Feeling overwhelmed by Woolworths' online delivery options? You're not alone! With a growing number of platforms promising groceries at your doorstep, it's tough to know which one offers the best deal. Is it cheaper to brave the supermarket aisles, or can you snag a bargain online? We put Woolworths' various delivery services to the test to find out!
Australia's supermarket giant, Woolworths, keeps adding new online delivery options, which is great for choice, but can also lead to confusion. You might find yourself wondering: "Am I really getting the best price?" or "Is this convenience worth the extra cost?"
Most recently, DoorDash started emailing customers announcing their new partnership with Woolworths, promising solutions for everything from last-minute needs to your regular weekly shop. This means Woolworths shoppers now have four main ways to get their groceries delivered: directly through the Woolworths website, DoorDash, UberEats, and Milkrun (which Woolworths acquired in 2023 to revive the fast-grocery delivery concept).
So, which Woolworths delivery option reigns supreme in terms of price? And how do these online prices stack up against the good old in-store shopping experience? Guardian Australia decided to investigate.
DoorDash: The New Kid on the Block
Woolworths teamed up with DoorDash shortly after Coles ended its partnership with DoorDash to go exclusively with UberEats. A smart move to stay competitive! When announcing the DoorDash partnership in December, Woolworths highlighted that their "on-demand grocery offering" already accounted for a whopping 40% of their e-commerce orders. This demonstrates the growing demand for quick and convenient grocery delivery.
To put DoorDash to the test, I added a selection of everyday Woolworths items to my virtual cart: a 750g loaf of Helga’s traditional wholemeal bread, five Cavendish bananas, 2 liters of Pura milk, 2 liters of Omo Sensitive laundry liquid, a 1kg bag of Woolworths own-brand basmati rice, and a carton of 12 Manning Valley free-range eggs. The initial price totaled $61.05. But here's where it gets controversial... When I proceeded to checkout, the final amount jumped to $68.88. This included a 25-cent bag fee and a $7.33 service fee. DoorDash states that service fees on Woolworths orders can range from $4.99 to a hefty $11.99. The standard $2.99 delivery fee was waived for my order, which would have brought the total to $71.87. I was also given the option to pay an additional $2.99 for "express" delivery, promising my groceries within 35-53 minutes. Alternatively, standard delivery offered a one-hour window starting approximately 50 minutes after placing the order. Scheduling for another day was also possible.
The Woolworths Website: Straight from the Source
On the Woolworths website, the same six grocery items were noticeably cheaper than on DoorDash. This is generally expected, as delivery platforms often incorporate a price markup to cover their operational costs. My basket totaled $56.50. However, the final price surged to $73 when factoring in a $2 paper bag fee and a hefty $15 delivery fee! Ouch! To achieve a similar delivery timeframe to DoorDash, that $15 fee was unavoidable. Woolworths estimated my order would arrive in "approximately 1 hour and 5 minutes," and it would be delivered by one of their third-party delivery partners anyway.
And this is the part most people miss... Woolworths offers a much cheaper delivery fee of just $2, but only if you place your order at least five days in advance and allow a six-hour delivery window. If you're organized and planning a larger shop, this option could bring the total down to $60.50, making it cheaper than DoorDash. However, this requires advance planning and a minimum spend of $50. For smaller, urgent orders, ordering directly from Woolworths might not be the most cost-effective solution.
UberEats: The Ride-Sharing Giant Enters the Grocery Game
On Uber Eats, the grocery prices mirrored those on DoorDash, with my basket totaling $61.05. The final cost climbed to $66.40, including a $5.99 service fee. Although I'm not an Uber One subscriber, I was offered a promotion that waived the usual $6.99 delivery fee and provided an additional 64 cents off in "Uber One credits." Without this promotion, my order would have cost $74.30 – even more expensive than DoorDash! However, Uber Eats promised a faster delivery time.
Milkrun: Woolworths' Rapid Delivery Service
Milkrun, Woolworths' in-house rapid delivery service, presented prices similar to DoorDash and Uber Eats. Interestingly, the laundry liquid and basmati rice were slightly more expensive (90 cents and 15 cents, respectively), while the eggs and milk were 15 cents cheaper. My total basket came to $61.70. There were no service fees, and the app waived the $5 delivery fee for this particular order. The estimated time of arrival (ETA) was 52 minutes.
In-Store: The Traditional Approach
I took a tram from the Guardian's office to the nearest Woolworths to compare the online prices with those in the actual store. The in-store prices matched those on the Woolworths website, except for the bananas. In-store, they were sold for $4 per kilo instead of 86 cents each. Weighing five bananas brought the total to $4.33, making the entire basket $56.53.
The Verdict: Weighing the Options
Unsurprisingly, buying groceries in-store remains the cheapest option, although it demands the most time. What's more startling is that shopping on the Woolworths website can be the most expensive option if you need your items delivered quickly. My basket cost $20 more than it would have in the supermarket when factoring in the $15 delivery fee. The Woolworths website becomes more economical for larger, planned shopping trips.
Among the other delivery options, Milkrun appeared to offer the best value and convenience, but it doesn't deliver everywhere in Australia. In my specific test case, it was cheaper and faster than both Uber Eats and DoorDash.
A Woolworths spokesperson stated that the supermarket aims to provide a range of options to cater to diverse shopper needs, acknowledging that customers are increasingly demanding faster and more flexible grocery delivery services. They also highlighted that additional costs are associated with "express" delivery options, similar to many other services. Customers can also choose from other convenient options with clearly outlined prices, including the free "direct to boot" service and traditional home delivery.
Woolworths' "direct to boot" click-and-collect service is free if scheduled in advance, but the express version, guaranteeing your groceries are ready for pickup in under an hour, comes with a $5 charge.
So, what's your take on this? Do you think the convenience of rapid grocery delivery is worth the extra cost? Or do you prefer the traditional in-store shopping experience? Are Woolworths' delivery fees fair, or are they taking advantage of busy customers? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
