With Amazon continuing to up the ante with its speedy service, other retailers are having to follow suit — or risk losing customers.
Mega pet retailer PetSmart announced this week it will now offer same-day service, scheduled deliveries and subscription, along with other new features.
The hope is that PetSmart’s new approach will allow for a more convenient and easier experience for pet owners to purchase staple goods, like dog food, treats, wellness products and healthcare.
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By allowing for the subscription feature, or auto-shop, not only will PetSmart keep customers happy but will also keep them coming back. People will have the option to choose which delivery frequency they prefer — anywhere from 2 to 8 weeks. By locking into a schedule, customers will get 5 percent off and free shipping.
For the same-delivery option shoppers in 17 markets can pay $7.99 for goods to arrive that day. The service is available in in Los Angeles, Orange County, San Francisco, San Jose, Las Vegas, Atlanta, Miami, Seattle and Chicago. In the next few weeks it will also roll out to Dallas, Houston, Philadelphia, Boston, New York City, Yonkers, Northern New Jersey and Washington D.C.
Other upgrades including making a better mobile experience and allowing for the online-offline experience to be integrated more seamlessly. For instance, people can now book grooming and other services via the website. Shoppers can also see in-store product availability and when items aren’t at a PetSmart location, the retailer will ship to the person’s home for free.
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The ship-to-store option has been improved, too, as PetSmart’s site will show in-store product availability. Plus, when items aren’t available in-store, the company is offering the option to ship to customers’ homes for free.
“Our omnichannel strategy is aimed at giving pet parents options tailored to their needs and desires,” Eran Cohen, PetSmart’s “chief customer experience officer,” said in a statement. “We look forward to seeing their response to the new site with its new user experience and commerce-meets-content approach, as well as to our expanded and convenient home delivery options, which capitalize on our extensive store network for same-day and scheduled delivery.”
