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Costco is the anti-Amazon

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Re: Costco is the anti-Amazon

#21

Post by frollogaston »

mmooss wrote: post #12

> To put it crudely, having someone in a Sprinter van deliver a recently-purchased toothbrush to your doorstep is simply not a universalizable action, from either a business or logistical standpoint. It is a modern feat that Amazon is capable of doing this, but that it can be done does not mean that it should, nor even that it can be done writ large. For most consumption, it is far more efficient for people to handle…

I would expect Amazon to be more efficient. Besides the round trips, there's operating the store, putting items on display, all that. As I said above, Amazon and Costco don't compete so directly though, like you aren't buying a pie from Amazon.

Re: Costco is the anti-Amazon

#22

Post by ironman1478 »

frollogaston wrote: post #7

Costco is mostly food, clothes, furniture, other large things, and auto services, which generally you don't get from Amazon even if you aren't a Costco member. The points about less choice more apply to like Costco vs grocery stores or Walmart. And I do like Costco, similar low-choice reason I like Trader Joe's even though Costco is its own league.

I think a lot of people buy furniture and clothing on Amazon. It's extremely cheap and easy to return, or just throw away if you can't return it (not endorsing that).

Re: Costco is the anti-Amazon

#23

Post by oa335 »

pupppet wrote: post #4

Whenever someone says America can do great things, I don't think of battleships, fighter jets, or AI models, I think of Costco.

Agree 100%. Costco exemplifies american dream... recent immigrants perusing well-stocked aisles, friendly employees, ample parking, cheap tasty hot dogs, etc.

Re: Costco is the anti-Amazon

#24

Post by [deleted] »

bena wrote: post #9
bryanlarsen wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Cars & car parts, food, gas and clothes are still purchased almost exclusively in person. Those are each a massive percentage of spending. https://www.census.gov/retail/marts/www/marts_current.pdf

That tracks. I wouldn't trust e-gas either. Seriously though, I was thinking on how I had to stop and get cat litter, milk, and cereal on my way home today when I read what you posted. While I get some consumables online; pet food, filters for my odd-sized vent, and until recently Hello Fresh; I mostly buy consumables in person.

[deleted]

Re: Costco is the anti-Amazon

#25

Post by whalesalad »

DrewADesign wrote: post #11
pupppet wrote: post #4

Whenever someone says America can do great things, I don't think of battleships, fighter jets, or AI models, I think of Costco.

I mean, Costco is great, but I think the purest expression of American capitalism is Buc-ee’s.

I present to you, the 8th wonder of the world: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Memphis_Pyramid

Re: Costco is the anti-Amazon

#26

Post by bryanlarsen »

mmooss wrote: post #12

> To put it crudely, having someone in a Sprinter van deliver a recently-purchased toothbrush to your doorstep is simply not a universalizable action, from either a business or logistical standpoint. It is a modern feat that Amazon is capable of doing this, but that it can be done does not mean that it should, nor even that it can be done writ large. For most consumption, it is far more efficient for people to handle…

Here's one study sort that answers your question

https://news.umich.edu/carbon-emissions-and-grocery-shopping...

In-store pickup using a internal combustion engined vehicle produced more emissions than any other option studied.

Re: Costco is the anti-Amazon

#27

Post by mmooss »

mc32 wrote: post #16
mmooss wrote: post #12

> To put it crudely, having someone in a Sprinter van deliver a recently-purchased toothbrush to your doorstep is simply not a universalizable action, from either a business or logistical standpoint. It is a modern feat that Amazon is capable of doing this, but that it can be done does not mean that it should, nor even that it can be done writ large. For most consumption, it is far more efficient for people to handle…

Indeed true. Even more efficient is when people can wait a few days and let Amazon bundle your orders and deliver on a designated day. That said people don’t typically get in a car to buy one thing -though obviously sometimes they do. On average though their trips will be for multiple things. I still think even without using designated delivery days Amazon deliveries are more efficient than individuals going out to b…

I was zeroing out the amount purchased: The comparison is the customer picks up one item vs. Amazon delivers one item, or the customer picks up 12 or 20 things vs. Amazon delivers the same amount.

I'd still love to see data.

The problem with environmental impact is really a consequence of subsidized energy costs, including the externalization of environmental cost. If the consumer and Amazon paid the actual cost of fuel, they would make valid economic and environmental choices and we wouldn't need to figure it out like this.

Re: Costco is the anti-Amazon

#28

Post by mtzaldo »

frollogaston wrote: post #18
DrewADesign wrote: post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yeah I can’t get 5 different varieties of a ball bearings in the size I need delivered overnight from Costco. And for the things Costco or your local grocery store is great for, Amazon is often a far worse option. I noticed my wife was buying our toothpaste using a subscribe and save thing, so I compared it to our regular grocery store when I went shopping, and Amazon was like 20% more expensive. Great marketing on A…

The dumbest assumption I saw Amazon baiting people into was using Chase credit card points for purchases. You'd think spending those specifically on Amazon would be more efficient than just getting cash and buying from Amazon with that cash, right? Turns out it's the other way around, and by a large amount.

yes, I started buying with miles because Amazon was giving me more value for those than my current bank.

Re: Costco is the anti-Amazon

#29

Post by DrewADesign »

whalesalad wrote: post #25
DrewADesign wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I mean, Costco is great, but I think the purest expression of American capitalism is Buc-ee’s.

I present to you, the 8th wonder of the world: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Memphis_Pyramid

Yeah that’s pretty not bad. They just need to deposit them along the interstate system.

Re: Costco is the anti-Amazon

#30

Post by GauntletWizard »

levocardia wrote: post #20
mmooss wrote: post #12

> To put it crudely, having someone in a Sprinter van deliver a recently-purchased toothbrush to your doorstep is simply not a universalizable action, from either a business or logistical standpoint. It is a modern feat that Amazon is capable of doing this, but that it can be done does not mean that it should, nor even that it can be done writ large. For most consumption, it is far more efficient for people to handle…

Also this argument is easily refuted by the US Postal Service, which physically delivers individual pieces of paper in a few days, for pennies.

The postal service is a quasi government entity that has operated (not to get too deep into the politics of it) for many years at a loss. It does compete with Amazon, as well as being used by Amazon, but it's very different as a business than Amazon.
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