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Not to mention how unfriendly to the environment these apps/services/companies are. I get it, they are offering a convenience for those people who can't be bot

Not to mention how unfriendly to the environment these apps/services/companies are. I get it, they are offering a convenience for those people who can't be bothered to properly manage their lives. But every time someone has to go out and buy items individually for you, like this woman's cat food, it uses resources. It uses someone's time, and often involves delivery of an item that could involve having someone use their car. What I don't understand, is why don't these people make a shopping list like everyone has been doing for years, and replenish said items once a week or at whatever schedule? Make the effort. Go to the store yourself. It irritates me that people think their time is so valuable they are unwilling to do life's most basic tasks, and to properly manage their lives so they aren't constantly in instant-need all the time and reaching for their phones to provide them a solution to their own sloth.

deleted 11y ago
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envy2 11y ago
I'm not convinced that these services are necessarily worse for the environment; they might even be better in some circumstances. Having dedicated delivery drivers who can, for instance, go grab groceries at Whole Foods for five people who all live in the same neighbourhood and then deliver them is likely better for the environment than each of those five people getting in their own car and driving to Whole Foods separately. Shopping once a week like people have "been doing for years" also means you don't get fresh ingredients. I don't want to make dinner with herbs that have been sitting in my fridge for a week on top of however long they were at the store; I want ones I picked up (or had delivered) that day. And people who live in small apartments don't necessarily have the space to "stock up" on stuff in advance.
- iamleppert 11y ago
  This appears at first glance how people would use them, but, casually, you will start to see a pattern emerge that allows people to use the services more and more, and for more ad hoc uses, gradually divulging into "I need something right now" mentality, and complete and utter lack of any planning. That's what all my friends do who use these services. I would argue that if you want fresh ingredients, such as herbs, you should adopt a simple herb garden in your home. If you can't be bothered to do that, then I suppose you could shell out $20 every time you need some fresh basil, but I think now I'm being pedantic.
Retric 11y ago
Ops, I forgot shaving cream. Do I A) wait a week, B) spend 45 minutes going to the store, or C) pay someone 15$ and have in tomorrow when I need it. Option C is not always going to be the winner, but doing something even twice a year * 100,000 people is a real market. I mean plenty of people spend 20+$ extra on a meal when they could make food at home in less time. PS: 15 minute drive, 4 minutes parking, 2 minutes shopping, 5 minutes checkout line, 15 minute trip home, 4 minutes parking = 45 minutes.
- iamleppert 11y ago
  Why didn't you remember in the first place? That's the root of the problem. Is it that hard to really make a list of things you need?
  - Retric 11y ago
    In the last year have you really never forgotten something when shopping, when making this list, or in the shaving example run out in the middle of the week? Granted, I don't use this type of home delivery. But, I often pay a crazy markup to use the tiny convenience store in my apartment building.
  - eachro 11y ago
    What if you don't remember to make a list of things to remember?
Chlorus 11y ago
"It irritates me that people think their time is so valuable they are unwilling to do life's most basic tasks, and to properly manage their lives so they aren't constantly in instant-need all the time and reaching for their phones to provide them a solution to their own sloth." HOW DARE SOMEONE USE THEIR TIME DIFFERENTLY THAN ME
mattress 11y ago
I don't have a car and don't dig on carrying a huge bag of cat litter around when I go shopping. I also don't want to pay the higher price of smaller bag, so I just order it ahead of time on Amazons normal retail site. No insane markups and still requires some planning else my puss will be pissed.

deleted 11y ago

[deleted]

envy2 11y ago

I'm not convinced that these services are necessarily worse for the environment; they might even be better in some circumstances. Having dedicated delivery drivers who can, for instance, go grab groceries at Whole Foods for five people who all live in the same neighbourhood and then deliver them is likely better for the environment than each of those five people getting in their own car and driving to Whole Foods separately. Shopping once a week like people have "been doing for years" also means you don't get fresh ingredients. I don't want to make dinner with herbs that have been sitting in my fridge for a week on top of however long they were at the store; I want ones I picked up (or had delivered) that day. And people who live in small apartments don't necessarily have the space to "stock up" on stuff in advance.

iamleppert 11y ago
This appears at first glance how people would use them, but, casually, you will start to see a pattern emerge that allows people to use the services more and more, and for more ad hoc uses, gradually divulging into "I need something right now" mentality, and complete and utter lack of any planning. That's what all my friends do who use these services. I would argue that if you want fresh ingredients, such as herbs, you should adopt a simple herb garden in your home. If you can't be bothered to do that, then I suppose you could shell out $20 every time you need some fresh basil, but I think now I'm being pedantic.

Retric 11y ago

Ops, I forgot shaving cream. Do I A) wait a week, B) spend 45 minutes going to the store, or C) pay someone 15$ and have in tomorrow when I need it. Option C is not always going to be the winner, but doing something even twice a year * 100,000 people is a real market. I mean plenty of people spend 20+$ extra on a meal when they could make food at home in less time. PS: 15 minute drive, 4 minutes parking, 2 minutes shopping, 5 minutes checkout line, 15 minute trip home, 4 minutes parking = 45 minutes.

iamleppert 11y ago
Why didn't you remember in the first place? That's the root of the problem. Is it that hard to really make a list of things you need?
- Retric 11y ago
  In the last year have you really never forgotten something when shopping, when making this list, or in the shaving example run out in the middle of the week? Granted, I don't use this type of home delivery. But, I often pay a crazy markup to use the tiny convenience store in my apartment building.
- eachro 11y ago
  What if you don't remember to make a list of things to remember?

Chlorus 11y ago

"It irritates me that people think their time is so valuable they are unwilling to do life's most basic tasks, and to properly manage their lives so they aren't constantly in instant-need all the time and reaching for their phones to provide them a solution to their own sloth." HOW DARE SOMEONE USE THEIR TIME DIFFERENTLY THAN ME

mattress 11y ago

I don't have a car and don't dig on carrying a huge bag of cat litter around when I go shopping. I also don't want to pay the higher price of smaller bag, so I just order it ahead of time on Amazons normal retail site. No insane markups and still requires some planning else my puss will be pissed.