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I think you're underestimating the value of Walmart. Sure for things you can wait to get in 2 day shipping, it's a no brainer compared to driving to Barnes & No

by greedo 10y ago

I think you're underestimating the value of Walmart. Sure for things you can wait to get in 2 day shipping, it's a no brainer compared to driving to Barnes & Noble, or BestBuy. But a large part of the US still shops at brick and mortar stores because they want/need things "right now." Walmart is still a juggernaut, especially in smaller cities, rural areas. And drone delivery... I don't see that being successful for Amazon for another 10 years. Too many technical, legal, and cultural hurdles for that to happen faster, if ever.

chc 10y ago
How immediate is "right now"? If you have to drive 45 minutes to the store and back, is that "right now"? If Amazon can deliver it two hours from when you place your order (which they already do in some cases), is that "right now"?
- bduerst 10y ago
  I also see a trip to the store as a chore, but I see Wal-Mart as being uniquely positioned to do 1-hour delivery from their own stores - which are essentially localized warehouses across most of the U.S.
- HeyLaughingBoy 10y ago
  If you have a 90-minute round trip to the store, odds are Amazon won't be delivering anything in 2 hours.
- lozaning 10y ago
  If you've got to drive 45 minutes just to get to a Walmart, Im not sure you live in a population center large enough for Amazon to offer two hour delivery.
  - trome 10y ago
    Lol, it can be an hour or more depending on traffic to go to Walmart from Seattle, and your choices are either going far north, or far south. I only ever find myself there when I need a cable modem at 2am, and especially then its always a terrible experience. If I can be out by 4am then that is a quick trip!
  - tiff_seattle 10y ago
    I live in Downtown Seattle and it would take me at least an hour to get to the nearest ones unless it was maybe 3 AM and there was no traffic.
- nunez 10y ago
  Less than an hour. I think that is the threshold between "I'll order this on amazon" and "I'll get it at Walmart."
nkassis 10y ago
Walmart also a community center in many small towns. That's not going away.
mattthebaker 10y ago
So Walmart gets reduced to things you need right now, i.e. groceries and random low cost convenience items. Population has been shifting from rural to urban for decades, Walmart's advantage is in a shrinking market. Drone delivery is marketing nonsense anyway.
nunez 10y ago
Yes that's true...for now. People like convenience. Drones, same day shipping, same hour shipping...those are convenient. Wal*Mart has the real estate but I still think the writing is on the wall for them UNLESS they compete with Amazon in this area. I will take back my comment when I can order something from Walmart online and get it within an hour. In fact, Walmart is BEST positioned to do this BECAUSE every one of their stores is a de facto warehouse and they have a ridiculous headcount

by greedo 10y ago

chc 10y ago

How immediate is "right now"? If you have to drive 45 minutes to the store and back, is that "right now"? If Amazon can deliver it two hours from when you place your order (which they already do in some cases), is that "right now"?

bduerst 10y ago
I also see a trip to the store as a chore, but I see Wal-Mart as being uniquely positioned to do 1-hour delivery from their own stores - which are essentially localized warehouses across most of the U.S.
HeyLaughingBoy 10y ago
If you have a 90-minute round trip to the store, odds are Amazon won't be delivering anything in 2 hours.
lozaning 10y ago
If you've got to drive 45 minutes just to get to a Walmart, Im not sure you live in a population center large enough for Amazon to offer two hour delivery.
- trome 10y ago
  Lol, it can be an hour or more depending on traffic to go to Walmart from Seattle, and your choices are either going far north, or far south. I only ever find myself there when I need a cable modem at 2am, and especially then its always a terrible experience. If I can be out by 4am then that is a quick trip!
- tiff_seattle 10y ago
  I live in Downtown Seattle and it would take me at least an hour to get to the nearest ones unless it was maybe 3 AM and there was no traffic.
nunez 10y ago
Less than an hour. I think that is the threshold between "I'll order this on amazon" and "I'll get it at Walmart."

nkassis 10y ago

Walmart also a community center in many small towns. That's not going away.

mattthebaker 10y ago

So Walmart gets reduced to things you need right now, i.e. groceries and random low cost convenience items. Population has been shifting from rural to urban for decades, Walmart's advantage is in a shrinking market. Drone delivery is marketing nonsense anyway.

nunez 10y ago

Yes that's true...for now. People like convenience. Drones, same day shipping, same hour shipping...those are convenient. Wal*Mart has the real estate but I still think the writing is on the wall for them UNLESS they compete with Amazon in this area. I will take back my comment when I can order something from Walmart online and get it within an hour. In fact, Walmart is BEST positioned to do this BECAUSE every one of their stores is a de facto warehouse and they have a ridiculous headcount