Click and collect

Click and collect lets a customer order online and collect the goods from a store or designated pickup point. It requires the seller to reserve the correct stock and tell the customer when and where the order is ready.

The seller must confirm the pickup location, allocate stock and notify the customer when the order is ready. Collection procedures usually include identifying the correct order and recording handover. The model can reduce delivery costs and give customers flexibility, but requires space and staff time for holding and managing orders.

For example, a customer orders a kettle in the morning and collects it from a local shop after work. Stock allocation prevents the reserved kettle from being sold to someone else. A point-of-sale system may help staff complete the handover and keep the store's stock and order records consistent.