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.
I don't think Rush shops for groceries--it's kind of funny to hear him talk about it. Online grocery shopping is not going to help Amazon much because the shipping will be exorbitant. I already order non-perishables from many sources -- this doesn't excite me at all, and I'm a foodie.
Apparently, Amazon is going to engage in ‘a day of action’ in re human trafficking
I agree ... and respect that Amazon has done some very impressive things with their expanding business model. So long as they do it legally and ethically (OK ... OK ... I know these things have become matters of personal opinion), I have no problem enjoying what Amazon provides.
Wal Mart doesn’t have a fleet of 30 minute delivery drones and
distrubution centers all over the place ready to go...
*****************
But they are changing never the less. At the Walmart I use they have put in maybe
30+ ‘scan/go’ stations. You scan your items, pay with a card and go. They have
had the scan stations but now there are more and they have reduced number of open
stations with cashiers. The Scan/Go stations take cash/cards, but no checks.
Some Walmarts are using a system where you place your order, the store employees
gather the items, bag/box it up and you drive up and they load it in your vehicle
and you are off.
http://help.walmart.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/281/~/picking-up-orders-with-store-pickup
Mark my words, even though amazon is a lib outfit run by king lib bezos, whole foods libs will fight him...this won’t be pretty to watch...some nose rings may be torn out.
I have no problem enjoying what Amazon provides.
****************
Amazon has now expanded to Sunday deliveries.
So check you front door every day of the week.
I don’t have a problem with it either. Business interests are so tangled these days, it’s almost impossible to boycott everything that may be involved in something that you’re philosophically against. A lot of times you wind up throwing the baby out with the bath water. It becomes a matter of which ‘hill to die on’.
I see the sense in boycotting some things, and even more sense in supporting places that promote our values. But you can’t cover everything.
I’ve used their grocery pickup service. Very good. Only criticism is same day order and pickup doesnt seem to be available as a practical matter.
I remember when people were laughing at the overvalued bookseller that would never amount to anything.
About 5+ years ago.
Other fly fishers, who may be the original caretakers of our environment, stopped going there when they found out how evil their hobby of fly fishing was. My wife’s bible study group stopped going there, as they wouldn’t carry nor order books used in bible study.
One of my Fly Fishing buddies went to the store to find out himself. When they dissed him, he told them that he would work to insure that any fisherman would not use their store. He told them fly fishing was not a cheap habit, so they were pissing on a lot of good people with disposable income.
The liberals no longer control the publishing industry. They are losing control of the broadcast media and what is left of the fishwrap business.
They view us as the terrorists as we shredding their control and income from in the information business.
Think about all the companies over the years thought to be too big to fail. Sears,Kmart, Montgomery Ward, A & P, etc., etc..
Amazon is not infallible, they will make mistakes, may have made one with WF, how long can they keep going as growth company, not really showing any profits and not paying any dividends???
WF is going to be in a pinch if they don’t get bought out. Low cost competitors like TJs and LIDL are getting their market share.
Don’t believe that we have any LID’s in this part of California.
Bezos is a disgusting little worm, but he’s not all bad.
Yep.
Boycotts are still very doable. And competing prices is easier than ever.
You do know that’s a spoof right?
You will. LIDL is I believe the biggest grocery store chain in Europe. And they just opened their first stores in the US in VA and NC last week.
LIDL is amazing. The rollout took years and now I see why. These folks were incredibly methodical.
I’m not very smart about how all of this ‘cloud’ stuff works, but I’ve always wondered something. If a place like Amazon ‘went under’, what would happen to all the digital stuff people have purchased?
I’ve got a lot of Kindle books, now. They are on my devices and I don’t have to be on WIFI to read them, once they’re downloaded; but I don’t know exactly how/if they are supported.
I don’t buy much from Audible precisely because they don’t allow you to download in an MP3 format; I can’t seem to listen to those unless I’m on WIFI, so I guess they don’t really ‘exist’ on my own device.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.