25 Retailers That Let You Buy Online and Pick Up In-Store

There are several advantages to shopping online and picking up your orders in-store, from saving on shipping to getting your items sooner.

Updated December 21, 2021

BY:
JULIE RAMHOLD

Senior Staff Writer/Consumer Analyst

Shopping online is so convenient — you can buy items from your phone, laptop, or desktop while you're in your pajamas and watching TV. It's the ultimate in multitasking, and allows you to quickly purchase everything from clothing and craft supplies to electronics and groceries.

But while shopping online is super easy — some might say too easy — the trade-off is having to wait for your items to be delivered. And sometimes you just don't want to wait! Fortunately, many stores allow shoppers to buy online and pick up in-store — often on the same day, if not within a few hours.

Check out our guide to the stores that let you order online and pick up in-store, plus read some tips on how to make the most of this shopping method.

What to Know About 'Buy Online, Pick Up In-Store'

How Does Buy Online, Pick Up In-Store Work?

Buying online and picking up in-store works pretty similarly across most retailers. The important thing to note is that this type of shopping might not be available for all of a store chain's locations. And even if it is, you may not be able to pick up the items you're shopping for if they're out of stock locally.

Regardless, if a retailer offers a "buy online and pick up in-store" service, you should be able to find the option on their website's product pages. You may see choices like "store pickup," "same-day delivery," or "standard shipping." If you select "store pickup," you should be able to see if it's available at your local store, or choose another location to pick up from if it isn't. In some cases, the option to pick up in-store may not show up until you're checking out. So keep an eye out during that step, as well.

Once you choose in-store pickup and place your order, you should get an email confirmation. Another email should arrive when your order is ready to be picked up, whether that's within one or two hours or by the end of the day, depending on when you placed your order.

Advantages of Buying Online and Picking Up In-Store

Get your orders faster. One of the best parts of the "buy online, pick up in-store" shopping method is that you can get your items faster than you would if you had them delivered. Unless the products have to be shipped to the store in the first place, you should be able to pick up your order within 24 hours at most.

You should be able to get your items within 24 hours at most when you order online and pick up in-store.

Avoid shipping charges. Most stores with in-store pickup offer the service for free — no minimum order amount is required. If you're not planning on ordering a bunch of items, this can be a great way to avoid shipping charges altogether.

Save with pickup discounts. Some retailers offer additional incentives to consumers for order pickups, including extra discounts. Target is especially known for this, as it often provides extra savings on a variety of products with same-day pickup. Whether you're buying seasonal candy or beauty items, these offers are a great way to stack the savings when you're stocking up.

Prevent "porch pirate" incidents. Shopping online can be convenient in that you place an order and it's delivered right to you. But if you aren't always home, then you may be concerned about package theft. And with good reason, too — 64% of people in the U.S. say they've had a package stolen in the last year, according to a recent report from SafeWise. Pick up your orders in-store, though, and you don't have to worry about this happening to you.

How to Make the Most of This Shopping Method

Place your orders early. Most retailers need at least a couple of hours to fill an order, so the earlier in the day you shop, the sooner your order will be ready for pickup.

Download the store app. In many cases, downloading the app for the store you're picking up from will make the process easier. There's a chance you could receive a notification through the app that your order is ready. Plus, stores often request that you let them know when you're en route, as well as when you actually arrive, and retailer apps are a way to do so.

Pull up the pickup email ahead of time. If you aren't using the store's app, pull up the email for your order ahead of time. Often retailers have to scan a bar code in the email or on the app to note the order has been picked up. By pulling up the email before you get to the store, you'll save both your time and the store associate's.