If you’re always on the hunt for the latest and easiest ways to make your next purchase, you’re definitely not alone—especially considering the current health crisis.
“Contactless” options are fast becoming the new norm, and no matter where you live, you’d be hard-pressed not to have heard of services like “curbside pickup.” After all, research has found that curbside pickup at retail stores jumped by a whopping 208% in the early months of the pandemic—and it doesn’t seem to be going anywhere soon.
But even if you’ve seen stores with curbside pickup near where you live, you may not be sure what the service is. What kind of transaction is it, and why does it help? Here’s what you should know about this easy purchasing method.
What Does “Curbside Pickup” Mean?
What Does Curbside Pickup Mean? How Can It Help You?
As the name suggests, “curbside pickup” is a service in which customers come to pick up their order from a convenient place near a store, usually the street curb.
The service itself is pretty simple, but the details can vary from location to location.
Some stores may offer a true-to-name curbside pickup, meaning that a worker will bring the order outside to the customer, who won’t have to leave their vehicle.
In other cases, the business might advertise the ability to “order online and pick up in-store,” meaning the customer will need to enter the physical building. However, this option still saves time over traditional shopping, as the order will be at the counter and ready for pickup when the customer walks in.
In addition, the timing of the payment can vary as well. Some businesses offer options to pay online in advance using a credit card or even PayPal. For cases like these, customers can usually still check out using coupons or discount codes as desired.
On the other hand, other stores allow customers to pay only when they come to collect their orders.
Before you start a curbside pickup order, it’s worth heading to the business’s website to understand the fine print. Make sure you understand where, when, and how to pick up your order, as well as when payment is due!
How Can Curbside Pickup Help?
So why choose curbside pickup? This modern transaction has a lot to offer, and there are a few reasons why you may want to make your next purchases with stores offering curbside pickup.
Health
The top thing on most customers’ minds, of course, is the effects of the global pandemic. Spending long periods in stores can feel unsafe, even when wearing a mask, which is why a quick transaction can be the perfect alternative. With most curbside pickup options, the entire transaction will take place outside, negating the need to head into a crowded indoor space.
Convenience
When you know exactly what you want, curbside delivery can be much easier than hunting around a store for the right product. Picking out the exact brand, model, or food for your order is easier than ever when you do it online, making the entire process more convenient.
Speed
Many of us rely on traditional delivery services to get most of the things we buy online. However, waiting several days for a package to arrive—and making sure you don’t miss the delivery guy—can be a headache. With curbside pickup, you can get exactly what you want in the time it takes you to drive to the store.
Better Satisfaction Guarantees
If you’ve ever had an order damaged in transit from a warehouse to your home, you know how frustrating it can be. When you choose curbside pickup, you minimize the risk of walking away with a broken product, as you have the chance to check your order over to make sure you’re happy with it before you drive off.
Less Expensive
Let’s face it: added delivery fees can be a hassle! With curbside pickup, most stores won’t charge you anything for the service.
What Stores Do Curbside Pickup?
Now that you understand the benefits, you may be wondering, “What stores offer curbside pickup?”
You might be surprised at the range of types of stores that have curbside pickup. After all, the service has been around for decades, ever since the first drive-in restaurants with carhop delivery opened back in the 1920s. In the past decade, many big-box retailers and chain restaurants have started to offer curbside pickup for customers’ convenience.
Today, you’ll find that social distancing has prompted a wider range of stores and restaurants to offer this service. The majority of major retailers and restaurants, from Wal-Mart to Home Depot to Applebee’s, allow customers to pick up their orders on the go. This makes it easy to get your hands on everything from tonight’s dinner to a brand new sofa with ease.
What’s more, even smaller local shops tend to have options for some variety of curbside pickup, though you may need to call ahead to find out how it works.
How Do I Find Nearby Stores With Curbside Pickup?
If you’re ready to jump into this new trend, it’s time to find a store with curbside pickup where you live.
If you live near any larger chain retailers, it’s a safe bet that they’ll offer curbside pickup as a free service for your convenience. However, if you’re not sure—or if you’re interested in shopping with smaller local companies—it’s always worth searching for “curbside pickup near me” to see what pops up. You might be surprised at how many options you find!
Try Curbside Pickup Today
It’s a strange time for shopping right now, but that doesn’t mean that you have to hold back on getting your favorite products. By searching for stores with curbside pickup where you live, you’ll be able to get more of the things you love without worrying about your health or paying more for shipping. And with a wealth of stores with in-store pickup options nationwide, there’s no reason not to get started!
As you start your hunt for curbside pickup services near you, don’t forget to save more with our coupons! Check out our discount categories and shop by brand to find the perfect products for your needs.
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