Restocking your pantry and fridge but it’s too much to carry home? Affordable options include arranging a home delivery or shopping online.
IGA, Woolworths and Coles all offer delivery services for around $10, depending on how many bags you fill. That’s less than your average taxi trip and they bring the groceries all the way to your door.
When you order groceries online, you can pay using a debit card, credit card or PayPal.
Deliveries are done with no contact and, just like ordering a pizza or having something shipped to your door from Amazon, you can track the progress of your groceries and their estimated time of arrival.
Even if your location is a little more remote than the average shopper, your closest supermarket is likely to deliver. In some cases, additional courier charges may be involved.
Making life a little easier for the vulnerable
Check your local supermarket’s website to see whether you qualify for the latest perks or assistance, based on your specific circumstances.
The Minister for the NDIS, Stuart Robert MP, has announced that NDIS participants will now be able to receive priority home delivery from major supermarkets.
Others may qualify for similar assistance. For instance, IGA recently launched their Priority Shop service to delivery grocery packs to customers who are elderly, vulnerable, isolated, immunosuppressed or in mandatory isolation. Four different package options are offered, including The Essentials Pack, which contains milk, bread, eggs, cereal, toilet paper, fresh fruit, vegetables and soup, and The Dog Pack, which contains wet and dry dog food.
Coles and Woolworths are also taking steps to provide priority access to their most vulnerable customers.
Be aware of possible restrictions
Be sure to check online, or call, to confirm the availability of delivery services before doing your shopping. Generally, deliveries stop sooner on Saturdays and may not be offered at all on Sundays.
Circumstances brought about the current pandemic have resulted in delivery times being less certain. It is not unusual for supermarkets to restrict or even cancel delivery services with little notice.
Some supermarkets have put limits in place on products that are in very high demand, such as toilet paper, rice, sugar, flour and pasta. Look for in-store signage indicating how much of any restricted items, each person can buy.
By Grant J Everett, Panorama Magazine
