Those trying to do their groceries online these days are facing some challenges: inaccessible websites, out-of-stock products, lack of available timeslots for deliveries, arrival delays and even virtual waiting lines.
In recent days, the unusual increase in the number of orders received by supermarkets through their websites has resulted in the collapse of their services, making it difficult, in practice, to buy this way. This has happened despite the fact that the chains had significantly strengthened that channel, given the rise in the demand due to the current lockdown.
Both on Monday and Tuesday, Alcampo's website was not available due to "maintenance work". Carrefour even has a virtual waiting line that forces you to wait for an hour before allowing you to shop.
No timeslots available
In Madrid, one of the areas of Spain with the best coverage for this kind of services, DIA no longer has free timeslots in which to deliver groceries within seven days, although it is now giving the option of picking up the purchases in one of the stores.
The option of picking up the orders from your car is working "very well" for El Corte Inglés, as reported by the company, despite the fact that the website is working slowly and there are no free timeslots for home delivery before Tuesday, March 31.
Mercadona was the first to suspend its internet sales service in the capital after predicting that an avalanche of customers was about to hit its stores. Even 100% online supermarkets, like Lola Market, are having some serious difficulties.
Supermarkets, ahead of Amazon in food
The consultants Nielsen and Kantar also confirm in their latest reports that Internet orders to supermarkets have grown exponentially, with households trying this system for the first time. Specialists consider this an opportunity to help grow this channel, which has so far remained very small.
Another recent study published early in the month by the employers' association Aecoc revealed that Carrefour and Mercadona are the leaders in online sales in the sector, ahead even of Amazon.
The e-commerce giant has announced that it will hire 1,500 people for its logistics network in Spain to meet the increased demand for its products.
Source: efeagro.com