WEB SERVICE
Webvan, a new market-on-wheels with a billion-dollar dream, and Peapod, the 10-year veteran of online grocery delivery, both provide convenience, but if you need to shop every day, go with the Van.
Comparing the two services myself - and talking to friends who use both - I found Webvan to be more punctual, if a tad officious. It promises delivery within a half-hour window, and the driver was ready to head out the door as soon as she brought the groceries to my kitchen. Peapod, on the other hand, makes its deliveries within a two-hour span, and doesn't seem to be in the same sort of hurry.
Not only did Webvan save me time in the delivery, I also found its site quicker to use, faster to download, and easier to navigate. And Webvan puts Starbucks' Mocha Frappaccino in the New Age Drinks category.That ices the cake for me - it's got a sense of humor.
While Peapod gets all its food from local supermarkets and wholesalers, Webvan contracts most of its groceries from individual local vendors. This means the Van relies less on a third party's selection of, say, fresh fish and meat, so it's more likely to come through with the goods listed on the site. And while Webvan's virtual price tags beat those at my neighborhood supermarket, Peapod charges offline shelf prices. Peapod, currently in 10 US markets, provides more coverage for now. Webvan, which serves only the San Francisco Bay Area, plans to launch in 26 other markets, starting with Atlanta. It has invested more than $1 billion in warehouses and is planning to go public - and may have done so by the time you read this.
In the end, presentation is everything: Webvan goods were labeled neatly with my name, the green beans were snapping fresh, and the salmon was the best I'd bought in years. I'll be back.
Webvan: $4.95 per delivery; free for orders over $50. Webvan: www.webvan.com.
Peapod: starting at $5 per delivery; varies by city. Peapod: www.peapod.com.
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