Click and collect has brought online shopping closer to the physical store. You order from home, pick it up on-site, often within a few hours and with no shipping costs. It is convenient, provided you are aware of the holding periods, what to present for pickup, and the procedure if an item is not suitable.
The principle of click and collect
Picking up your order at a point of sale
Click and collect consists of reserving or paying for an item online, then picking it up in-store or at a locker. The stock is reserved in your name as soon as you place the order, which avoids stockouts upon arrival. It is the compromise between the immediacy of the store and the comfort of online shopping.
The advantages over delivery
No shipping costs, no waiting for the carrier, no missed packages: pickup solves several constraints of home delivery. It also allows you to see the product before leaving. In return, you have to travel, which remains a real asset, especially for an urgent purchase.
Placing an order for pickup
Choosing pickup at the cart stage
The pickup option is selected at the delivery stage, along with the nearest store and its availability. Check the announced lead time before confirming; it varies from one hour to several days depending on stock. A store that shows the item on the shelf generally prepares the order much faster.
Tracking preparation from your account
The progress of the preparation, and then the availability, can be tracked in your help and account management area, supplemented by an email or SMS. Wait for the availability confirmation before making the trip, otherwise you may have traveled for nothing. This message often contains the pickup code.
Pickup in practice
Documents to present and holding period
At the counter, you are generally asked for identification and the order number or code. The order is held for a limited time, often a few days, before automatic cancellation and refund. Note this holding date so as not to lose an item you have already paid for.
A problem at the time of pickup
Item not found, order not prepared, wrong reference: these cases are resolved first on-site, then with support if no progress is made. Keep the order confirmation; it proves your reservation. A store cannot refuse you a paid and confirmed item without a replacement solution.
After pickup
Returning an item picked up in-store
A product picked up and then deemed unsatisfactory is returned like a standard purchase, in-store or by mail depending on the retailer. The procedure can be requested via the contact page if it is not displayed. The right of withdrawal applies as soon as the order has been placed online.
Click and collect and recurring orders
Some retailers offer scheduled and regular pickup, linked to a subscription or a saved shopping list. A forgotten recurring pickup clutters the store and ends up being cancelled; remember to suspend it if you are going to be away. The frequency and pause settings can be managed via your subscription.