Living in Cebu City is ideal because of the accessibility to almost all of the essentials and non-essentials alike. Yes, it comes with all the downsides of living in an urban area but I have learned to make my way around those.
I started relying primarily on deliveries when the pandemic hit the country. It was a lot more difficult at the start of the pandemic because supermarkets do not have this type of service back then. Now that grocery delivery has improved significantly, I have been and will continue to choose to have my groceries delivered.
Here's why
It is relatively cheaper than having to go back and forth the grocery shops. I do not have a car and commuting with a bunch of groceries is something I choose not to do so I have to take a cab. It saves me 50% of the total transportation costs and 100% of the stress from the traffic. If I choose to have my groceries delivered, I only have to pay for the delivery cost which is around Php 70 - Php 100 and the service charge that is around Php 70.
It is easier for me to compare prices. Compared to going personally to the shops, in the app I get to compare prices a lot easier and I get to see which ones I am just picking up on a whim and which ones I absolutely need. I also get to see the total price per shop so this does not become an element of surprise.
It is very convenient. Don't get me wrong, I really love grocery shopping but I live alone and I have so much more things I have to do at home that I voluntarily choose to leave the grocery shopping to someone else and all I have to do is wait for it to get delivered.
Here's how
In Cebu City, you get a number of options. The ones that I have tried are Metromart, Pandamart (and other shops at Foodpanda) and Grabmart.
Metromart is the top option for me. They have the most updated stocks for the big grocery shops here in Cebu City. They have Robinsons Supermarket, The Marketplace by Rustans, S&R, Shopwise, etc. They also have home and hardware shops as well as pet supplies shops in the app. I just wish that there is a GPS sort of tracking for the rider but other than that, it is a really great app for groceries. The app is best for those who are ordering larger quantities.
Grabmart is another great app for ordering. They have shops that Metromart does not have like Metro Supermarket and Gaisano Country Mall Banilad. They also have small (but still very good) shops. I prefer ordering smaller quantities in Grabmart and Foodpanda.
Pandamart and other shops are very similar to Grabmart. What I like most about the app is that very few shops have service charge and they offer great discounts. Delivery for Pandamart is only around 25 to 30 minutes which is the fastest out of all I mentioned today.
Here are some tips:
If you can, set your substitutions. Metromart offers the option to pre-select substitute products in case they are not available. For the other apps, you can do so by messaging the merchant once they start shopping. It is best to have a look at your other options and note them in the app or in another notepad so when the merchant messages you to confirm substitutions, you will be able to respond faster.
Check the expiry dates. As anyone should even when buying groceries personally. If the product you have is expired or it looks off, contact the customer service immediately and keep any documentation. Do not throw away receipt until after you've checked all your items.
Go for earlier delivery times. Ordering towards the end of the day will most likely delay your order and there is a higher chance that your items will be out of stock so it is always best to order and have your items delivered in the morning.
Hope this helps!
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