THE threat of Covid-19 and the consequent lockdowns have prompted many to turn to the internet for their grocery needs.

Some are just discovering the ease and convenience of shopping online for their food and household necessities while others have been turned off by the long wait for delivery resulting from the newfound popularity of the virtual outlets.

Shaza Nurmelina Mohd Farid, who lives in Subang Jaya, has become an avid online shopper since movement controls were introduced last year.

The 32-year-old marketing manager said she started to explore her internet shopping options then and has since become hooked because of the health safety, convenience and time-saving it affords her.

“Shopping online gives you the freedom to buy anytime without you having to get dressed, keeps you safe at home and helps with productivity by saving you time to complete other tasks,” she said.

She said she had observed prices were higher when she started but they have since tapered to match the price tags at the regular shops.

“As the platforms became saturated with grocers, prices went down and wet and dry foods are now sold at at competitive prices.

“The prices are more or less the same as those at the physical stores if you don’t count the delivery cost, which is a very small amount.”

Prices do vary, however, from store to store, she said. 

The only downside to online shopping, she said, is that one is unable to personally pick out the freshest produce.

“You will just have to accept what the grocer sends you.” 

As such Shaza is particular about where she shops. Her choices are Jaya Grocer and Hero Supermarket, both accessible on the Grab app, which she said was quick to process any refunds due.

Content writer Tiffany Oon Min-I said she made her first purchase two weeks ago when her home in Ipoh, Perak was put under an under enhanced movement-control order.

The 30-year-old said she was satisfied with the experience.

“I bought fish from a Facebook seller at 8pm and it was delivered the next day at 10am.

“The fish was cleaned, which saved me time. I also saved time getting dressed, driving there, finding parking, getting the fish and making my way back home.”

Oon said this was now her preferred method of shopping.

“It is safer for my family with less exposure to Covid-19. It is also not more expensive as many sellers offer free delivery for purchases above a certain amount.

“In some cases, yes, it costs more than shopping in-store but some grocers give extra groceries and bonus packages.

“And online, I can’t window shop or impulse buy food,” she said.

Delivery delays

Designer Farah Diyanah Abdul Jalil, 27, who lives in Ampang with her family, said she has been a fan of online shopping since 2018.

“I used an online platform that gives coins for price reductions and discounts. Being a tech-savvy person, I am usually the one who volunteers to buy stuff for the household.”

However, the popularity of shopping apps have affected the service and delivery is often late, she said.

“Delivery was faster back then; the retailers now have limited time slots and I have to wait for a week when it was previously delivered within 24 hours.

“The traffic shows that people are choosing to go online instead of going out now.”

Other shoppers also complained of congestion.

Joanna Thinn Mar, 28, said she tried to order from several retailers on June 1, the first day of the lockdown, but failed to get the items she needed.

“All the slots were full everywhere for a week, the ones in in Petaling Jaya were, at least.

“I was determined to try online shopping because I’m currently caring for my mom who has stage four breast cancer.

“None of us in the family has been able to get an appointment to get vaccinated so we want to go out as rarely as possible to minimise the risk,” Thinn said.

As for Jennifer Ng, 37, a stay-at-home mom, she said online shopping has been more “painful hassle than help” since the pandemic started.

Ng is that rare shopper who has switched back to brick-and-mortar stores.

“The retailers were unreliable as they were not prepared to cope with MCO 1.0.

“A retailer cancelled our order just a couple of hours before the expected delivery even though the order was placed more than a week ago.

“The retailer then suspended the service for a while. Another retailer didn’t service my area, and it was not practical to go to my mother-in-law’s house to collect the delivery there instead.

“In the end, it was more convenient to go to the neighbourhood grocer and mini markets to get what we need,” Ng said.

Malaysia is in lockdown for two weeks until June 14 amid a worsening Covid-19 crisis. – June 6, 2021.