The expert revealed ways not to overpay for home delivery of goods

With the development of shipping, Russians began to spend more money. The fact is that services often have hidden items of expenditure. In addition, buying decisions are influenced by emotions in this case. On May 15, Izvestia talked with Stepan Sumin, a financial consultant and expert at the ready-to-eat ration delivery service, about how our costs change with the development of delivery and how to save money without giving up our usual comfort.

"Express delivery of orders appeared only five years ago. But it turned out to be enough to change our daily lives, spending and attitude to purchases," the expert noted.

According to the expert, three types of delivery are currently the most popular: scheduled — at a selected time, express — in 1-2 hours and urgent — within half an hour. The speed at which an order is received directly affects the purchase decision. Many are willing to pay extra if the order is delivered as early as possible, for example, 15-20 minutes in advance. Sumin clarified that you usually have to overpay up to 20% for urgency.

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When a person can quickly get the desired product, there is no need to plan. The customer orders more often and focuses on immediate desires and needs "here and now", and this can lead to increased costs. As the expert noted, emotions also influence decision-making, especially in the category of technology. The feeling of anticipation of unpacking the gadget pushes you to choose express delivery - you want to get a new phone or headphones as soon as possible.

Sumin clarified that excessive expenses may arise due to nuances that remain "behind the scenes." In a number of services, the total amount appears only at the final stage of the order. One of these hidden cost items is the non—fixed cost of delivery, which depends on distance, demand, and time of day. According to the financial advisor, the service fee can also increase the total cost by 5-10%.

"When buying in services where delivery is free from a certain order amount, it is tempting to "get" the goods to the right mark and spend more. Such overpayments are not one—time, but systemic in nature, eventually eating up a significant part of the budget," explains Sumin.

Sumin noted that there is no need to completely abandon delivery — it is enough to use available savings methods. A financial consultant advises you to look at the cost of a similar basket in aggregators and other services before ordering in order to find a better deal. In addition, he recommends avoiding peak hours with more expensive delivery whenever possible — from 12:00 to 14:00 and from 18:00 to 21:00 on weekdays, as well as from 13:00 to 20:00 on weekends.

Another way to reduce costs without sacrificing convenience is to choose a scheduled delivery, make a list in advance, and make a purchase for 3-7 days. It helps to calmly collect the grocery basket and not forget anything. It is more profitable to order goods with a long shelf life, household chemicals and hygiene products for the future. The expert recommends taking ready meals, fruits and vegetables several days in advance. He also recalled that some subscription services, such as ready-made rations, do not charge for transportation of the order.

Sumin also advises to keep an eye on the banks' offers. They often offer discounts on the first order, categories with increased cashback, or arrange joint promotions with delivery services. All this, according to him, will help save money or get a refund of part of the cost. The financial consultant notes that promo codes and coupons are regularly published on websites, social networks and mailing lists of services. It's an easy way to get a discount or free shipping without extra effort.

If there is no need for urgent delivery, you can consider pickup. Many stores and services offer this option for free. According to the consultant, this is especially convenient, because most pick-up points are located 3-8 minutes from home.

Before placing an order, Sumin recommends going through the checklist and checking yourself: have you compared prices in different apps, are there hidden fees or charges, are bank discounts or cashback available. It is also worth considering whether it is possible to combine several orders into one and whether all the items in the basket are really needed right now.

"It is important to remember that the goal is not to abandon delivery, but to learn how to use it for the benefit of the budget," sums up Sumin.

Earlier, on March 25, it was reported that Russians spend more money on animal feed than on a cup of coffee, and milk has become one of the most popular products in all regions.