9 benefits of online supermarkets and 5 points to consider for setting up your own

When it comes to shopping at a supermarket, many people may feel that they don't have time to go to the actual location or that it's difficult to buy heavy items and take them home.

By using online supermarkets, you can shop without worrying about the time and effort of going to the brick and mortar supermarket.
You can choose your products from the comfort of your home and have your order delivered to your door.

This is a convenient service for people who both work, are busy raising children, and elderly people who are unable to lift heavy objects.

There are also many benefits, such as being able to purchase bargain items and accumulating store-related benefits such as points.
We will summarize the benefits and precautions of using online supermarkets in this article.

Benefits of online supermarkets

Source: https://www.aeonretail.jp/

Source: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9dz0cMdpw_BXiQF1P8LoZA

Source: https://www.seiyu.co.jp/

Products delivered to your home

An online supermarket is a service that allows you to purchase products online and have them delivered to your home.

It is available at various supermarkets such as Aeon, Ito-Yokado, and Seiyu in Japan. You can order at any time and have it delivered at your desired schedule, making it convenient for people who are busy with work or raising children and don't have time to go shopping.
​

Online supermarkets usually have a wide selection of fresh food and daily necessities. You can easily buy the products you want without going to its physical location.
Deliveries can be made in as little as 3 hours, so you can even order dinner ingredients during lunch and have them delivered right on time to prepare dinner.

No need to carry heavy items

Heavy items such as bags of rice and drinks can be difficult to carry home. Since you can purchase them online, that gets rid of the hassle. It is also useful when buying in bulk or when purchasing bulky items.

You don't have to search for products in the store or line up at the cash register, so you can shop quickly.

Handling special requests

There is a request section in online supermarkets that you can fill out. The store will then accommodate your requests whenever it is possible to do so.
For example, if you write in the form that you would like the product to have a long expiration date, or that you would like to have the innards removed when purchasing fish, they will respond accordingly.

Some supermarkets offer the option to leave your luggage at a designated location when you are not home. Although there is an additional charge, it is convenient for those who have work or errands that make it difficult for them to be at home during the delivery time.

Free shipping for purchases over a certain amount

The amount varies depending on the supermarket, but if you purchase over a certain amount, shipping will be free.

Seiyu offers free delivery for purchases of 1,980 yen or more, and Aeon purchases of 5,000 yen or more. If you buy in bulk, you can shop without paying shipping charges.

Also, in the case of Aeon, shipping costs are as low as 105 yen even for purchases under 5,000 yen.
If you go shopping by bus, car, or train to the supermarket, shipping costs will be cheaper than transportation costs.

Earn points

At online supermarkets, you can also accumulate points that each supermarket offers.

If you go to Aeon, you get WAON points, and if you go to Ito-Yokado, you get nanaco points. For WAON, you will earn 1 point for every 200 yen purchase, and for nanaco, you will earn 1 point for every 100 yen purchase, and 1 point will be converted to 1 yen.

The points you save can be used at stores or online supermarkets.

You can buy special items

Even at online supermarkets, you can purchase products that are on sale or that are advertised.

For example, Aeon has special sales days such as Tuesday Market, and Ito-Yokado has special sales days such as Happy Day, and you can purchase these items and access the same special deals that in-store customers can.

Prevents you from buying too much

When shopping, you may end up buying too much or end up buying items you didn't intend to buy.
With online supermarkets, you can carefully examine what you want and need to buy before purchasing.

Since you can check the inside of your refrigerator or freezer while purchasing, you can avoid purchasing the same product or purchasing products that are still in the refrigerator. This will help you avoid unnecessary purchases and save money.

Good quality of fresh produce

When shopping at online supermarkets, one of the concerns is the quality of fresh produce.
Many people are worried that they will receive damaged products, that is why online supermarkets are paying special attention to this point.

Delivering poor quality products can damage the store's reputation and result in complaints.
Therefore, the person in charge carefully selects the products and delivers products that are deemed to be of good quality.

Supermarkets also have large vegetables cut in half or quarters, so you can buy just the amount you want.
The product's country of origin is also stated for traceability.

Good packaging and delivery

It will be carefully packaged and shipped. It packs fragile items such as eggs and fruits so that they don't hit each other.

They also make sure that frozen foods and ice creams don't melt, so they arrive in better condition than if you brought them home yourself.

Things to note about online supermarkets

Inablity to see and purchase fresh products directly

You can't directly see the fresh produce and pick it for yourself.
It's rare that you receive a product of poor quality, but it is not impossible that the product can be smaller or slightly different than expected.

Inability to shop during maintenance

During maintenance, you may not be able to log in or your shopping may end prematurely.
Maintenance time may take anywhere from 30 minutes to 2 hours, and you will not be able to shop during this time.

Also, during campaigns, etc., many people access the website so you might find difficulties connecting or your order will be processed slower than usual.

Out of stock items

The items you are looking for might be out of stock as the online shop is not refreshing in real-time. Especially when it comes to featured items or special sale items. If an item is out of stock, you have the option to receive a replacement of the same type, cancel, or place a separate order for another item.
​

In the case of substitute products, you may receive a product with a higher price than the product you ordered, so it may be a good deal at the end.
However, there are times when you receive a product that is different from what you wanted.

Busy delivery times

Delivery times vary depending on each supermarket, but between 10:00 and 20:00. If you want same-day delivery, you must place your order by 3pm.

Delivery slots may be filled during busy times for example in the morning, around 12:00, and from 18:00 to 20:00.
Deliveries can be busy on days when the weather is bad. It's first-come, first-served, so it's best to order early during busy times.

Delivery times may vary slightly depending on the store, so we recommend checking each store's delivery time before ordering.

More expensive than in-store purchases

Out-of-stock items and time sale items are not updated all the time, so you may be able to buy some items cheaper at the store.

Additionally, Aeon will offer 5% off on Customer Appreciation Day on the 20th and 30th of each month, but online users are not eligible for this discount.

Conclusion

Online supermarkets allow you to shop from the comfort of your home, which is convenient for busy people and when purchasing heavy or bulky items.

By buying in bulk, you won't have to pay for shipping, so you can shop more easily without wasting your money.

Shopping is something we do every day, so it takes a lot of time and effort.
Therefore, we recommend that you make use of online supermarkets wisely while keeping in mind that you might run into some of the issues we discussed above.