Competition is fierce among the biggest players in the retail industry. And one of the biggest battles is over the busiest customers — the ones who don’t have time to shop in stores, but also don’t want packages left unsecured on the front stoop during their long workdays. The ones who need groceries but don’t have time to walk the aisles for them. The ones who buy everything online but don’t want to wait a week for shipping.
That’s why the major players are rolling out new options to stand out, including customer services such as curbside pickup, in-home delivery, pickup towers and even in-car drop-off. Read on for some of the latest, most innovative ways you can get your stuff from major retailers.
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Amazon
Amazon has revolutionized retail in the past two decades, and these days, it’s trying to bring real-world convenience to its online shopping base. In addition to its Prime service, which is famous for the free two-day shipping it offers to subscribers, it offers these services.
In-home delivery. If you have Amazon Key, which is the home-security system that incorporates security cameras, smart locks and the Key app, and a Prime account, you can opt in to in-home delivery. You must also live in a supported area. Verify whether your area is supported by entering your ZIP code on Amazon’s Key page.
By opting in to in-home delivery, you give Amazon delivery personnel the ability to enter your home via the smart lock and leave your package inside your door while the security camera captures the whole process. This protects your pricey or perishable items from theft and the elements if you’re gone for the day.
Cost: There is no extra cost to this service beyond an Amazon Prime subscription, which costs $119 per year and, of course, the camera and smart lock.
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In-car delivery. With various retailers offering curbside pickup (see more on that below), Amazon is pushing the envelope by offering in-car delivery, even if you’re not in your car. If you have a 2015 or newer Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, GMC or Volvo vehicle, an OnStar Account and the Amazon Key app (and live in a covered area), you can opt in to have Amazon delivery personnel drop a package in your trunk while your car is parked.
Cost: There is no extra cost for this service beyond the cost of a Prime subscription.
AmazonFresh. Get groceries delivered to your door as soon as the same day or next. Fill up your online shopping cart with food, cleaning products and pantry staples and let your groceries come to you.
Cost: In addition to paying for Prime, you must pay $14.99 for AmazonFresh.
Walmart
Walmart is a bitter rival of Amazon, and it’s been finding ways to make its big-box shopping experience more palatable to online shoppers without requiring a paid subscription. It already offers free two-day shipping on select items to compete with Prime. It also offers the following services.
Curbside delivery. Walmart won’t deliver groceries to your door like Amazon will, but it offers this free, time-saving option. Fill up your shopping cart online, and Walmart employees will pull those items from the shelves. Schedule a pickup time, which can be the same day if time slots are available and you order before 1 p.m., park in the designated pickup area and wait for Walmart employees to load the bags into your car.
Cost: There is no additional cost for this service.
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Pickup towers and lockers. Want to order online but don’t want to pay shipping costs? Plenty of stores offer free in-store pickup — but that usually requires waiting in a customer service line. Walmart is eliminating this obstacle by offering pickup towers (think pickup vending machines) and pickup lockers in more than 200 stores.
Order anything from new shoes to a new TV via Walmart’s website. Select in-store pickup. If your store has the towers and lockers, simply scan in at the tower or locker using the order barcode on your phone’s screen. If using a tower, your box will zoom toward you on a conveyor belt. If using a locker, the door will open.
Cost: There is no additional cost for this service. Plus, Walmart offers small discounts on certain items if you pick up in store.
Target
Target is loved by its fans for its pleasant in-store shopping experience, but it’s offering busy shoppers a new service that removes the need to enter the store.
Drive Up. Target’s curbside delivery service has been launched in hundreds of stores nationwide. Via the Target app, you can order eligible items and groceries. To know whether your product is eligible, look for the Drive Up option when adding items to your online shopping cart. You’ll receive a push notification when your order is ready, which may be as soon as in a few hours. Use the app to alert Target staff you’re on your way, and a team member will load your order into your trunk when you arrive.
Cost: There is no additional cost for this service.
Other Retailers
While Amazon, Walmart and Target have lately been the biggest innovators when it comes to shopping convenience, plenty of other retailers offer curbside loading, including The Container Store, CVS, Kmart, Sam’s Club and various local grocery chains. Dick’s Sporting Goods, meanwhile, offers automated kiosks for in-store pickup.
So, if you’re pressed for time and eager to mix the convenience of online shopping with the instant gratification of in-store shopping, you’re in luck — retailers are competing with each other over you.
Companies and products mentioned in this article may be promoted on www.offers.com.
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Retailers Are Fighting for Your Business — Here’s How to Take Advantage originally appeared on usnews.com
