Posted on 06/19/2017 10:34:06 AM PDT by drewh
So the question of the moment is what does this corporate signal of the Amazon/Whole Foods deal mean?
First, it says that the so-called front office does not matter. As price competition beats down all players, what matters is timely and flawless execution by the back office, in this case a warehousing and distribution system enabled by real time IT. Insight about quality for some products also becomes irrelevant. For example, there would be no point in handling fabric to feel its quality or in interacting with a sales representative or butcher who may be an accomplished adviser or long-standing friend. Commerce therefore becomes cold and clinical — like an electron traveling at high speed.
Second, it also means that size doesn’t matter. A woman may need to buy anywhere from a size two to a size eight dress, depending upon the design. But via Amazon, any drape shape will do. There is no need to try anything on — just throw on a muumuu for a picnic, church service, or elegant dinner party. One size fits all indeed.
Third, it means that food like everything else is becoming a commodity. There is no need to view or touch splendidly displayed fruits, vegetables, and other produce. And there is no need to talk to an expert on Californian and European cheeses, since cheese may be just cheese — about as bland as whey or farina.
Even the word “gourmet” may disappear from the English language entirely, as hordes of eaters requisition their grub while safely ensconced on old corduroy sofas, their thumbs tapping digital devices furiously.
Thinking satirically, the endgame could be the slurping up of the Fortune 500 as we know it, such that there is only one company or conglomerate left standing. Imagine a corporate monopolistic colossus of “Amazon Alphabet Apple Facebook.” It would be like Argus Panoptes of ancient Greece, the imposing giant with many eyes. And after the requiem for retail, it could eupeptically ingest America — and maybe planet Earth. But ironically, Argus was put to sleep and slain by the messenger of Zeus, Hermes, whose name is an elite French luxury brand.
Europe and Asia may be slower to adopt the Amazon worldview. There, fresh food and its preparation are a way of life, a medium for social and familial interaction — and part of the culture, unlike for some devotees of Amazon who may see food as a biological need. For example, in Tuscany one can view a stuffed wild boar while talking to a venerated town butcher about cinghiale in umido.
The threat to organized commercial structures is just beginning, and there is no way or knowing where commoditization, distribution, and digital technology will take us.
People may complain about it all but Whole Foods does a great job at supplying all that stuff that you can't find any where else.
Other grocery stores do not have a better selection of hormone-free and antibiotic-free dairy, poultry and meat items.
When Jeff Bezos plans to cut the number of employees then there will be no more samples, cuz who is going to put those out? Some robot?
And, when he plans to cut the prices of everything what that really means is that the suppliers are going to lose money.
I don't see this takeover as good for anyone except Jeff Bezos.
Remember back in the 1990s when everybody though Microsoft was going to take over the world? Then it was Google. Then it was Apple. Now it’s Amazon’s turn to be the corporate bogeyman.
Jeff Bezos purchased the Washington Post to conduct constant fake news attacks on Trump.
Amazon isn't even a very profitable company, so I'm not sure what their long-term prospects are going to be.
Other grocery stores have that stuff. Specifically Trader Joes and Sprouts. And the growth of these 3 has caused the “normal” grocery stores to expand into that area. The fact is Whole Foods is expensive because they want to be, that’s their niche, people wanting to pay extra to feel exclusive. Almost everything they have can be gotten for 30% less at the competition, only thing you don’t get is the faux exclusive atmosphere. And TJs and Sprouts both do samples, so that can happen with price cuts too.
Really the amount of angst this deal is causing is hilarious. Really folks, it’s a buy out, they happen, every day. Yup Amazon is getting deeper into the last mile. Doesn’t mean they’re taking over the grocery industry. Yeah WF might change, all things change, but there’ll still be some source for that, there’s always a market for faux exclusive.
and now trump is making piss with devil @ WH via jarred’s so called innovation meeting.
and now trump is making piss with devil @ WH via jarred’s so called innovation meeting.
Third, it means that food like everything else is becoming a commodity.
Food is THE original commodity. It is the quintessential commodity.
Anti-trust and monopoly laws be damned.
Savage went on a tirade the other day ranting and raving asking why Trump let this happen, why didn’t he stop it, etc etc etc, not sure what he expected Trump to do.
Amazon should have stopped expanding like the Blob (remember the movie?) when it got to groceries. Now it’s just power, power, power. It’s going to become too big and that will be its downfall.
No, the government should not break it up. The government needs to stay out of this.
I’m afraid it just may be different this time. It’s not just amazon, but the internet in general. And in the end it may just be Amazon after all.
My wife and I discovered prime and an interesting thing happenned. To wit, we don’t just shop amazon. We specifically look for Prime. I can go to Amazon and order a three dollar item and it shows up at my house. no login. No entry of password. No entry of credit card information, no shipping.
I needed a fuel pump for my lawn mower. found it in less than a minute and it showed up before my next mowing. My daughter ordered a game controller and it showed up in less than an hour.
And the prices are amazing.
Honestly, the only reason I’ve found to go to brick and mortar at all any more is when exact fit is a requirement. I broke the yoke and cross bearing on the drive u-joint for my bush hog for my tractor. It is decades old and I don’t even know the manufacturer. I tried the internet but it failed. I hand fitted the parts at Tractor Supply to my broken ones.
That is the only thing I need brick and mortar for.
And it looks like I’ll soon be able to order my food from Amazon the same way. Maybe even a standing order as Kroger does.
Reminds me of the invisible fencing where it keeps your dog in the yard but every other dog who has no "collar" now has access to your dog. Likewise, what would keep someone from stealing Whole Foods blind when they walk out with merchandise and had no card on them? If anyone can answer me this I'd appreciate it.
Trump team was scrubbing Ivanka’s name from some of the shell business companies over the weekend, she and Jared my be on the outs...
And the liberals still hate Wal-Mart, what do they think about Amazon?
Yep. And before that - It was Sears, Montgomery Wards, WalMart and the big box stores.
All this too, shall pass.
I do shop online for a lot of things, but I’d rather buy clothes, fresh produce and fresh meats in person.
Also on Amazon, they have merchandise sold from small businesses and home businesses too. I ordered a homemade tapestry from some nice little Hindu lady in California who sells through Amazon. Goodness, she sent me the most lovely handwritten thank you note for my purchase. LOL
You also have to be careful of knockoffs on Amazon. Either way I like my Prime membership.
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