Five reasons to go ration shopping online

Buying groceries for home a chore you dread? Hate lugging the face washes, shampoos and that basmati rice bag across the general store in a rickety carry-bag? We tell you how the neighbourhood kirana store is mimicking the best of online shopping.

Is buying groceries on weekends for home a chore you dread? Do you hate lugging the face washes, shampoos and that cooking oil and basmati rice bag across the general store in a rickety carry-bag?

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If you are fed up with dumping it all in your car's boot, only to take it all up in one go to your third-floor flat in another half hour, it's high time you became a tech-savvy and went online. Yes, online shopping is not just about apparels or gadgets. In fact, there are many sites that mimic your neighbourhood kirana store.

If you haven't already, it's time you checked a few websites -- www.mygrahak.com, www.shopration.com, www.citykirana.com, www.naturebasket.co.in, www.dilligrocery.com -- that offer online shopping, home delivery and even cash on delivery for cities such as Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore and a few others. You could even buy fresh fruits and veggies from some of these.

Here are five reasons why it's time you changed your shopping habits and bought even your ration online from now.

1. Ease of access
No more trudging between floors, carrying all that you need for your house. E-shopping offers incredible access to a range of products, all at the click of the mouse. Just log on to your computer and order all that you want. You don't need to get out of your room -- everything will be delivered at your doorstep between 24 hours and three days, depending on the service.

2. Variety
From Yardley deodrants to your favourite Basmati rice brand, it's all there. And you don't need to trudge the length and breadth of the general store looking for the stuff you need. You can check everything you want from just one site.

3. Cash on delivery
If you are wary of internet banking (even in this age), most websites offer the cash on delivery option.

4. No kirana store hassles
When online shopping, you don't have to live through weird discussions with the shopkeepers. No shopkeepers telling you how your choice of cosmetics or a certain brand of noodles is not good enough -- simply because they don't stock that brand!

5. Simplicity
The simplicity of having what you want -- the price, brand or item, without a third person actually commenting on your choices.