Go online to go grocery shopping

If you detest the idea of jostling for space, navigating the many aisles looking for products, and then facing serpentine queues at the checkout counter at the local supermarkets; then an online grocer is just for you. And don’t worry about missing out on discounts and freebies, as these online services offer some good bargains. You can also choose from several payment options and some of them even accept food coupons, which is a huge plus. They may charge you a delivery fee, but it’s nothing compared to the convenience offered and the time and energy you will save. Here are some of the services you can try.

LocalBanya was amongst the first to launch in Mumbai

Amongst the first ones to launch in Mumbai, LocalBanya offers a wide choice and includes exhaustive categories of products. From daily staples, dairy products, bakery items, household supplies, beverages to even health care, personal care products, they have it all. In fact they also offer fruits, vegetables, frozen foods, desserts, confectioneries, magazines and sweets. The site sports a clutter free layout and the products are neatly categorised, which makes it easy to find the products you are looking for. Currently they deliver in Mumbai and have a mandate of minimum order of Rs 500. LocalBanya offers discounts on almost all products, apart from which it runs promotions like Moustache Mondays where they have offers on specific products. They also have a concept of reward points, which can be redeemed on your next purchase. If you create an account, then you can save time by using the ‘My Usual’ feature, which lets you repeat one of your past orders. You can opt for online payment or cash on delivery. It also lets you choose the time and date of delivery as per your convenience. 

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BigBasket is present in three cities

Bangalore-based BigBasket is one of the pioneers in this space and amongst the only two such services that have managed to cater to multiple cities. BigBasket has established its presence in Bangalore, Mumbai and Hyderabad. On the homepage you will find the current offers, on the top you will find the various categories like Fruits & Vegetables, Grocery & Staples, Dairy & Eggs, Beverages, Branded Foods, Personal Care, Household and Confectionery. What sets BigBasket apart is the fact that it also sells meat. They provide free shipping on all orders over Rs 1000 and do not have a minimum order policy, but they will charge a small fee of Rs 20 (Rs 25 for Mumbai) on other orders. BigBasket also also accepts food coupons like Sodexo as a mode of payment. Additionally, it also has an iPhone and Android app, which makes it easy for customers to place their orders. BigBasket offers same day delivery that is limited only to Bangalore, if you place the order before 12 noon then your order will be delivered to you on the same day at your chosen time slot. For the citizens of Bangalore, they also have something called what you see is what you get, where they promise to deliver every item on the list and if they fail to do so, then they will credit your account with 50% of the value of the undelivered product. 

EkStop 

They have a super fast delivery service called EkSpress Delivery

Another option for Mumbaiites is EkStop. You can shop online for groceries, household supplies, personal care products, health care products and even stationery. They have a super fast delivery service called EkSpress Delivery where they promise to deliver within four hours of placing the order. They have a minimum order caveat of Rs 400, but they do not have a delivery charge. Shopping on the portal is also easy; you can sign-in and create a list and search for all the items at once. This will save you time in finding individual products. You can save this list for future reference. Based on your shopping history, it will also bring you insights on what products you spend your money on and will provide you with tips to save money when you order in future. In terms of payment options, EkStop accepts all forms of online payments, cash on delivery and it also accepts food vouchers. They also have a EkStop Loyalty Program under which you can earn reward points, which can be redeemed as cash discount on your subsequent orders.     

In a hurry? Select a Zopket

Apart from BigBasket, another service that’s created buzz in Bangalore is ZopNow. It sells groceries, staples, frozen food, home essentials, beverages, health and wellness product, stationery, and they also have a section for buying pet food and accessories. Even ZopNow allows you to type out your entire list, on hitting enter it will bring you all the items on your list, which you can then add to your shopping cart. You will find the popular categories on the home page. They even have something known as Zopkets, which are packs of products that you can buy. For instance you have the Bachelor Pack for Rs 386 that includes seven items like Maggi, juice, beverages, etc. Similarly, you the home pack, family pack, household cleaning pack, dry fruit pack and a kitchen pack. ZopNow offers free home delivery for orders over Rs 500 and it has a delivery charge of Rs 30 for other shipments. It accepts online payments, cash on delivery as well as food coupons. They promise to deliver in three hours and you will have to choose between the various time slots. Additionally, you can track your delivery on the map, to know the exact location of the delivery vehicle. For their loyal customers they have the Zoppie points, which can be used for payments. ZopNow also has iOS and Android app, which makes it easy to place orders on the go.   

AaramShop 

AaramShop is like a marketplace for local shops

AaramShop has successfully established a name for itself and they are present in over 30 cities like Delhi, Bangalore, Pune, Mumbai and Ahmadabad. They differ from the other services due to their business model. AaramShop doesn’t stock products in warehouses, instead it has tied up with local kirana shops. You will have to register on AaramShop, then look around for shops in your area that have tied-up with them, select the one you prefer after going through the terms and conditions that the store may have. For instance, some shops may accept food coupons. All your orders will be forwarded to this particular shop that you have set as your preferred AaramShop. Payment is cash on delivery after you have received your order. You can place order for groceries, staples, household essentials, etc. You can create and save your lists online, which can be repeated when placing orders in the future. It also has a reminder facility.  

MyGrahak that provides service in Delhi and NCR

Another established player in the north is MyGrahak that provides service in Delhi and NCR region. It features a wide range of products, apart from groceries, staples, household items, etc. it also features electronics and mobile phones. The home page seems cluttered and isn’t that easy to navigate. It is best to search for products, instead of trying to browse through the many categories. They have an offers section where you will find monthly, weekly, buy 1 get 1 free, and other such offers. Besides which they also have a daily deals section. MyGrahak even offers you the option to place an order via phone. They take 36 hours to deliver, but you can opt for an express same day delivery that will cost you an additional Rs 79. They accept all modes of online payment, cash on delivery and food coupons. MyGrahak also runs a loyalty program and the points you earn can be redeemed against the gifts they have on offer.  

Besides the ones featured here there several other similar services like OMart (Mumbai), KaiseDiya (Mumbai), PuneExpress (Pune) and RationHut (Pune). Have you shopped from any of these sites? Do share your experience.

Cover Image: Getty Images