6 Unarguable Reasons To Buy Dog Food Online and One Really Great Reason Not To
Buying dog food online is a thing in case you didn’t know. Lots of people do it. We think you should too. Here’s why.
Disclosure: Please note that this post contains affiliate links, which will direct you to our partner sites. If you purchase the pet foods we recommend through those links, we may earn a small commission – at no extra cost to you.
6. Price
Buying online is hands-down the best way to save on pet food. Online pet food retailers deal in bulk with brands and manufacturers which means that they buy big quantities. This also means they have the luxury of enjoying significant dealer discounts that they can pass off to their customers. Of course not all online dealers of dog food are so generous with their margin. You’ll need to pay attention to which stores have the lowest price.
In general, we find Chewy.com to be the cheapest across the board. Even better than Amazon! Don’t believe us? See for yourself.
5. Convenience
Without a doubt the worst thing about buying dog food in-store is having to cart those heavy bags and packages of cans around. Moving that stuff from store shelf to cart to conveyor to cart to car to home is a lot of unnecessary lifting.
You might be in the camp that claims the routine as a workout or “the only exercise you get”, but we like to remind you that there are just as many people who claim “they threw their back out” lifting those 30 lb bags of kibble. If you’re inclined to keep buying in-store we implore you to remember to lift with your legs.
4. Availability
There’s nothing worse than running out of your dog’s food and running to the store to pick up a new bag only to find out the last one was just sold and a new shipment won’t be in til Monday. Or learning that the only retailer in a 20 mile radius that sells the food your dog likes has just discontinued offering it. You just don’t find this problem online.
It’s also worth noting that the selection you get online is much broader than you could ever find in store.
3. Freshness
If your dog is the only lover of a particular food at your local store then chances are the bags you see on the shelf have been sitting there a long time. It’s always a good idea to check expiration dates, but in general online retailers have a lot more turnover in product and therefore can offer a better chance at fresh food.
2. Free Shipping
Online retailers like to reward consumers for large purchases and if you’re buying a premium dog food you’re almost guaranteed to meet their minimum threshold for free shipping. We’re pretty sure your local pet food provider doesn’t offer the same deal. Let’s not forget that it also gets dropped right at your front door.
1. Auto Shipping
Remembering to buy your dog more food is a task easily forgotten since it can be quite infrequent for some people. That can prompt some unpleasurable last minute runs to the store in really cold or rainy weather that could’ve easily been avoided.
We love the option to select autoship from most pet food retailers. You can set an interval of your choosing and you’ll automatically be billed and sent a new bag of food without any hassle on your end to re-order. It just happens!
You can always adjust your schedule too so if your last bag came a little too soon just add another week in between deliveries!
Chewy.com offers free shipping on orders over $49 and that handy dandy autoship feature we just described. If it’s your first time ordering we’re happy to report you get an additional 30% Off just for setting it up! You’ll even get 5% off on every subsequent order.
Why Shouldn’t I Buy Online?
Sometimes all of the above conveniences just can’t be overruled by good ole’ fashion patronage. Supporting your local pet food store is a noble and noteworthy cause that probably means the world to the store owner. We applaud you for spending your hard earned dollars at a place that is meaningful to you.
What’d I miss?
What other arguments would you make for or against buying dog food online? Tell us in the comments!
Right on! I found out about Chewy some time ago. I feed Natural Balance to my 3 small dogs. Pet stores either sell the small bags of dry (too expensive) or the
the very large bags (too heavy & difficult to store). Chewy has 13 lb. bags … just
right. And using AutoShip the cans are each 60 cents cheaper than in a store. Plus I save time, energy, gas money and wear&tear on my car. Hurray for buying dog food online!i
I have been using Chewy.com for almost a year… best price I could find, convenient and shipped for free!
Shopping from home also gives you the opportunity to check out other brands of food, reading the labels, checking reviews, etc. while in your jammies and slipping your favorite beverage rather than standing at the retail store reading those labels and having NO customer reviews available. I love Chewy.com! Two-day delivery at most and if you order early in the AM, you can possibly have it the next day depending upon where you live (ordering later in the day and it is usually the second day after). And the prices do beat the local retail feed stores. I, generally, always have over $49 so shipping is free and in a rare case where I don’t have $49 worth of mdse, the shipping is very reasonable.
mrchewy.com is fantastic! The prices are great, the delivery is fast (2 day max), the selection is awesome, and the customer service is excellent. They also have a money back guarantee.
Chewy also has very knowledgeable staff who has helped me many times with prescription food and anything else I ever needed.
There is NO substitute for the service and pet food knowledge offered by your local pet food store.
Most of these stores have been in business a long time and have higher costs to pay for labor, rent and all the costs that go along with running a retail store.
The brick and mortar businesses that introduced you to and convinced you to feed better pet nutrition have to do all the work and corporate online, private-equity backed monsters like Chewy.com and Amazon get to reap all of the profits.
Its just NOT RIGHT!!!!
I agree with Josh! Quality pet supply stores offer superior service, knowledgeable sales people, easy and convent returns and new and innovative products. On line retailers suck money out of your local community and do not support local charities and rescue groups. There is more to value than just price!
Buying everything we can online consolidates all commercial power in the hands of a few corporations that would be just as happy to feed your dogs rendered euthanized animals. My local shop will deliver for $5 and they dont carry any brands that regularly cause massive dog deaths. Its a real problem and will not be worth saving a few $ in the future when you have no other options. Your local shops also hold classes and support animal causes, working together with the local shelters. So buying your food from Amazon, many dogs that could have been helped out by supporting a quality pet shop indirectly results in euthanization. I also could care less if that local shop carries purina or any other rotten food that makes your pets life miserable.
So thats 2 reasons to support your local shop.
I love chewy.com! Been using it for years! Have four dogs that eat a lot, all over 100 lbs. and chewy.com gets the food to me always within two days. No need to go to the store!
and I think that is makes a lot of sense from where I come from and I do like CHEWY
While buying online has the above listed benefits, buying at a local educated retailer can save a pet owner a lot of money at their vets. While buying online is one way to avoid getting out of the house, and off your couch, when people shop online their is no support in place should the dogs food not agree with that dog. Ask the person placing your order on line a question about the food you are trying to purchase. Ask them how to deal with let’s say a kidney issue, allergy issue, ear infection and ask them to help find a food that your dog will benefit from. When people buy online, they are eliminating the need for brick and mortar stores that can educate the public. Try getting answers to any health or nutrition questions answered by an online seller. Best yet, ask them what the ingredients are in that food called RED meat, your answer will be “I think it’s chicken”??? case closed. Shop local at brick and mortar stores. These online retailer giants are the beginning to an end if people support them, they will have nowhere to turn for human contact “help” In the article written, it is not true that in good independently owned stores there food is coming up on the best buy date. Maybe if you’re shopping in a run down store this may be the case. Most independent retailers are on top of their inventory. Most retailers in business for a long period of time do not “run” out of food. Don’t lump all stores into this category. Do your homework and think about the consequences before you write a misinformed article. As a brick and mortar owner for over 23 years, you are way off base. As an educated professional, I have saved lives when owners “bring in” their dogs for me to assess. Seeing a dog in pain with chronic ear infections, yeast overgrowth, GI issues,joint pain, removing that “tick” the owner couldn’t remover at home, trimming a split nail that is bleeding, knowing how to spot symptoms that need veterinary attention,proper grooming product needed for that specific dog, are among the few things we can help with.Had the hundreds of people shopped online that support our store, they would be placed on a prescription diet(by their vet) due to lack of knowledge from online retail stores. We deal with many dogs who need specific foods to thrive. Think your dog looks good? Think again, without an assessment by a professional, they might just be on the wrong food for them to be in top health. Convenience is the only fact listed here. You do not benefit other than being on the couch when you order from home. Regards, Jayne Malenfant owner at Dawg City Inc. Massachusetts
I have ordered dog food online from several vendors. Each time the bag was torn and packing tape patched the tear. I have no way of determining if the food was contaminated. Just my experience.
We have 5 dogs and feed Diamond Naturals. We shop locally as our store, Concord Pet, offers coupons each month, usually $10 off of your $75 purchase. So 2 bags of our food costs $49.99 x 2 -10 = $89.98. Chewy.com is $95.98 for 2 bags. In addition, our local store offers a frequent buyer program, so every 10th bag of this brand is FREE! Get to know your local store. They will keep your food in stock or call one of their other locations and have it there the next day and put it in your car for you. Locals stores are a wealth of knowledge and often support the local shelters, ours does. Just some good reasons to shop local.
I love chewy and have been using their service for over a year now. I have 3 cats and 1 picky eater dog. I hate going to Petsmart because everything is so expensive and you have to wait in a long line at the register. I even buy pee pads and litter at chewy, much less expensive. I cannot say enough about chewy.com. I wish I owned the company they are just great……
At my current dog food store they give me a free bag after I purchase 9 bags. You guys have any similar deals?
Personally I love our weekly stop into the local pet food store. They love my Demi like she was their own and it’s honestly one of her favorite places! They load her up with love and treats and it’s a playground of happy dogs stopping in for a weekly catch up. TailWaggers Hollywood is Demi’s secret pleasure! I definitely recommend it if you’re in the LA area.
They always have great advice as well if you have questions about, diet, products, brands, etc.
The warehouses for online retailers are usually well above the 80-degree maximum temperature that pet foods should be kept. All high quality foods begin to rapidly deteriorate at 80 and above so the quality from online retailers can be questionable. Another point is the temperature and handling during the delivery of the product. In addition, your comments about how long food is on the store shelf can be misleading. Almost all pet shops receive weekly deliveries so it’s probably a safe bet to think that the foods in a pet store are fresher and temperature controlled. Also, who in an “online store” will give you advise about what foods are best for your pet and let you know when a brand has been sold or if the ingredients or sourcing of the ingredients have been changed? A good independent pet supply store is your source of current information.
Showrooming: Verb. The act of going to a brick and mortar retail store to see, touch, obtain samples and information about a product so you can buy it on line for less.
This happens all the time and some customers even come back to brag and try to goad a retailer into lowering prices. No wonder prices keep going up for the local store but keep going down online. My question is this? What are you going to do when you don’t have that local retailer to ask questions and give out free samples. What are you going to do when the online retailers decide that they are tired of answering questions (the ones that do anyway)? Something to think about.
I normally buy dry dog food online and still do, only because the brands that I use are not available locally.
One thing against buying online is that on two occasions I have received bags with holes in them. Each time I sent them back to the supplier for a replacement. The first time was more difficult, as they offered me a discount (which I didn’t want), I had to press the issue to have the product replaced. Next time (different supplier) was much easier and more professional.
At least if you purchase in a shop, you can easily detect any holes by inspecting the bag first.
I tried Chewy one time and I can’t deny it was a good experience. They provide a detailed description and provides substitutes for the product. But other than that, I don’t find any reason buying my dog food online.
So local shops are my first priority. Not only because they provide varieties of product, they also provide animal support if any harm occurs. That’s not any argument, that’s an opinion.
I love buying dog food online for all those reasons although i live in Florida and I am concerned if the shipping methods include a temperature controlled environments from start to finish. Are the cases of canned food, treats, supplements safe from the high temperatures sitting in a UPS, FedEx, etc truck all day and how long will the box sit outside my door till I get home. Just wanted to share my concerns with others who also live in warm climates.
We absolutely LOVE chewy.com. love how fast things ship. That they have the largest variety of animal products available and at a great price. I purchase Fromm grain free for our large Breed Bloodhounds and it has made a termendous difference to their coats and overall health. I have purchased toys, kennels and several other treats and products and have been very satisfied. Thank you chewy!
I am concerned about having food delivered during the summer. Kibble exposed to heat can turn rancid and then become toxic to your dog.