Shopping online is becoming more and more of a habit. Thanks to various online shops, books, toys, and electronic devices are frequently purchased online. The advantage is obvious: you can shop in peace, even outside of business hours. Furthermore, prices can be compared online immediately, and many online shops allow other users to leave reviews, which are often very helpful. But what about buying groceries online? Is it feasible? Where can you do it and how does it work? We tried it out for you:
Ordering groceries online at UniMarkt
We decided to test UniMarkt, because it is a food retailer that delivers throughout Austria and carries a wide range of products. Up to 6,500 products are offered online here, and the prices are comparable to other supermarkets. Promotions are also frequently held, making many products available at a discount.
Ordering process at UniMarkt
First of all, the address must be entered. This must be done first because it is possible that certain items are not available at the location near you. It is also possible to pick up the goods at a collection point, but home delivery is, of course, much more practical.
After that, you can start adding the desired items to the shopping cart. There is a wide selection in the following categories:
- Dairy products
- Fruit & Vegetables
- Meat & Sausage
- Beverages
- Food
- Sweets & Snacks
- Bread & Bakery
- Household
Once all required items are in the shopping cart, click on the blue button "Go to checkout". Now you can decide whether you want to order as a guest or register. The difference here is that as a registered customer, some additional functions are available, such as the ability to save the delivery address as well as shopping and wish lists. There is no minimum order value; only the shipping costs decrease with larger purchases.
Payment and shipping costs (as of 2015)
Shipping costs depend on the purchase value:
| Order value | Service fee |
|---|---|
| Under € 25 | € 9,90 |
| € 25 to € 49.99 | € 4,90 |
| from € 50 | € Free |
You can currently pay via Sofort-Ăśberweisung, Paypal, MasterCard, Visa, or Klarna invoice. Now the purchase is complete, and you will receive a confirmation and an invoice for your purchase via email. If you have registered as a customer, your purchase is saved under 'My last purchases'.
Delivery
Delivery is carried out throughout Austria. If you place the order before 4 PM, you will receive it the very next day, but another delivery day can also be chosen. The delivery is carried out by the Austrian Post AG. Deliveries currently take place exclusively from Tuesday to Friday (on public holidays, delivery is not the next day, but the day after!).
If products are ordered that must be refrigerated, a refrigerated transport box is used. You must return these: the easiest way is to remove the refrigerated products immediately and return the box to the postal worker. If you are not at home, stick a return label on the box and send it back within 30 days. If the box is not returned, a cost of € 69.99 will be charged. Non-refrigerated products come in paper bags, which I personally find very good. If you are not at home, these will be placed in front of the entrance door. For complaints, you can use the complaint form and contact UniMarkt.
Conclusion
We are thrilled with this online shop. Everything was very uncomplicated, simple registration, large selection including discounts, and delivery directly to your home is, of course, a highlight. The products arrived in very good condition. Non-refrigerated products are delivered in paper bags. The refrigerated products arrived well-chilled, and I returned the box to the postal worker immediately. So it is very practical if you are at home and can take care of it right away, rather than marching to the post office yourself, but returning the box is free thanks to this return sticker (stuck under the lid). If no refrigerated products are included, only the carrier bags are placed in front of the door. For us, a clear recommendation to avoid the hustle and bustle of shopping on Saturday.
Photo by Sabine, meinhaushalt.at
Also read: Saving money while shopping
Hello dear UniMarkt team - the groceries arrived super fresh, so nicely packed! — I can recommend your online shop with a clear conscience – Many thanks, Ms. Aigner!