, counting money, getting on with people to get good service etc etc. You soon learnt that in some shops you had to watch like an eagle to make sure they didn't give you under weight or a rotten apple in with the good. You got to see huge barrels of butter and waited while your bacon was sliced off the whole ham......
Now it's all just stacked up in rows in neat plastic non-biodegradable parcels and the checkout does all the calculations.
Its been a god send to me, as i couldn't drive for 8 weeks and hubby works full time it took a lot of the stress out of it for us :)
Now i can drive i only use it on the odd occasion but i do use a local butcher and most of my veggies come from the allotment, thats what its there for after all :)