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How Amazon’s ambitious new push for same-day delivery will destroy local retail

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Re: How Amazon’s ambitious new push for same-day delivery will destroy local retail

#231

Post by rabidsnail »

msutherl wrote: post #176
CitizenKane wrote: post #171

This is already happening in China. Because of the nature of shipping companies here it's not unusual to buy a product (typically off of http://taobao.com ) and get it later that day or the next day. Many of these businesses are based in Shanghai and if you live there delivery happens nearly instantly. One online shop, http://cheers-in.com/ delivers cold beer in Shanghai in 1 - 2 hours from an order. Stuff like this…

Great for consumers like us, but terrible for all of the people who work ridiculous hours under constant stress on warehouse floors or do deliveries day in and day out. I try to buy from brick & mortar shops purely because running a shop is a job that has a shred of dignity left in it.

It must be better than the alternative or they wouldn't be working there.

Re: How Amazon’s ambitious new push for same-day delivery will destroy local retail

#232

Post by DennisP »

sigkill wrote: post #223
dclowd9901 wrote: post #151

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I wouldn't say it was "bad". Women's shoes are designed with fashion and daintiness in mind. They seem flimsy because they are flimsy, and they are flimsy because well crafted, long lasting shoes are big and burly with lots of material and stitching. This goes counter to the point of the shoes: to look trim and to make the woman's foot look small and pretty.

This maybe a bit impractical by todays social norms but I don't think anyone has ever thought of carbon-fibre footwear combined with leather cushions. I'm reasonably sure that this will be light and strong. We only need comfort testing, but I think the flip-side would be that womens shoes would cost upward of $200-$300 equivalent. I don't know if there's a market for that.

I walked through Nordstrom's the other day, randomly picked up a shoe and the price tag was $750.

Re: How Amazon’s ambitious new push for same-day delivery will destroy local retail

#233

Post by megablast »

icebraining wrote: post #191
msutherl wrote: post #176

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Great for consumers like us, but terrible for all of the people who work ridiculous hours under constant stress on warehouse floors or do deliveries day in and day out. I try to buy from brick & mortar shops purely because running a shop is a job that has a shred of dignity left in it.

Yes, everyone who deals with the general public knows how unstressful and dignifying that is. That is, besides having to deal with blatant sexism[1], extreme ignorance[2], elderly genitalia[3], stealing[4], destruction of property[5], physical violence[6], bigotry[7], etc. [1]: http://notalwaysright.com/man-up-and-let-a-woman-fix-it/2136... [2]: http://notalwaysright.com/spyware-is-strength/21253 [3]: http://notalway…

Right, so you have 7 links to the same site, all written from the point of view of the wronged assistance. Wow. If that is not proof of nothing, then I do not know what is.

Re: How Amazon’s ambitious new push for same-day delivery will destroy local retail

#234

Post by nickolai »

eswangren wrote: post #81
AncientPC wrote: post #76

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I suspect this is a uniquely American thing. Similar to Dell's failed entrance into Asia, Americans are uniquely content with purchasing plenty of merchandise without ever physically examining the product.

Why wOuld I feel the need to inspect a book before buying it? I am working under the assumption that no pages will be missing. It's worked out fine thus far. You do realize that purchasing items over the Internet has been working well for some time now, right?

> Why wOuld I feel the need to inspect a book before buying it?

To make sure the pages will not start falling out before you're done reading it ? I had that happen to me several times with cheap paperbacks litterally falling apart before I was even through the first quarter of the book

Re: How Amazon’s ambitious new push for same-day delivery will destroy local retail

#235

Post by mayneack »

zuppy wrote: post #220
ciupicri wrote: post #95

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Purchasing from the Internet works fine until you have problems. Here in Romania you can't inspect the contents of the package until you sign for its delivery. Then if it's broken you get to keep the pieces, unless the merchant is nice. Of course, there's also the option of arguing with them, but it doesn't guarantee anything. I bought a couple of years ago an LCD monitors from today's Romanian Amazon wanna-be and th…

That's not true (probably you didn't knew). If you buy something online, you have 10 days to return it without giving a reason (and if they don't specify that clearly when you buy it, the period extends to 30 days). That's the law, it doesn't matter if they agree or not.

In Romania?

Re: How Amazon’s ambitious new push for same-day delivery will destroy local retail

#236

Post by sigkill »

DennisP wrote: post #232
sigkill wrote: post #223

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This maybe a bit impractical by todays social norms but I don't think anyone has ever thought of carbon-fibre footwear combined with leather cushions. I'm reasonably sure that this will be light and strong. We only need comfort testing, but I think the flip-side would be that womens shoes would cost upward of $200-$300 equivalent. I don't know if there's a market for that.

I walked through Nordstrom's the other day, randomly picked up a shoe and the price tag was $750.

WOW! I am so out of touch with these high end shoe prices. Suddenly, my idea doesn't seem that far-fetched after all. Except, I know of not many women who'd like the carbon fibre look. I guess, designer labels...

Re: How Amazon’s ambitious new push for same-day delivery will destroy local retail

#237

Post by ZoFreX »

artmageddon wrote: post #224
ZoFreX wrote: post #217

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's also worth pointing out that many men make their decisions on factors other than comfort. I'm currently wearing some Cons that are falling apart only a year after I bought them, and I've probably only worn them 1/3 of the time I've had them. I get blisters if I walk too far, they're a pain to take on and off, but they look awesome and I'll probably be getting another pair.

>I get blisters if I walk too far, they're a pain to take on and off, but they look awesome and I'll probably be getting another pair. To each is his own, but the runner in me can't help but think "Those poor feet..." :(

Well, part of the reason I got them and part of the reason they're hurting my feet is that they are completely flat soled, with almost no cushioning. I'm transitioning quite well to a mid-step gait when walking, and eventually I want to be running mid-step or on the ball, rather than toe to heel.

Re: How Amazon’s ambitious new push for same-day delivery will destroy local retail

#238

Post by ghaff »

mikeash wrote: post #62
S201 wrote: post #10

Looks like Amazon is finally bringing Webvan to fruition. Only took 11 years.

What's the difference between what Webvan did and what Peapod and various similar companies have been doing for years?

Webvan massively overbuilt/overspent in a fairly typical dot com era story of losing massive amounts of money to try to own a new category. Peapod leverages physical grocery businesses through partnerships. It's much less ambitious in a lot of ways. The fact is that grocery delivery has been available in urban cores forever. Peapod just expands on that a bit, adds online ordering, and treats it as a premium service (ie. you pay for delivery).

Re: How Amazon’s ambitious new push for same-day delivery will destroy local retail

#239

Post by Revisor »

mayneack wrote: post #235
zuppy wrote: post #220

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That's not true (probably you didn't knew). If you buy something online, you have 10 days to return it without giving a reason (and if they don't specify that clearly when you buy it, the period extends to 30 days). That's the law, it doesn't matter if they agree or not.

In Romania?

In the whole EU the customer can return items purchased online up until X days since the purchase arrival where X varies by country. There are some exceptions like digital items, custom made ware, DVDs etc. Check your local laws.

Re: How Amazon’s ambitious new push for same-day delivery will destroy local retail

#240

Post by JackC »

rabidsnail wrote: post #231
msutherl wrote: post #176

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Great for consumers like us, but terrible for all of the people who work ridiculous hours under constant stress on warehouse floors or do deliveries day in and day out. I try to buy from brick & mortar shops purely because running a shop is a job that has a shred of dignity left in it.

It must be better than the alternative or they wouldn't be working there.

You seem to be saying that as a defense of Amazon's treatment of warehouse workers. It's not. Read the Mother Jones article linked above. When people are working in terrible conditions, and they believe those conditions are better than the alternative, that is not a good thing. It's heartrending.

I say this as someone who hates shopping in retail stores and can't wait to buy everything on Amazon. But the unseen and unregulated treatment of the hidden workers who make our amazing lives possible is a huge, unsolved problem in the world.

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