On-Demand Delivery Reduces Stockpiling Need | Generated by AI
Question: With JD.com offering fast next-day delivery in China, and services like Meituan providing 24-hour on-demand delivery for items including medicines, do people no longer need to stock up on extra everyday items like 1.5V batteries or tissues, unlike 20 years ago when stocking extras was common for convenience?
Answer:
Yes, you’re largely correct—thanks to China’s highly advanced on-demand and e-commerce delivery ecosystem, most urban residents no longer need to stockpile everyday necessities like batteries, tissues, medicines, or similar items “just in case.”
Key Reasons and Current Reality
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JD.com’s Logistics Dominance: JD.com provides same-day or next-day delivery for over 90% of orders across nearly all of China’s population, including widespread coverage in cities and many lower-tier areas. Their self-operated network (with thousands of warehouses and delivery stations) ensures reliable fulfillment, often within hours for stocked items.
- On-Demand Instant Delivery via Meituan and Competitors: Platforms like Meituan (and Ele.me) offer flash delivery—typically 30 minutes to 1 hour—for a huge range of products from nearby stores, pharmacies, and supermarkets. This includes:
- Medicines (over-the-counter and some prescription, with 24/7 availability in many cities, including nighttime delivery in urban centers).
- Daily essentials like tissues, batteries (1.5V AA/AAA), toiletries, snacks, and household items.
- Many services operate around the clock or extended hours, making “running out” far less inconvenient.
- Shift in Consumer Behavior: Unlike 20 years ago, when logistics were slower and stocking up was practical, today’s convenience has reduced the habit of bulk-buying non-perishables for storage. Urban consumers increasingly rely on just-in-time ordering, especially for low-value, small items. This is evident in the explosive growth of “instant retail,” where non-food categories (e.g., personal care, medicines) are booming due to speed outweighing minor price differences.
Limitations to Consider
- Rural or Remote Areas: Coverage is not 100% instant everywhere—smaller towns may still rely on next-day JD.com rather than 30-minute Meituan.
- Emergencies or Peak Times: During extreme weather, holidays, or surges (e.g., pandemics), delays can occur, so some people keep minimal backups.
- Perishables or Bulk: For fresh food or very cheap bulk items, occasional stocking still happens, but not for durables like batteries or tissues.
- Personal Habits: Older generations or those remembering past shortages might still hoard a bit, but younger urbanites generally don’t.
Overall, the convenience of these services has transformed daily life in China, making precautionary stockpiling mostly unnecessary for most people in covered areas.
References:
- https://ir.jd.com/news-releases/news-release-details/jdcom-launched-its-speedy-211-program-which-provides-same-day
- https://miracuves.com/blog/what-is-jd-com-and-how-does-it-work/
- https://govt.chinadaily.com.cn/s/202508/21/WS68a687b5498e44f8103383f6/how-to-buy-emergency-medicine-online-in-china.html
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meituan
- https://english.shanghai.gov.cn/en-Latest-WhatsNew/20240910/4033ec85d7d14f36841b25c7f2dc49.html
- https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3309096/instant-commerce-chinas-first-world-infrastructure-faces-third-world-spending