Jet.com: Your New Favorite Bulk Shopping Website?

To say I rely on the Internet for most of my shopping would be an understatement. As a tech-savvy Millennial, my preferred method of purchasing everything from gifts to groceries is the Web. That being said, I’m always scouting out new ways to get items to my door quickly and affordably.

Jet.com flew onto my radar after a number of media outlets began reporting on its growing rivalry with Amazon. Known for its Prime membership, Amazon can get you what you need within days (or hours, depending on your location), at no extra cost for shipping. When I heard that Jet might be giving it some stiff competition, I had to check it out.

What Exactly Is Jet.com?

There are a few things that immediately jump out at you when you log onto Jet.com. First, its sleek, modern design makes it feel like it will be simple to use and navigate. This is particularly attractive to online shoppers, like me, who don’t want any fuss while buying one or two items.

However, I also immediately noticed that I probably won’t be buying one or two items on Jet. The words, “club price,” tipped me off to the fact that Jet may be more appealing to shoppers looking to buy in bulk (not me). As I kept scrolling, I read through some of Jet’s features, encouraging me to “build a big cart” to save more on shipping. Again, it was easy to see that the name of the game is spending to save.

Slickdeals Users Speak Out

I had to wonder if I was the only one who was questioning the benefits of using Jet.com. As of right now, it seems like most consumers are happy with the services they already use, but some are liking it.

@slickdeals too entrenched in Amazon to even think about it

— Chris Stuart, CFA (@bostoncfa) July 31, 2015

@slickdeals in a very slickdeals fashion, I got a free year promo code and haven't bought anything yet

— corey hatch (@eshame) July 31, 2015

@slickdeals it's stuff that is cheaper elsewhere... electronic prices more than newegg and games more than Amazon or other places...

— CoMp (@compccs) July 31, 2015

@slickdeals not slick enough. Was in the beta and didn’t even find anything worth buying. #amazon

— James Coffey (@jplusc) July 31, 2015

@slickdeals good service so far but just not sure how it is different than amazon. Hard 2 see them survive but rooting 4 them.

— njtech (@njtech1) August 2, 2015

@slickdeals I am a fan. Dont care for multiple sources, but items shipped from Jet direct were packaged well. Good prices.

— Anakin2Solo (@Anakin2Solo) August 1, 2015

@slickdeals I got a crap ton of juicy fruit for $7? :) the receipt that came with it was for Walmart showing they spent double to get it??!!

— Jeremy Spale (@Jayspale) August 1, 2015

And for those of you who use the Slickdeals forum, there has been plenty of discussion on there as well about Jet.com. One member wrote, “I can find cheaper elsewhere without paying [for a] membership.” Another member argued that it’s best to only buy what you need, as bulk items can quickly spoil and go to waste.

The Price Breakdown

The standard 1-year membership price for Jet.com is $49.99. However, you can register for free and use the website, free of charge, for the first three months. Jet.com promises not to auto-enroll you afterward, which is a bonus for people like me, who find auto-enroll to be a huge turn-off. Let’s see how this compares to competitors’ prices.

• Amazon Prime. $99.99 per year. Free same-day delivery in select cities, free two-day shipping.
• Walmart ShippingPass. $50 per year. Unlimited three-day shipping on qualifying ShippingPass items.
• Sam’s Club. $45 per year for the basic Sam’s Savings membership. Savings can be accrued through bulk shopping at Sam’s Club store locations.
• Costco Wholesale. $55 per year for the basic membership. Savings are accrued through bulk shopping at Costco warehouse locations.

The Bottom Line

I am not a fan of bulk shopping for a number of reasons. The biggest one was cited earlier in this article – bulk shopping often results in wasted money when perishables expire. No matter how much planning I do, this inevitably happens to me when I buy in bulk.

Another big reason why I wouldn’t regularly use Jet.com is because I don’t buy into companies that push the “Spend more, save more” argument on consumers. As a buyer who is trying to save money, there’s really no appeal to me. Splurging to “save” a few bucks is pretty ironic, in my opinion.

For now, I’m going stick with Amazon Prime, which will allow me to only buy what I need. Of course, this doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t give Jet.com a spin. Just think twice before you fork over $49.99 once your three-month trial is up.

Image courtesy of Jet.com

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