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Amazon could be very successful if they setup "grocery warehouses" in local areas and just delivered groceries to people. It's not a wildly different model than

Amazon could be very successful if they setup "grocery warehouses" in local areas and just delivered groceries to people. It's not a wildly different model than the current grocery store, just with less need for prime real estate and you'd be paying delivery people instead of checkout people. It can be done and it can be done profitably, it's going to be more about finding people who don't want to spend their time going to the grocery store.

jlarocco 13y ago
I'd pay maybe $50 a month for a service like this if it offered same or next day shipping between 7:00 and 10:00 at night, had an equal or better selection than the grocery stores by my house, and the quality of produce was good. If they could integrate with some popular recipe sites to add little "Buy this on ..." buttons to each item in the ingredients list it'd be even better.
protonfish 13y ago
I worked for an online grocery app and most customers were elderly, handicapped, had 8 kids or were small institutions (like group homes) - people with a lot of time at home, but difficulty getting out. From what I saw, online shopping will probably never expand beyond these types of customers for several reasons. Grocery shopping in a browser UI can be a decent experience but will probably never be as clear and convenient as seeing the actual item, especially for non-prepackaged (meat, fish, produce, floral, etc.) Convenience - online shopping requires planning ahead and being home in a time window to receive delivery. For the homebound it is no issue, but for most working people it's easier to just stop by the store on the way home.
- nabnob 13y ago
  I disagree completely. I live in Seattle and work roughly 50 hour or more weeks, and I enjoy spending my free time with friends or working on projects. I already leave my apartment for work at around 8:30 am and, after stopping at the gym on my way home, I'm usually home around 8 pm. If I make a grocery store trip, this adds probably 45 minutes to an hour, meaning I get home at 9 pm, which sucks. I've started getting produce through a local CSA-type delivery service, and it's so convenient and easy. I think Amazon Fresh will work well for people who are busy and have the disposable income to spend an little bit more on delivery.
  - protonfish 13y ago
    I forgot one more type - people that can shop online while at work.
- uncr3ative 13y ago
  also, people without cars. I lived in seattle for 2 years without a car, and ordering online becomes much more worth it if there are heavy items or light but big items.
vtbose 13y ago
These (or even participating, regular grocery stores) could also have 'Amazon Lockers'...

jlarocco 13y ago

I'd pay maybe $50 a month for a service like this if it offered same or next day shipping between 7:00 and 10:00 at night, had an equal or better selection than the grocery stores by my house, and the quality of produce was good. If they could integrate with some popular recipe sites to add little "Buy this on ..." buttons to each item in the ingredients list it'd be even better.

protonfish 13y ago

I worked for an online grocery app and most customers were elderly, handicapped, had 8 kids or were small institutions (like group homes) - people with a lot of time at home, but difficulty getting out. From what I saw, online shopping will probably never expand beyond these types of customers for several reasons. Grocery shopping in a browser UI can be a decent experience but will probably never be as clear and convenient as seeing the actual item, especially for non-prepackaged (meat, fish, produce, floral, etc.) Convenience - online shopping requires planning ahead and being home in a time window to receive delivery. For the homebound it is no issue, but for most working people it's easier to just stop by the store on the way home.

nabnob 13y ago
I disagree completely. I live in Seattle and work roughly 50 hour or more weeks, and I enjoy spending my free time with friends or working on projects. I already leave my apartment for work at around 8:30 am and, after stopping at the gym on my way home, I'm usually home around 8 pm. If I make a grocery store trip, this adds probably 45 minutes to an hour, meaning I get home at 9 pm, which sucks. I've started getting produce through a local CSA-type delivery service, and it's so convenient and easy. I think Amazon Fresh will work well for people who are busy and have the disposable income to spend an little bit more on delivery.
- protonfish 13y ago
  I forgot one more type - people that can shop online while at work.
uncr3ative 13y ago
also, people without cars. I lived in seattle for 2 years without a car, and ordering online becomes much more worth it if there are heavy items or light but big items.

vtbose 13y ago

These (or even participating, regular grocery stores) could also have 'Amazon Lockers'...