As I’ve been working from home for the past few weeks, I look out the window every now and then and see a parade of FedEx, UPS, Amazon, and US Postal Service trucks making deliveries all day long.
It sure seems like my neighbors (and myself) have been placing a lot of online orders. Which makes sense during these Coronavirus pandemic times.
How about you? Have you been ordering more items online? How has that experience been?
Are you able to get to the stores? If so, how’s that going? Tell us about your online and/or in store shopping experiences in the comments section.
Online grocery sales have exploded since the outbreak began. Last year in the U.S., online grocery shopping made up only 3% of the food retail market, according to a report by Deutsche Bank.
But that figure is sure to grow.
As of mid-March, sales for online grocers in the U.S. were 86% higher than the same time last year, according to Earnest Research.
In particular, even before many states had imposed their stay at home orders, Instacart, Amazon, and Walmart grocery delivery sales all climbed by at least two-thirds from the year before, according to Earnest Research. Instacart, a delivery service that partners with more than 25,000 retailers in North America, stated that orders in more recent weeks have surged 150%.
So with all these deliveries going on, we want to encourage you to record these purchases.
Grocery Delivery Services
Do you use an online delivery service? If so, please make sure to record those purchases as coming from that online delivery service, not the retailer that you’re ordering the items from.
For example, if you go to the Instacart.com website or use their app to make a purchase from CVS Pharmacy or Costco, or any of the many other retailers that Instacart works with, select Instacart.com as the store you used.
If, on the other hand, you place an order on an online retailer’s website or app and the delivery happens to be via Instacart, the trip should be recorded as from the online retailer. It is very important to record these purchases using the online retailer or delivery service that you actually used.
Online Purchases
Here are our best tips for recording anything you buy online:- Online purchases may come in one or multiple shipments and don’t always include a packing receipt. Consider printing out your email/order confirmation so you can refer back to it when reporting your purchase.
- If your items do come separately, please scan them as you receive them.
- If an item arrives with the UPC barcode covered by another label, try carefully peeling off that label and scanning the UPC barcode on the item (or manually enter the barcode number if the barcode is damaged).
- If you buy something from the website of a retailer that also has a storefront, make sure to report the trip as an online purchase. For example, if you order something from Walmart’s website, select “walmart.com” when you record the purchase (whether the item was shipped directly to you or picked up at the store).
In addition, NCP has created a few videos that will help you when recording your online purchases.
NCP Tip for Online Shopping: Covered Barcodes
www.youtube.com/watch?v=fpveu5lT8hM
NCP Tip for Online Shopping: Multiple Shipments
www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ENz8MO8dJ0
NCP Tips: Online Shopping vs Storefront
www.youtube.com/watch?v=hhQs_TRizj0
I hope you all take care of yourselves and your family. Have a nice, socially distant weekend!
Best Regards,
Taylor
I have a question: What do you do if what you order online comes in without ANY bar code, and there is no category for it on the Bar Code Reference Book? For instance, electronics (i.e. radio). There is a code for DVD and /Blu-Ray rentals, but what about purchases? What about exercise equipment?
A: We are currently not reporting information about exercise equipment. In the event there is no barcode nor a category in the Barcode Reference Book (or the Non-barcoded Items list in the app), you would not report that particular item.
Another question: if you order something on Amazon, but it is coming from another party, do you still scan it as Amazon?
A: Yes, you would still record it as having been purchased at Amazon.
If you order something from a store website, but have it shipped to store for pickup, it would be scanned as the store.com, but if the store website is not on the store list, do you scan it under the store name, or something else?
A: If the .com is not listed, you can scan it using the actual store name.
Hope that helps! If you have any additional questions, please contact the PSC at 800-962-6700 or [email protected].
Thank you
I can’t wear a mask for medical reasons so I can’t shop at local stores. If I can’t get it online I have to do without. Would love to be able to buy non-perishable groceries online but that won’t happen until EBT is accepted. As a low income disabled widow I can’t afford to spend cash on food. My last actual shopping trip was almost 6 weeks ago. All the small businesses in my rural area are closing down leaving us nothing but the big chain stores on top of it all.
I have been trying to get an on line grocery delivery since March 12. I try every day morning and night with no luck. I’ve tried peapod, Instacart and Amazon fresh. I’ve been forced to go to the food stores but I try to limit the number of Times. I have a 33yr old special needs son in a wc and worry s as bout what i may bring back to him. I wipe everything down, still worry
I’ve always shopped online but since the beginning of covid19 my online purchases have skyrocketed. I’m also using curb side pick up more often for items that I can’t get online.
I live in a rural area where grocery delivery or even pizza delivery is not available. I ordered groceries online for pick up at the closest Walmart, but it took a week to get an open slot. It was the first time I had used grocery pick up & despite the difficulty of getting a time slot, it was a very enjoyable experience! However, I did not know at the time to specify an online order. I will get it right next time.
There are 2 small grocery stores closer to my home, but I dread going after they raised their prices exorbitantly. It’s more economical to drive the 60+ miles to Walmart or Aldi. I have not been able to find hand sanitizer or disinfecting wipes anywhere.
I went to Dollar General for the first time in several weeks & I wore my homemade mask. People were avoiding me as if I was sick – – even more so than others who weren’t wearing masks. Shouldn’t it be the other way around?
Have been using online for a long time. So the virus hasn’t changed my shopping habits much. It has delayed delivery when the store has less shoppers to deliver than orders. But it haa been my experience that they will work with you to get your order sooner if you are disabled as I am. I have also had to get less items as the shelves are emptying faster than usual.
I have a question about online purchases where the item does not have a traditional barcode. What do we do then?
Hi, this can be a tricky situation. Please try to scan the barcode. If it can’t be scanned, try to see if you can record the purchase by using the Barcode Reference Booklet if you use a handheld scanner, or if you have the NCPMobile App, the Non-Barcoded Items listing in the app.
Now, unfortunately, some items just can’t be recorded. But, please include the price of anything that can’t be recorded in the TOTAL price when you complete the recording of the purchase.
Hope that helps. If you have any further questions, please contact our Panel Support Center at [email protected].
Perhaps I am missing something here. It seems that the line between Online and brick & mortar needs some clarification. Being specific: I used the Walmart phone app to select and pay for my groceries. I then drive to my Walmart and they bring my order to my car.
Is this an online purchase?
Using the same app my sister orders and pays but has the groceries delivered to her home.
What type of shop is this?
FYI. We could also do this exact same thing on Walmart.com.
I am confused.
Its a real mess to go to the store lines outside, a few at a time come in, one way traffic. If you want curbside or delivery you have to schedule a time and there aren’t any. Even Amazon Prime has slowed down. What is the deal with the TP? Why are people hoarding? It is a mess, my son and I are at high risk so we are staying home and Freezer and pantry shopping!
Today was my first day out in 18 days. I took the precautions to stay safe, and went to Walmart. The employees had on masks, as did I, however there were maybe a handful of customers with masks. Our small community doesn’t seen to think this is REAL. Needless to say, I didn’t finish my shopping list. Thank you for your updates, your changes to help us, but most of all THANK YOU for your concern for the safety of us all! God Bless. Sincerly, Terri June
No matter what time I go to the store there is never toilet paper or bleach. I have never done clicklist or ordered food online. I’m just try to stock up on things that I might need. I’m not overstocked Because there is only one of me. Trying to stay as safe as I can. Praying that this will go away soon
Well I’m a fan of online shopping but since the pandemic I started some projects around my house, one of them was to finish a room that was full of boxes from our last moving I finally opened them organized and threw away old stuff then painted the room, bought a bed and the bedding online now I’m in the last phase decorating it. So yes I had been having more deliveries than ever before and also we had been ordering all kinds of meals from DoorDash. Also for the first time I ordered groceries from amazon whole/pantry it was an amazing experience. So now I’m going to start my 2nd project with another bedroom and my 3rd project I’m planning to remodel my kitchen. If I buy a car online I will let you all know! LOL Stay Safe everyone and happy Easter!
I’m in the vulnerable bracket, too. So shopping in brick and mortar places is not happening.
Online shopping was tremendous prior to the outbreak, Now? Wow, pretty terrible!
Thank goodness I have a garden, and I can my own veggies. I’m learning how to make my own TP !! I can’t begin to count how many orders I placed only to have them get cancelled, or they didn’t have the products after I paid for them.
At least I’m healthy so far, and hope the same for everyone else!
Trying to get healthy.
I have used Instacart, who was new to me before. They did a good job. I have also used Amazon Whole Foods delivery. They were very fast (within two hours) and they had more of the original requests (and not substitutions) than when Instacart shopped at Sam’s Club for me. Sam’s Club does not do well. Their website has few food choices for delivery. You can, however, pick up at the store after ordering online, if you don’t mind going there. I got a nice box of fruit from “The Fruit Guys” who operate out of California. We are within the vulnerable bracket so we don’t want to leave home. It’s been
a work in progress but I believe I’m beginning to get the hang of food delivery from online ordering. You have to be ahead of the game, though. Some deliveries have taken weeks. The first order I made was through Peapod, the delivery service of Giant Food. It was three weeks before they got it to me.
Best wishes to everyone. Stay safe!
What do we do if the barcodes are not accepted when scanning? I shopped online and when the pillows came, their bar codes were not accepted.
Hi, unfortunately some barcodes can’t be scanned. Please try to scan everything, but just know that some items can’t be recorded. But we appreciate that you tried!
I always copy my receipts when I order online. The barcodes are usually listed.
I basically buy everything from Walmart+ and Amazon. I do delivery I love it. I stay out of the stores and found I spend less. Best thing to happen to grocery shopping ever!!
This may not be appropriate but is helpful for online purchases. If you receive things it may be a good idea to sanitize them whether as a gift or you directly ordered just to help in be cautious of the covid-19. Just don’t forget to sanitize then scan. Stay healthy.
That’s exactly what I do. Our country is in the fight of it’s life. I was once a R.N. and I know the importance of wiping items down when I get home. Plus many people don’t wash their hands when they should. My instructor’s motto was, when in doubt wash your hands. She was so right. That simple act saves lives.
Good point!
I tried two different superstores online. No t.p. or wipes at either one.