Local shopping - not online - EKO Diena

Local shopping - not online

Clementine

I think that for a lot of things many people now just go to the computer straight away and buy it online, but do not look or think about buying it somewhere they could walk to instead.

Amazon and sites like this make it so easy to have a big choice and compare the prices of things, or ordering food from the big hypermarkets where they have everything, it is so easy and we think to ourself that it is better than driving to the store maybe, but still it has the impact of shipping and delivery.

When you choose to go to your local independent shop then you save that, even more if you can just walk or cycle there, and at the same time you support the local business and community. If you can find shops that have food or products that are grown in the farms nearby or made locally as well then even better.

Do you visit to your local stores or just buy online or in big out of town stores?

Julie Brooks-Girskiene

Clementine I think that for a lot of things many people now just go to the computer straight away and buy it online

This is probably my normal default, not for food but for most other things, check it online first.

Sometimes that is probably better and sometimes worse depending on the company but it is easier and often cheaper.

It's sad in a way though because physical shopping used to be about human interaction as well as getting a product, and that is something that we just don't seem to have time or so much desire for anymore.

Piri

We don't really buy food online. Especially fruits and veggies, I like to see how they look to choose ripe, less ripe and we use our own packaging. But depends were we live not everywhere there is a local independent store and if there is (for example in Lithuania) it might be something more like farmers market/market or in the cities bigger stores, in all cases the price is much higher.

Right now we live in great place and we go to market and have great choice local grown goods. By saying we go I mean we walk.🙂

We try to support local production in general, but still our criteria is not just like 'buy this because it is local'. There are questions if it is at least organic, if it is reasonable price, if they have the right items, ect. If we need to drive to the certain shop we might consider ordering online, but just with such products like oil, flour, something like that. In that case choosing the 'slow delivery' by national post as they go all around anyway.

I know people who lives in the cities and all the time get food delivered, some markets now provide more 'eco friendly' services like paper bags, green transportation.

As well some local farms don't have a physical store and their products are just great so we buy online instead of driving long distance.

John

This kind of depends on what we are calling local and how you get there as well.

Of course it's more sustainable to walk to a local shop, but if you would have to get in the car anyway, because it's too far out because you are buying a lot, then it's probably more sustainable to get it delivered, because the emissions of one trip are shared between multiple deliveries.

Buying locally produced anything is better generally. Plus when it comes to food, something that came fresh from the ground a few kilometres away just somehow feels and tastes better than something shipped halfway across a continent to me.

Ash

I don't buy food (except certain chocolates) online either so that's not a huge issue. I'm always happy to support my local shops when purchasing food. The only thing that I do frequently buy online is clothes and that's because it's usually hard to find the clothes I want locally.

Vilte

I do most food shopping online because it saves me from carrying anything. I do not have to carry it from the store to the car or from the car to the kitchen when I get home, which is good for me. I figure it is the same amount of fuel for me to drive to the store and back or for them to drive to me and back.

Clothes I like to go and try on before I buy them, so I really don't do any of that kind of shopping online.

Piri

Vilte I do most food shopping online because it saves me from carrying anything.

I don't know if you do it because of the health condition or other reasons. As well USA shopping probably is a bit different that Europe. In some point delivery saves miles b because they do it at once for more people. As well the distance might be greater.

But sometimes shopping might be a good exercise as well 🙂 if you cycle or walk

Clementine

Vilte I do most food shopping online because it saves me from carrying anything. I

I do not like to buy the food online or even in big stores where it is all packed, but like to go to the markets where I can smell and see the things and choose them, and find what is the most fresh for that moment.

Ash

It's definitely more convenient to just do your grocery shopping online. The only issue for me is that I don't trust them to pick the best items, especially for fresh fruit and vegetables.

Vilte

Piri I don't know if you do it because of the health condition or other reasons

I try to avoid the carrying because I have back problems, I can do it if I'm careful but if someone else will do it for me then I am not going to say no.

Some people enjoy food shopping and supermarkets, but it isn't something that is exciting for me, so I'm happy to skip it.

Ash

When they deliver the food, do they bring it inside as well? Because I know some supermarkets over here in the UK tell their drivers to not go inside someone's house even if the customer is struggling and may find it hard to take the shopping inside.

Stasys-Girskis

Ash Because I know some supermarkets over here in the UK tell their drivers to not go inside someone's house

Do you know what the reasoning is for that?

Is it to protect the drivers from something, or to protect the store from possible legal actions if the drivers damage something or are accused of something?

The few times that we've ordered grocery shopping online to be delivered, they have carried it into the kitchen.

John

Ash Is that a new thing? Last time I was living in the UK I used to order stuff from Tesco sometimes and I'm fairly sure I remember them carrying some of it sometimes.

Ash

I must say, it might not be a common thing but it was something I've seen in the news where, usually, elderly people have had complaints about it. I think it tends to depend on the driver as well, because some are likely to ignore certain guidelines. Maybe they've changed that recently though.

Ash

Julie Brooks-Girskiene

The physical shopping experience is great (pre-COVID of course) and it is something you tend to miss when shopping online. The only issue of course is that this experience is not always worthwhile when you can get a larger variety of things online and at times, at a cheaper price.

Julie Brooks-Girskiene

Ash you can get a larger variety of things online and at times, at a cheaper price

Yes, Amazon spoiled high street and mall shopping.

Piri

Julie Brooks-Girskiene Yes, Amazon spoiled high street and mall shopping.

Well after you will move to Lithuania some of your habits are going to change 🤭 of course it depends on the place, but still… 😂

Ash

Julie Brooks-Girskiene

Especially if you have Amazon Prime. In fact, they have actually ruined other online shopping sites and platforms for me as well. Getting used to the next day delivery makes it harder when you have to wait 2+ days to receive something now.

John

Ash Yep, we've all got pretty bad at waiting for anything in the new (almost) instant gratification reality.

Ash

John

Yeah. And I'm sure if the drone delivery system ever becomes a reality, our expectations for delivery times will become even worse. We might start thinking next day delivery is slow and expect it in just a few hours.

I am Ashlynn

I prefer to go to the shop, but it depends on what I am am buying, if I know exactly what I need, the brand, etc. and it is not something like food that you need to see and feel, then I buy online.

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