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Our Magic

instacart.com

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Re: Our Magic

#21

Post by apoorvamehta »

pclark wrote: post #17
apoorvamehta wrote: post #12

For anyone comparing us to Webvan - we are different. I've shared why that's the case several times before (google instacart). But, I think pictures speak louder than words: Instacart: http://imgur.com/2tWWh Webvan: http://minus.com/l2Mq5zUpwCP6E

Of the hundreds of explanations about how you are different to WebVan, you really think this is the best one?

pclark, I don't think this is the best one. But, like i said, I've talked about this at length several times but it doesn't stop people from comparing the two companies. I thought a picture showing the contrast would help.

Re: Our Magic

#22

Post by stef25 »

I wonder how it works with regards to the logistics, what items are in stock at what price, which stores participate ... ?

Re: Our Magic

#24

Post by Karhan »

apoorvamehta wrote: post #12

For anyone comparing us to Webvan - we are different. I've shared why that's the case several times before (google instacart). But, I think pictures speak louder than words: Instacart: http://imgur.com/2tWWh Webvan: http://minus.com/l2Mq5zUpwCP6E

any plans for expanding into Berkeley?

Re: Our Magic

#25

Post by physcab »

I think Instacart is a fantastic concept / service but for me it doesn't come without some internal conflict. When I was in grad school and didn't have a car, it was a huge pain to go grocery shopping. I had to bike a mile to the nearest grocery store and I could only fit a few items in my backpack. On top of that, it would rain often (thank you Florida), making the whole experience absolutely miserable. I always wished there was some service that could do "maintenance shopping" for me and always deliver the weekly essentials. I thought the same about laundry as well.

Now that I have a job and live a few blocks from the nearest store and have a car, is it right to pay someone else to do my shopping for me? Am I really that lazy? Do I really value other's time less than my own? I have often pondered these questions ever since services like Taskrabbit started and I saw people (able-bodied 20-somethings) using TR to do things like screw new light bulbs in.

So I'm not saying services like this shouldn't exist, because there is clearly a need...but I worry about what it means for our culture.

Re: Our Magic

#26

Post by shiftb »

duiker101 wrote: post #15
apoorvamehta wrote: post #12

For anyone comparing us to Webvan - we are different. I've shared why that's the case several times before (google instacart). But, I think pictures speak louder than words: Instacart: http://imgur.com/2tWWh Webvan: http://minus.com/l2Mq5zUpwCP6E

That you are no-one and they are a big company,mature and well organized? This is what I got as a person how know nothing about both. And I am not sure that is a point for you.

The difference is that Instacart is software.

Re: Our Magic

#27

Post by webwright »

eweise wrote: post #9

How is this different than Webvan? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Webvan

Webvan maintained inventory/warehouses. The modern equivalent is Amazon Fresh ( http://fresh.amazon.com/ ). Instacart is more like an Exec/Taskrabbit model. Their inventory/warehouse is your local grocery store. They pay drivers to go grab stuff there and bring it to you. So not terribly different in value prop, but pretty wildly different in terms of business model.

Re: Our Magic

#28

Post by petemccarthy »

Focus on Trader Joe's. Their stores are smaller and easier for your shoppers to get in and out of, with a much more concise number of items. People trust the brand and are much more likely to try something out just by seeing and reading about it. Trader Joe's = Big time success.

Re: Our Magic

#29

Post by saddino »

Can someone explain how the economics of scaling this type of business works now in 2012 when it failed in 2001? (most famously, Kozmo). I thought the problem was that the all-in cost of delivery was greater than the flat delivery fee added to each purchase. What's the trick to make this type of business work now?

Re: Our Magic

#30

Post by HyprMusic »

In the UK the supermarkets offer a delivered groceries service themselves. Is this something that US supermarkets don't offer? Or is Instacart's selling point the rush delivery?
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