The online shopping experience is going through a tumultuous shift as ecommerce and technology have continued to change the way we shop. People are now able to pick up their purchases from their nearby retail store. And, by providing customers the convenience of using click and collect services, retailers can save on costs associated with shipping items across town or across the country.
However, it doesn’t come without a price — you will typically need an internet connection for this service and there may be an added charge if you want your order collected on the same day as being ordered.
Here are a few ideas on when to use Click and Collect for your next online order.
When you don’t want to use the traditional postal service for shipping your order. The customer will be paying for the shipping of the package plus the associated tax and fees. By using click and collect, you are simply picking up your package from an online store location.
This is a great option when purchasing a large item that could potentially break if it were to be dropped or sent through regular mail. Many customers choose this option when buying products such as tablecloths, bedding, towels, soaps, and other items that can easily get damaged in shipment because they tend not to weigh over 500 grams (1 pound).
Another reason to use Click and Collect is if you want to see the product in person before purchasing. This may be due to seeing a picture online and wanting to see the actual item before buying it, or simply wanting to experience the quality of an item.
This is a very convenient way of shopping at home and not having to worry about where you’ll be at later that day to pick up your purchase, or when you can get away from work again so that you can go out and retrieve your package from shipping facilities.
Here are some popular items people purchase for Click and Collect.
While you can use Click and Collect for any online order, there are some items that are more likely to be purchased this way because they are large or bulky in size. Again, these types of products don’t typically fall within the range of 500 grams (1 pound) and will therefore need to be delivered through other means.
You can save time and money when ordering as Click and Collect.
When you want to use click and collect as an alternative to your local store when shopping online. The customer will be paying for the shipping of the package plus the associated tax and fees. By using collect, you are simply picking up your package from a store location.
This is a great option when purchasing a large item that could potentially break if it were to be dropped or sent through other means. This is also a good option for people who don’t live very close to retail stores. This allows for flexibility with both time and cost while still having the convenience of picking up your package at another location, such as from a Post Office, FedEx facility, UPS depot, or parcel store.
Benefits of Click and collect shopping include:
- The customer won’t have to spend time tracking down a Post Office or mail distribution center.
- There is no delivery date (or time) specified for the package, and the customer is hoping to receive it as soon as possible.
- The customer doesn’t have to wait in line to pick the item up from a distribution facility or Post Office.
- The customer doesn’t have to pay extra for shipping the package compared with a local store pick-up.
- The customer gets a better price on an item, as the shipping cost is included in the retail cost of the item itself. This can be especially helpful when you want to save money on an item (in which case you would save more on shipping than you would on buy).
If you haven’t already tried to order using Click and Collect, maybe now is the time. Check out our Click and Collect directory with hundreds of stores and locations you choose from in your area.