{"id":1881,"date":"2021-09-10T13:28:45","date_gmt":"2021-09-10T17:28:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.skypointfcu.com\/wph\/workarea\/?p=1881"},"modified":"2022-03-31T12:24:32","modified_gmt":"2022-03-31T16:24:32","slug":"for-online-grocery-delivery-add-fees-to-the-list","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.skypointfcu.com\/wph\/workarea\/blog\/for-online-grocery-delivery-add-fees-to-the-list\/","title":{"rendered":"For online grocery delivery, add fees to the list"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

I haven\u2019t set foot in a grocery store in nearly four months.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With a 10-month-old baby to think about, my husband and I have kept trips to the store to a minimum out of an abundance of caution during the pandemic. We\u2019re fortunate to have just about every grocery delivery service at our disposal \u2014 and we\u2019ve taken advantage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In between orders from Costco, Whole Foods, Imperfect Foods and more, I\u2019ve noticed our virtual shopping habit is changing how we budget<\/a>. We\u2019re accounting for new grocery-related expenses. We\u2019re also more deliberate about what we buy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here\u2019s why online grocery shopping could affect how much you spend \u2014 and ways to keep your budget intact.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Markups<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

You could pay more online than in the store for the exact same item. That\u2019s because some delivery services, or the retailers they partner with, inflate grocery prices<\/a> to cover fulfillment costs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On Costco\u2019s website, I was met with the message \u201citem prices are marked up higher than your local warehouse. Instacart uses the markup to pay for their delivery service.\u201d The exact price difference wasn\u2019t specified.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Same-day delivery service Shipt says its members can expect to pay about $5 more on a $35 order online than in the store. Plan that you will spend a few extra bucks every time you buy groceries online.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Extra charges<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

At the grocery store, the price you see is typically the price you pay. But online, fees for delivery, service, alcohol, memberships and subscriptions could be tacked onto your bill. Extra charges could range from a couple dollars for a service fee to about a hundred dollars for a membership.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou\u2019re spending more money because it\u2019s a service,\u201d says Jennifer Weber, a certified financial planner in Lake Success, New York.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How you use that service can also affect the cost. Often, you\u2019ll pay a premium for quicker or high-demand delivery times. Then, there are tips. Tipping, while optional, is a simple way to support the workers risking their health to provide you with an essential service. Many grocery services set a default tip, so make sure to pick the amount you prefer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Substitutions<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Items could be unexpectedly out-of-stock, incorrect or missing from your delivery. Certain services allow substitutions for unavailable inventory. However, that can come at a higher cost. When the conventional tomatoes I ordered sold out, I ended up with organic tomatoes for $1 more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When using services that charge for pricier replacements, consider opting out of automatic substitutions or allocating a few extra dollars toward your grocery budget<\/a> as a cushion. Inspect orders closely upon arrival as well and notify the company if you\u2019re charged for forgotten or incorrect items.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Impulse purchases<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Getting your groceries while sitting in front of your screen isn\u2019t all bad news for your wallet: 46% of consumers say they\u2019ve made fewer impulse purchases since shifting to online grocery shopping in the spring, according to a survey from Magid, a business strategy and research company.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cCareful planning and buying only what you intend to is a little bit easier to do online,\u201d says Steve Caine, a partner with the retail practice of Bain and Company, a management consulting firm. \u201cYou don\u2019t get influenced quite the same way as you do when you\u2019re walking through a store.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With no enticing candy displays or cleverly arranged shelves to stroll past, you might fill your cart with fewer items. Plus, Caine says shopping online allows you to better keep a \u201crunning total\u201d of your purchase, while in the store, you usually don\u2019t know until checkout.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ways to watch your budget<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Online grocery shopping is here to stay for the foreseeable future. These strategies can reduce the strain on your budget<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n