Amazon buys 430 B&M locations

[pwalker8]

I'm sure there is a lot of angst among Whole Food employees, given that Amazon doesn't exactly have the best reputation when it comes to employee treatment. Some companies buy other companies and manage not to kill the golden goose. Other companies are just buying a company for the name and contracts. Time will tell which it is with Whole Food.

I do hope it's the former, since I do shop at Whole Food every two or three weeks. It's the best place around here to get fresh meat and seafood. They were a great place to get ready cooked foods, but I've noticed the selection starting to drop of a bit over the last month.

I would be very surprise if Whole Food effects Amazon's ebook department in any way shape or form.

[fjtorres]

Originally Posted by GlenBarrington

Well, personally, I think any move Amazon makes is a valid topic for General discussions forum. They are such a major player in media, that the Whole Foods purchase may well have an effect on how eBooks (and readers) get marketed, not to mention other media products and services. The typical young, well heeled, tech savvy consumer that uses Whole Foods market, just might find it convenient to do business with Amazon via Whole Foods at a Kiosk.

They've already said they're putting in lockers and would be adding select Amazon products (Kindles? Tablets? Echos?) over time. Likewise Whole Foods products will be available through Amazon.

And, of course, since Whole foods didn't have a loyalty program, they'll use Prime. Which means more subscribers and more users for Kindle First and Prime reading.

Prime touches everything.

[fjtorres]

The funny thing is Amazon is actually one of the better employers for *entry level* jobs:

https://www.glassdoor.com/Benefits/A...IL.7,9_IN1.htm

Warehouse jobs are hard and demanding but they are hard and demanding everywhere. They're not cushy white collar office jobs in NYC glass towers. But as warehouse jobs go, Amazon fulfillment center employees aren't typically abused. One incident years gone by does not a slave driver make.

Aside from the benefits listed at the above source (great health insurance, good time off, good retirement) they offer fully paid educational benefits even for careers that don't lead to Amazon jobs, they offer lots of upwards mobility options within the Amazon companies, and they even pay substantial sums to help unhappy employees leave for greener pastures. Up to $5000.

https://hbr.org/2014/04/why-amazon-i...loyees-to-quit

Finally, Amazon, as a conglomerate, doesn't typically change how the acquired companies are managed. When they buy the company, they buy the management. In Whole Food's case management was under pressure from Wall Street to produce better short term profits at a time they've been investing for long term growth via online sales. That is why the company management welcomed the Amazon deal: Amazon instantly solved their online and loyalty program needs and removed the pressure for quarterly gains at the expense of growth investment.

https://www.nytimes.com/2015/11/03/b...ole-foods.html

Any Whole Foods employee angsting over the merger are simply misinformed:Whole Foods needed this deal a lot more than Amazon which is saying something since Amazon needed it enough to overpay by 30-40%.

Amazon needed both the food retail expertise as well as the B&M locations. Lockers incoming. Kiosks soon to follow.

And the price cuts fueling the angst?
No big deal, just a dozen items to make a PR point:

https://www.cnet.com/news/amazon-cut...arting-monday/

[pwalker8]

Originally Posted by fjtorres

The funny thing is Amazon is actually one of the better employers for *entry level* jobs:

https://www.glassdoor.com/Benefits/A...IL.7,9_IN1.htm

Warehouse jobs are hard and demanding but they are hard and demanding everywhere. They're not cushy white collar office jobs in NYC glass towers. But as warehouse jobs go, Amazon fulfillment center employees aren't typically abused. One incident years gone by does not a slave driver make.

Aside from the benefits listed at the above source (great health insurance, good time off, good retirement) they offer fully paid educational benefits even for careers that don't lead to Amazon jobs, they offer lots of upwards mobility options within the Amazon companies, and they even pay substantial sums to help unhappy employees leave for greener pastures. Up to $5000.

https://hbr.org/2014/04/why-amazon-i...loyees-to-quit

Finally, Amazon, as a conglomerate, doesn't typically change how the acquired companies are managed. When they buy the company, they buy the management. In Whole Food's case management was under pressure from Wall Street to produce better short term profits at a time they've been investing for long term growth via online sales. That is why the company management welcomed the Amazon deal: Amazon instantly solved their online and loyalty program needs and removed the pressure for quarterly gains at the expense of growth investment.

https://www.nytimes.com/2015/11/03/b...ole-foods.html

Any Whole Foods employee angsting over the merger are simply misinformed:Whole Foods needed this deal a lot more than Amazon which is saying something since Amazon needed it enough to overpay by 30-40%.

Amazon needed both the food retail expertise as well as the B&M locations. Lockers incoming. Kiosks soon to follow.

And the price cuts fueling the angst?
No big deal, just a dozen items to make a PR point:

https://www.cnet.com/news/amazon-cut...arting-monday/

Certainly, focusing on long term growth rather than quarterly financial reports is one of the many things that Amazon does right. Whole Food does need the deal more than Amazon. The pressure from short term investors looking for a quick buck is one of the reasons that a number of companies are moving away from being publicly held companies.

My major exposure to a company being bought out by Amazon is Audible. In the almost decade since Amazon bought them in 2008, there have been some good changes and some bad changes at Audible, but on the whole, it has been good.

[Gotadimple]

Originally Posted by fjtorres

They've already said they're putting in lockers and would be adding select Amazon products (Kindles? Tablets? Echos?) over time. Likewise Whole Foods products will be available through Amazon.

Not electronics . . . think sundries found in a grocery store, and pantry items. Add in Amazon Fresh for delivery.

[Gotadimple]

Originally Posted by pwalker8

My major exposure to a company being bought out by Amazon is Audible. In the almost decade since Amazon bought them in 2008, there have been some good changes and some bad changes at Audible, but on the whole, it has been good.

Same is true for the website Goodreads, some improvements, some more Amazon marketing - but still a stable platform for readers who like to capture what they've read and build want to read lists. Yes you can do that on Amazon, but it's lost in the shuffle of all the other stuff available.

[fjtorres]

Originally Posted by Gotadimple

Not electronics . . . think sundries found in a grocery store, and pantry items. Add in Amazon Fresh for delivery.

Not electronics, you say?

Mr Bezos begs to differ:

http://www.aftvnews.com/amazon-reduc...t-whole-foods/

Farm Fresh Amazon ECHO's are already for sale at Whole Foods sites.

Amazon has also set up a “Farm Fresh” Amazon Echo display at several Whole Foods locations where they’re selling the Amazon Echo and Echo Dot at discounted prices of $99.99 and $44.99 respectively. There’s no need to hunt down one of these displays, however, because the same sale prices are currently available on Amazon’s site.

Pretty pics at the source.

Supermarkets sell pbooks; no reason they can't sell ereaders, tablets, and internet speakers.
What better way to make up the margin lost by selling cheaper groceries?

[Cinisajoy]

Did you see the price cuts?
One article was complaining because "they said they were going to cut organic prices. They didn't tell us they were going to cut non-organic prices too."

[fjtorres]

You'd think that after 22 years people would've learned to expect these things from Amazon.

The biggest single issue dogging Whole Foods was their "Whole Paycheck" reputation so naturally that was going to be the first thing they addressed.

The only semi surprising thing about the Farm Fresh ECHOs is that they had the things ready to go today. The board only signed off on the merger last Wednesday and the FTC on Friday.

They're moving on internet time.

[tubemonkey]

These shoppers aren’t convinced Whole Foods will stop being ‘Whole Paycheck’

I didn't know what "whole paycheck" meant, so I had to look it up.

No matter how low Amazon lowers prices, it still won't be low enough to get my business. I do my grocery shopping mostly based on price.

Despite the new discounts, Whole Foods has more work to do before it shakes the moniker “Whole Paycheck,” a title jokingly bestowed upon the store due to its reputation as being too expensive for many people. On Monday, the store lowered the price of avocados from $2.50 each to $1.50 each. Gala apples had decreased from $3 a pound to $2 a pound. The non-GMO organic almond milk from Whole Foods’ own “365” brand had been lowered from $3.69 per carton to $2.99.

Tor Gunnarson, a 65-year-old shopping at the 14th street Whole Foods in Manhattan said he prefers to shop at Whole Foods regardless of prices, but was skeptical the cheaper costs would stick around (a spokeswoman for Whole Foods said the price changes introduced today are permanent).

“It’s not going to stick, right, it’s just a one-day thing?” he asked. “I prefer Whole Foods because it’s a more pleasant shopping experience. I don’t think prices are as bad as they say with the ‘whole paycheck’ talk. I find often times reasonably good prices and a great selection of quality items.”

[fjtorres]

The prices might very well stick.
https://www.cnbc.com/2017/08/24/amaz...aboolainternal

Amazon runs on a reportable net margin of 1.7% whereas Whole Foods ran at 4.6% as an independent company. If they cut their margins in half they'd still be higher than the Amazon average.

They have room to cut and still thrive now that they're not under Wall Street pressure.

They'll never be the cheapest of the cheap, though. Organic stuff is simply pricey.

[Atunah]

I have never been able to afford buying my groceries at Whole Foods. And yes, I have compared prices. Its like ouch. I would love to be in a situation where I could say I don't care what something costs, I'll buy it anyway. Must be nice.

I been fairly lucky though as far as groceries go. I have access to HEB here in south texas which have really low prices on stuff, even though the store near me is really old and not the cleanest. They opened late last year a Trader Joe's I can actually get to and I been buying most of my stuff there. But I am not a shopper that only gets organic stuff. I buy some, but mostly if its in my budget and say its the only item. As TJ only has so many things so a product might only come in organic.

I wish we had an Aldi here, where I would probably be parked out at. I grew up with those stores.

I also much prefer small type stores to HUGE super thingies. I could literally walk across the street to a walmart that has groceries, but its a really bad selection and I just don't want to go to a huge store. So I drive out of the way for my stuff. If I didn't have a car, and I been there, I'd have to walk to the walmart. Many folks around here do as we are in the heart of apartment living here with many having no cars.

I just noticed in my Prime Now app they now carry some Whole Food items for 1 hour delivery. Basic stuff. I guess that will vary on the location.

If I was independently wealthy I would buy all organic, buy only grass fed meats and all that. I just can't afford that.

I am just always in shock at prices for avocados though. We eat them daily and I usually get a 6 pack of the smaller ones from TJ for 3.69. A big one I think is like 1.50 at HEB. But I can never get non bruised ones there.

So they are already rolling out some stuff into the local Prime Now warehouses for immediate delivery. I haven't ordered prime now in a while, but if they had more selection on say groceries, I might on the days I can't make it to the store. But only if the price is right.

[Cinisajoy]

Originally Posted by Atunah

I have never been able to afford buying my groceries at Whole Foods. And yes, I have compared prices. Its like ouch. I would love to be in a situation where I could say I don't care what something costs, I'll buy it anyway. Must be nice.

I been fairly lucky though as far as groceries go. I have access to HEB here in south texas which have really low prices on stuff, even though the store near me is really old and not the cleanest. They opened late last year a Trader Joe's I can actually get to and I been buying most of my stuff there. But I am not a shopper that only gets organic stuff. I buy some, but mostly if its in my budget and say its the only item. As TJ only has so many things so a product might only come in organic.

I wish we had an Aldi here, where I would probably be parked out at. I grew up with those stores.

I also much prefer small type stores to HUGE super thingies. I could literally walk across the street to a walmart that has groceries, but its a really bad selection and I just don't want to go to a huge store. So I drive out of the way for my stuff. If I didn't have a car, and I been there, I'd have to walk to the walmart. Many folks around here do as we are in the heart of apartment living here with many having no cars.

I just noticed in my Prime Now app they now carry some Whole Food items for 1 hour delivery. Basic stuff. I guess that will vary on the location.

If I was independently wealthy I would buy all organic, buy only grass fed meats and all that. I just can't afford that.

I am just always in shock at prices for avocados though. We eat them daily and I usually get a 6 pack of the smaller ones from TJ for 3.69. A big one I think is like 1.50 at HEB. But I can never get non bruised ones there.

So they are already rolling out some stuff into the local Prime Now warehouses for immediate delivery. I haven't ordered prime now in a while, but if they had more selection on say groceries, I might on the days I can't make it to the store. But only if the price is right.

I know what you mean. At one point, I lived in an apartment complex that was right beside a shopping center with an Albertsons grocery store. I am glad I had a very small day to day grocery budget. It was way too easy to say oh I want to make whatever for dinner and just walk the few feet to the store. That was before they put the fence around the apartment complex.

[pwalker8]

Originally Posted by Atunah

I have never been able to afford buying my groceries at Whole Foods. And yes, I have compared prices. Its like ouch. I would love to be in a situation where I could say I don't care what something costs, I'll buy it anyway. Must be nice.

I been fairly lucky though as far as groceries go. I have access to HEB here in south texas which have really low prices on stuff, even though the store near me is really old and not the cleanest. They opened late last year a Trader Joe's I can actually get to and I been buying most of my stuff there. But I am not a shopper that only gets organic stuff. I buy some, but mostly if its in my budget and say its the only item. As TJ only has so many things so a product might only come in organic.

I wish we had an Aldi here, where I would probably be parked out at. I grew up with those stores.

I also much prefer small type stores to HUGE super thingies. I could literally walk across the street to a walmart that has groceries, but its a really bad selection and I just don't want to go to a huge store. So I drive out of the way for my stuff. If I didn't have a car, and I been there, I'd have to walk to the walmart. Many folks around here do as we are in the heart of apartment living here with many having no cars.

I just noticed in my Prime Now app they now carry some Whole Food items for 1 hour delivery. Basic stuff. I guess that will vary on the location.

If I was independently wealthy I would buy all organic, buy only grass fed meats and all that. I just can't afford that.

I am just always in shock at prices for avocados though. We eat them daily and I usually get a 6 pack of the smaller ones from TJ for 3.69. A big one I think is like 1.50 at HEB. But I can never get non bruised ones there.

So they are already rolling out some stuff into the local Prime Now warehouses for immediate delivery. I haven't ordered prime now in a while, but if they had more selection on say groceries, I might on the days I can't make it to the store. But only if the price is right.

Grocery delivery has several major issues. First, many people want to pick their own produce, they like to handle it before they buy. Second, is selection. I generally hit Whole Food once a month or so to get specific things (generally meat and some pre-cooked items (the local Whoie Food use to have very good barbarque turkey burgers)) None of that sort of stuff is available online for delivery. I tried the service one week, had two orders [one next day, the other in two days] both orders arrived outside the delivery window and I had to go to the store anyway to get the various items that were not available online, so I canceled the subscription.

One of the big issues that a lot of people have is that most recipes and food items are packed for two or more people. That's one of the reasons that so many people tend to eat out a lot.

[Cinisajoy]

Originally Posted by pwalker8

Grocery delivery has several major issues. First, many people want to pick their own produce, they like to handle it before they buy. Second, is selection. I generally hit Whole Food once a month or so to get specific things (generally meat and some pre-cooked items (the local Whoie Food use to have very good barbarque turkey burgers)) None of that sort of stuff is available online for delivery. I tried the service one week, had two orders [one next day, the other in two days] both orders arrived outside the delivery window and I had to go to the store anyway to get the various items that were not available online, so I canceled the subscription.

One of the big issues that a lot of people have is that most recipes and food items are packed for two or more people. That's one of the reasons that so many people tend to eat out a lot.

Most recipes are for 4 or more.
Most food items are cheaper by the pound in bigger quantities.
Ziploc bags and a chest freezer are my best friends.