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Amazon's Whole Foods Price Cuts Brought 25% Jump in Shoppers

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Re: Amazon's Whole Foods Price Cuts Brought 25% Jump in Shoppers

#101

Post by ams6110 »

rch wrote: post #40
ilamont wrote: post #25

I am also an infrequent Whole Foods shopper. Some anecdata to share: I went to Whole Foods the week before the announcement and then again today. I was very sensitive to pricing on the first visit (and, frankly, was pretty surprised at how expensive most things were). On the second visit today, I noticed big drops in the prices of certain items, such as fish, produce, and yogurt. For instance, I don't think there was…

Was that U.S. shrimp or imported? There are very significant differences in environmental sustainability across the various supply chains for meat, fish, produce, and dairy products.

Seafood at my local Kroger is almost all labeled "Product of China" which I refuse to buy due to concerns about not only the fishing but also the handling and packing after the catch.

Edit: I'm mostly referring to the frozen seafood. Fresh is too expensive for my wallet.

Re: Amazon's Whole Foods Price Cuts Brought 25% Jump in Shoppers

#102

Post by joezydeco »

slg wrote: post #65
joezydeco wrote: post #45

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You're comparing apples and oranges. Say Coca-Cola buys McDonald's Corporation and it makes a splash in the business community and restaurant blogs. Then the new joint company announces that all soft drinks are $0.10 from now on. Traffic spikes 25%. Which of those two events was the cause?

That is a false comparison because if you ask people the reason why they don't buy McDonald's more frequently very few of them will cite the cost of soft drinks. Many people will cite the overall cost of Whole Foods as a reason they don't shop there more frequently. Amazon's changes directly addressed the biggest complaint about Whole Foods. A better analogy might be if Coca-Cola found a way to magically drop the cal…

Yes, that is much better. Thanks.

Re: Amazon's Whole Foods Price Cuts Brought 25% Jump in Shoppers

#103

Post by QAPereo »

zaphos wrote: post #49
taurath wrote: post #43

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Price is the #1 reason I do not choose to shop at Whole Foods. If they fixed price, I'd be in there a lot more - the food is generally better, but not so much better to justify the price increase (for me).

How close are they to having fixed price, for you, after the recent price cuts?

Speaking for me... a lot. Things like avocados went from being the most expensive in town, to th least, and that's one example of many.

Re: Amazon's Whole Foods Price Cuts Brought 25% Jump in Shoppers

#104

Post by microcolonel »

taurath wrote: post #76
zaphos wrote: post #49

Earlier quoted context omitted.

How close are they to having fixed price, for you, after the recent price cuts?

I haven't been yet, because my habits right now exist around not going to whole foods. They've achieved a willingness for me to try them out again though - probably the next time the Fred Meyer near me is out of english muffins (3rd time in 3 weeks yesterday!) I'll try it out. Having seen some of the price cuts online it doesn't seem like a whole lot, but if the staples like eggs and veggies/fruit are actually coming…

By the way, English muffins are very, very easy to make.

Re: Amazon's Whole Foods Price Cuts Brought 25% Jump in Shoppers

#105

Post by microcolonel »

honestlyreally wrote: post #90
taurath wrote: post #76

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I haven't been yet, because my habits right now exist around not going to whole foods. They've achieved a willingness for me to try them out again though - probably the next time the Fred Meyer near me is out of english muffins (3rd time in 3 weeks yesterday!) I'll try it out. Having seen some of the price cuts online it doesn't seem like a whole lot, but if the staples like eggs and veggies/fruit are actually coming…

Shouldnt all fresh food be of variable market price? Seems quite evironmentally unfriendly to subside out of season food solely to appease picky customers. Eating local in-season food should be promoted by market mechanisms.

> Eating local in-season food should be promoted by market mechanisms.

Given that the market is at work, that is obviously not the result. Transport costs do not apparently override convenience, simpler logistics, and economies of scale.

Re: Amazon's Whole Foods Price Cuts Brought 25% Jump in Shoppers

#106

Post by KeepTalking »

I shop at whole foods frequently mainly for fresh produce and dairy. this is largely because of its proximity to my home. My other regular grocery chains are my local mom and pop grocery store who is about 300 feet from my house, Costco and target. I avoid Safeway as far as I can.

My observations are 1) my local mom and pop store carries the freshest and cheapest vegetable produce. They are alert to my needs and are doing brisk business with a regular clientele. They source their produce from the central valley ave Sacramento area using a network of independent farms. 2) Costco is great for some produce while making up the true per pound cost for other items e.g. Tomatoes. Additionally I find Costco produce to perish faster. 3) whole foods has dependable produce but at over 50% Mark ups.

Re: Amazon's Whole Foods Price Cuts Brought 25% Jump in Shoppers

#108

Post by X86BSD »

My thought about this merger is, if I am HyVee or Price Chopper or whatever your local regional chain supermarket is HOW am I going to survive Amazon? They are past firing across the bow of every grocer in the US, and none of them seem to be moving to survive the Cat 10 hurricane that is Amazon. Few deliver, few have automated inventory with robots, I don't see any of them moving to compete or stem the blood bath that is coming. It reminds me of Palm and its arrogance when Apple entered the mobile phone market.

Re: Amazon's Whole Foods Price Cuts Brought 25% Jump in Shoppers

#109

Post by njarboe »

slg wrote: post #65
joezydeco wrote: post #45

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You're comparing apples and oranges. Say Coca-Cola buys McDonald's Corporation and it makes a splash in the business community and restaurant blogs. Then the new joint company announces that all soft drinks are $0.10 from now on. Traffic spikes 25%. Which of those two events was the cause?

That is a false comparison because if you ask people the reason why they don't buy McDonald's more frequently very few of them will cite the cost of soft drinks. Many people will cite the overall cost of Whole Foods as a reason they don't shop there more frequently. Amazon's changes directly addressed the biggest complaint about Whole Foods. A better analogy might be if Coca-Cola found a way to magically drop the cal…

Yes. "Whole Paycheck" is a popular phrase. Amazon, I would guess, would like to change that.

Re: Amazon's Whole Foods Price Cuts Brought 25% Jump in Shoppers

#110

Post by njarboe »

sjg007 wrote: post #23
pen2l wrote: post #22

Earlier quoted context omitted.

But the things on discount are the things that everyone gets. Milk, eggs, bananas, etc. I shop at whole foods (it's the only place truly 'near' to me), and the things on discount were just about the things that I always get. So I'm happy, for one. But 50% of stuff I still get from Costco or Trader Joe's (that requires a forty minute drive).

White label Milk, eggs, and some other stuff has always been price competitive at whole foods... Sometimes I found milk cheaper at whole foods than safeway!

In CA eggs are about $1.50 at T.J. and $3.00 at W.F. I buy the cheapest eggs. Not sure about comparison at all the other egg types. Cali has some kind of "be not so evil to egg laying chickens" proposition, so I think the lowest level eggs are the same eco/ethical level
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