[–] guldilox 0 points 4 points 4 points (+4|-0) ago
Interesting.
In Business school my group spent a term designing an implementation, execution, and break-even plan for something like that (it was much closer to a mini-mart). We came to realize that the margins were insanely small. The associated costs for land-size and operations were huge. And the labor costs if we wanted to be even remotely fair to human beings was killer.
Take this with a grain of salt, because our plan was on a smaller scale and we didn't exactly have the liquidity of AMZN. And, well, we were also just-learning business students - but our final conclusion was that it wasn't a viable business.
That said, I kind of see this as the tablet in a PC / large smartphone arena. Novel, but largely lacking in a niche that really needs filling unless you can convince customers they need it. Using Safeway's delivery to my door service is better than me needing to go and drive through and wait and drive home and unload, and I've never had an issue with frozen / fresh foods this route. Instacart is another option in my area. I'm sure there are others.
[–] Radial 0 points 1 point 1 point (+1|-0) ago
With tech like this https://youtu.be/quWFjS3Ci7A
Amazon might be able to reduce those labor costs enough for this to work.
[–] happykitties 0 points 2 points 2 points (+2|-0) ago (edited ago)
Why is technology aimed at keeping people more sedentary? There's just too much of convenience these days. Who doesn't enjoy a jaunt to the local store? It's like Wall-E is slowly becoming reality.
With tech I have more time to do things like go to the beach. I don't have to feed the cat because it has an auto-feeder, I don't have to vacuum because a robot does that, and a dish washer scrubs those dirty dishes. It's all about time, and if we were immortal then I suppose I could walk everywhere.
[–] happykitties ago
Unhealthy introversion and anxiety are, I believe, negative psychological traits that stand in the way of an individual's happiness. Shouldn't they be fixing it rather than avoiding it?
[–] Wargasm 0 points 3 points 3 points (+3|-0) ago
I can see what they are trying to do. After all, who wants to spend time in a grocery store, right?
However, this just trades one inconvenience for another--waiting in a drive through line.
You know how annoying that is when you want a burger? Imagine experiencing that while waiting for ice cream and eggs.
I would like this more if they just delivered the groceries to me, instead of making me go get them.
Pizza hut does it, right?
Just my two cents.
[–] Radial 0 points 2 points 2 points (+2|-0) ago
I think it should be more like you make your cart online at home and then can later go drive by the store and pick up your pre packed order.