Ek Stop vs Local Banya

Two recently-launched online grocery stores, Ekstop.com and Localbanya.com are vying to make our lives easier by delivering kitchen, home care and personal care products to our doorstep. We compared the online grocers to find out if either is a good enough replacement for your trusted neighbourhood kiranawalla.

Ek Stop
The products Broadly categorised under groceries, home supplies, personal care, baby care, health care and stationery. Their entire inventory is discounted, some items by as little as 50 paise and others by up to 23 per cent. The most heavily subsidised products feature under ‘daily deals’.
The shopping experience Our order of packaged groceries such as organic jaggery and home utilities like table wipes matched the description and picture posted on the website. Checking out is a hassle-free process. They give you the option of paying by credit and debit card or giving cash on delivery. Within an hour of placing an order on Ekstop.com, we received an order confirmation call from their customer service department. They also let us know that the package would reach us on the same day that the order was placed as they had another delivery scheduled in the area (normally it takes up to 24 hours). A few hours before delivery, we received another call from their customer care to inform us about the expected delivery time.
The verdict Our overall experience of shopping on Ek Stop was pleasant, which benefited the delivery boy who fisted a handsome tip. If you’re new to the city and haven’t yet befriended the local grocer, then you will find sufficient choice on Ek Stop to get by the first few days of settling in.
Delivery area Between Nariman Point and Borivali on the Western Railway line, and up to Bhandup on the Central Railway line. Delivery is free against a minimum order of Rs400.

Local Banya
The products In addition to groceries, personal care, baby care, and household supplies, Local Banya also sells popular film and travel magazines, and a range of kitsch accessories such as laptop sleeves, mousepads, clocks and mugs by design label Shor Sharaba. For groceries, we’d return to Local Banya, which stocks not just regular vegetables but also more “exotic” varieties such as avocado, asparagus, parsley, rocket, cherry tomatoes, and pak choi. Local Banya also has a handy section called Banyas Bundles, under which they’ve listed themed kits such as Backpacker’s Kit, Football Fanatics, Hangover Kit, and Girl on the Go. Each kit, priced from Rs785 onwards contains a selection of items (both practical and absurd), which they think suits the theme. For instance, the Hangover kit contains a jar of coffee, Eno, chunky peanut butter, Red Bull, Zandu balm, pancake mix, lemon tea, Nutella, and baked beans. The discounts on the products across Local Banya range from 50 paise to Rs100.
The shopping experience The striking difference between Local Banya and Ek Stop is that the former has a far more attractive and uncluttered design, which makes it easier to navigate than Ek Stop. Currently the only payment option is cash on delivery. Both stores delivered our orders in good condition, but unlike Ek Stop, Local Banya only delivered the items a day after the order was placed. We did not receive a confirmation call until the morning of the delivery. However, the website says that they will soon launch express delivery, which will guarantee delivery on the same day.
The verdict Like Ek Stop, Local Banya is good for new residents. In the event that your trusted neighbourhood grocer is short on delivery staff or (heaven forbid) shuts down, it’s also a good option.
Delivery area Between Nariman Point and Dahisar on the Western Railway line, and up to Mulund on the Central Railway line. Delivery is free against a minimum order of Rs500.