Why do you go the supermarket rather than have food delivered?

[Sweetpotaro]

I took my 2 kids to a big Sainsbury's today whereas we normally have a weekly home delivery. It was awful with them messing about etc.

There were, however, lots of other families there.

Why do you choose to go to a physical supermarket rather than a weekly delivery? Is it:

• you enjoy browsing (but with kids in tow - is this not really stressful??)
• you don't spend the minimum spend (I think £50) to get delivery?
• you want the yellow label items?
• you see it as an outing out the house?

Each to their own but interested in other perspectives.

Because I like to choose my own produce. I find if I have deliveries I always get bruised or soft fruit and veg, stupid substitutions last minute out of stocks. I also spend less when I go in person.

Because almost every single delivery I get has stuff missing so it's just as easy to go myself.

All the reasons above, but especially short dates and missing items/substitutions. I did have Ocado and a veg box for years when I had small dc and worked full time, but it was never entirely satisfactory. Rotten potatoes in a Christmas delivery were the last straw. But am lucky enough to live in an area well supplied with options.

I get my shopping delivered due to disability, but there are some things that I would prefer to get instore rather than having them delivered, if I were able to get to the supermarket. A good example is bananas. I have to order a bag of 6 or 7, which then go brown, whereas in store, I could just pick say 3.

So I can choose exact thing I want

I can take advantage of offers on things I don't normally buy

It's easier with the shopping visually in front of me to work out if I've missed anything crucial

I don't have the hassle of dealing with substitutions/things not delivered

I don't have to work out when a suitable delivery time is

I don't buy the same things every week, so it's quicker to go round the shop than find them individually online

I wouldn't choose to do a big shop with small children in tow though.

I don't like having food delivered because I like to chose my own.

I must be weird because I quite like going to the supermarket.

And I quite enjoyed taking the kids when they were young. I liked their company, and long as they held on to the trolley and didn't run off then it wasn't really a ordeal. Little people have their uses too - getting stuff from the bottom shelf was never a problem 😁

I always used to go shopping with my mum so maybe it's just a thing.

I need the food that day and can't wait for a delivery slot and I also like to be able to pick the best use by dates. I find that you often don't even get the number of days promised when shopping online. For example, online says minimum 5 days, yet it expires in 3 days when it arrives. It's not the end of the world for fruit and veg which is usually fine, but I really resent it when it's fish or meat which I then have to freeze or batch cook.

It’s the only time I get out the house some weeks

I like to choose the best fruit/veg and best dated meats

I like finding stuff I’ve never had before - online I’d just be looking for specific stuff so I’d never notice the strawberry filled chocolate in the Polish section

Don’t trust online due to crappy dates, errors, and substitutions.

I can’t afford a lot of the supermarkets minimum order value, so I just get what I need and can afford

Teaching children how to behave by involving them in the shop is important or they never learn. Give them a small list each and get them counting and collecting stuff.... especially in the fruit and veg section....we each choose something new to try at home.
It means you get to select the freshest stuff too and not 4 things that need eating by tomorrow

Exactly this

Me too. I have so many memories of shopping with my mum.

I also like going to supermarkets...I especially like ones with a clothing section, make up, books etc

Yes, me too.
And I like to check the bb or use before dates.

I'm in the minority and love my shopping delivered. The chats with the drivers are the highlight of my week 🤣

Because if I don't what I want I can find my own substitute and not some random thing they pick for me

I can check the quality and dates myself

I can compare quicker by looking at items close together at once not clicking around

I can chat to people

Although some supermarkets are happy to refund over the phone, Tesco in particular are really good giving refunds when things go bad too soon or have been damaged in transit and don't make you go back to store. Morrisons on the other hand are awful and will barely refund anything over the phone, obviously hoping you're not going to spend time/fuel going back, but I always do just on point of principal as they shouldn't get away with it.

I have a DD who is 2- we currently do a food shop as it is something to do .. when she was a baby food delivery was a life saver!!! So I flick between the need depending on needs but being out of the house away from tv wins every day

I have no routine when it comes to shopping...

> Click & collect at either Morrisons or Sainsburys
> Delivery from Tesco or Ocado
> Pick up a few bits at Aldi, Asda & M&S
> Big shop at Morrisons or Sainsburys

It all depends what my working pattern is for the week. DD is now home from uni so I can send her for a big shop but when she's not here DS doesn't drive so I organise deliveries when I working away or he goes to our Tesco Local.

Edited to answer your original question. I like to shop in person so that I can get the best quality of fresh fruit, veg & meat that I need. Very important if we're having people over for dinner.

I spend too much time alone and looking at a screen. I see other people in Sainsbury's or Waitrose, I see their styles and colours, it is not a study but it is the background of life.
Mike pick up a yellow sticker product as an inspiration or challenge. Since Covid I am still not fully 'open' or 'exposed' to life in general. WFH is beneficial in some ways but the balance is there are restrictions or life is closing in on me.

We like to choose our food ourselves. Husband and son really don’t like fatty meat so my husband shops for steak, bacon, etc.

To browse the clothes and buy fresh produce. Or due to my disorganisation with the online order.

I think on a thread about people who prefer going to the supermarket, it shouldn't be a surprise that you are in a minority?

(Although on the odd time I've had food delivered the drivers want to dump the food and run - don't think I've ever had a chat).

I do a big shop online but would do a 20 min top up shop with my children when they were little.

I saw it as a good opportunity to learn about food and how to behave in public, maths skills and reading a list. They are old enough to send to do the top up shops for me now.

This is the thing really. Staff in shops are usually pretty grumpy and unhelpful, but most van drivers are really friendly and chatty and usually happy to take back and refund anything you don't want, even if there's nothing actually wrong with it, i.e. just wrongly ordered, or not needed because something else is missing (i.e. gravy if the meat wasn't delivered). Considering they're both "customer facing" workers, it's really strange, especially as they're probably on the same/similar pay. And after all, grumpy retail workers always blame their grumpiness on being paid so little! I can't imagine van delivery drivers are paid much more! And customer service staff in shops often make out like you're wanting them to sacrifice their first born child when you dare to ask for refund for a bunch of black bananas only delivered the day before!

This. Big shop once a month online then top ups as needed for fresh stuff.