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With Google Shopping Express & Instacart as well as the Postmates and DoorDash's of the world - I keep wondering...at what scale do these become huge businesses

With Google Shopping Express & Instacart as well as the Postmates and DoorDash's of the world - I keep wondering...at what scale do these become huge businesses? Especially Instacart and GSX - they have someone go shopping and bring stuff to my home for $4 and for free right now. I guess it's user acquisition land grab + demand aggregation? And then they can go the route of private labeling the best goods and ultimately own the customer and then charge higher prices? They can't possibly make real $ at $4 per delivery, can they?

BryanBeshore 12y ago
These services charge more for the items purchased than what you would expect if you were to purchase them at the store yourself. The $4 per delivery is simply a facade.
- zachlipton 12y ago
  No, they don't. Google is quite clear that its prices for Google Shopping Express are the same as in store: https://support.google.com/shoppingexpress/answer/3423377?hl=en https://support.google.com/shoppingexpress/answer/3423377?hl...
  - silencio 12y ago
    Google Shopping Express will also use your own Costco membership to make purchases (and I believe they do similar for other store discounts/memberships). I just got a delivery of Frozen on bluray at the Costco sale price of $15.99 and I get my 2% back too ;) Kind of a shame Google won't charge more for the service. I do not want it to go away. I would pay $30/hr and up if they also did perishables instead of having to figure out how much more random amount I'm paying instacart or other services. I would even use it to replace my Amazon purchases to an extent...
  - ajju 12y ago
    Some do: Instacart: https://www.instacart.com/faq#inventory-and-prices-q2 https://www.instacart.com/faq#inventory-and-prices-q2 Yes, Instacart prices are our own and vary from the store’s price. Postmates https://postmates.com/help https://postmates.com/help Additionally, a 9% service fee is applied to the purchase price of your items.

BryanBeshore 12y ago

These services charge more for the items purchased than what you would expect if you were to purchase them at the store yourself. The $4 per delivery is simply a facade.

zachlipton 12y ago
No, they don't. Google is quite clear that its prices for Google Shopping Express are the same as in store: https://support.google.com/shoppingexpress/answer/3423377?hl=en https://support.google.com/shoppingexpress/answer/3423377?hl...
- silencio 12y ago
  Google Shopping Express will also use your own Costco membership to make purchases (and I believe they do similar for other store discounts/memberships). I just got a delivery of Frozen on bluray at the Costco sale price of $15.99 and I get my 2% back too ;) Kind of a shame Google won't charge more for the service. I do not want it to go away. I would pay $30/hr and up if they also did perishables instead of having to figure out how much more random amount I'm paying instacart or other services. I would even use it to replace my Amazon purchases to an extent...
- ajju 12y ago
  Some do: Instacart: https://www.instacart.com/faq#inventory-and-prices-q2 https://www.instacart.com/faq#inventory-and-prices-q2 Yes, Instacart prices are our own and vary from the store’s price. Postmates https://postmates.com/help https://postmates.com/help Additionally, a 9% service fee is applied to the purchase price of your items.