" Amazon’s $13.4 billion bet to take on the $800 billion grocery business in the United States by acquiring Whole Foods fits perfectly into the retailer’s business model."
So explain this to me. Amazon's operating margin is 2.9%...it's the king of thin margins. Whole Food's margin is 5%...it makes it's money by charging a premium for prestige value. So how are these diametrically opposed business models a "perfect fit"? Will Amazon raise it's margins by no longer be a price leader? Or will Whole Foods forego it's premium pricing and become less profitable? Seems it's more of a square peg meets round hole situation.
So explain this to me. Amazon's operating margin is 2.9%...it's the king of thin margins. Whole Food's margin is 5%...it makes it's money by charging a premium for prestige value. So how are these diametrically opposed business models a "perfect fit"? Will Amazon raise it's margins by no longer be a price leader? Or will Whole Foods forego it's premium pricing and become less profitable? Seems it's more of a square peg meets round hole situation.
2
It was nice of Jeff to give the wife of your publisher a position in his company even though you are competing with his newspaper, I hope she has them continue to bake ancient grains bread. Their food bar could use some updating maybe she could have the foodies at your paper help or have them give lessons at the store. Maybe Asimov could improve their wine selection. Or would all that be conflict of interest. Then again maybe I should start reading the Washington Post food section and see if Whole Foods has an impact on its style.
6
Amazon for over 10 years didn't make a dime. It survives only because of this zero interest environment & ever increasing stock price boasted & encouraged by Wall Street. In a vicious cycle, with that Amazon can continue borrow huge sum to buy things. In the process, Amazon almost use single hand to destroy all the book stores except the biggest one of Barns & Noble. Now Amazon is building physical book stores to replace all those she destroyed. Whit Whole Food now in its pocket, I will continue shop Kroger & Costco. This will help to preserve many jobs and help diversification of our industry.
7
Everything about Amazon sounds perfectly healthy to me. Let Jeff Bezos have the world. Who else wants a dying old planet anyway? With his rockets he can fly stuff to all the dead planets elsewhere as well. What could possibly go wrong with a business model built on that as a future? Reminds me of the old saying, all dressed up and nowhere to go.
3
This article is good but has one giant flaw in my view. That is about the financial performance of the company. I think it is poorly understood and poorly reported.
Bezos runs the company the way he should - to generate cash flow without focusing on GAAP earnings. That is the real way that economic value is built. Bezos has said - and it makes total sense to me - that his focus is cash flow not reporting operating income.
It turns out that Amazon produces gigantic, incredible cash flow. Over $16 billion in CY16. That is amazing. Over time, as capital expenditures slow - and inevitably they will - this can be a company generating enormous operating income and enormous cash flow at the same time. Then the stock will really move. Not that it hasn't already - but it has moved so well even with this silly misguided cloud over its performance.
TLDR: focus on cash flow not operating income and you will see that Amazon is a company with world-class financial success.
Bezos runs the company the way he should - to generate cash flow without focusing on GAAP earnings. That is the real way that economic value is built. Bezos has said - and it makes total sense to me - that his focus is cash flow not reporting operating income.
It turns out that Amazon produces gigantic, incredible cash flow. Over $16 billion in CY16. That is amazing. Over time, as capital expenditures slow - and inevitably they will - this can be a company generating enormous operating income and enormous cash flow at the same time. Then the stock will really move. Not that it hasn't already - but it has moved so well even with this silly misguided cloud over its performance.
TLDR: focus on cash flow not operating income and you will see that Amazon is a company with world-class financial success.
1
Really. Enough with the tech megalomaniacs who destroy much, create nothing good - AND lose money, at least until they undersell everyone and put them out of business. Really. Disgusting. Enough. How detached and lazy do we have to become as a society before this ends.
7
Will this be another homogenization move? Will Whole Foods begin to look like Kroger and Walmart by 2020?
2
Greetings, all, and Happy Father's Day!
POLL: If Amazon—tomorrow—offered the Amazon Imp® I propose in David's article, who among you would buy and "install" one on your person ASAP? I, for one, would at least try it out.
Also: Everything I’ve read about Mr. Bezos (and, indeed, everything I’ve experienced while interacting with the companies and services he’s created) leads me to believe that, even though he is one of the richest fellas in the world, he isn’t driven by money in the slightest. Indeed, he seems as someone who doesn’t even have time to spend his bread (on himself, via philanthropy, etc)…too much to do, so little time. He strikes me as someone who is so deeply annoyed on a personal level by all the awful ways he had/has to endure buying stuff that he needed fix it all first before he could kick back and have a cold one. And fix it, he has, market by market, industry by industry, obstacles, naysayers and existing monopolies be d*mned. He has made shopping great. Fun, even. Effortless. Surprising and delightful.
I will ride any train in which Jeff Bezos is the engineer! Choo Choooo! :-)
Cordially,
Chris Kubica
(one of the humble folks interviewed for this article)
POLL: If Amazon—tomorrow—offered the Amazon Imp® I propose in David's article, who among you would buy and "install" one on your person ASAP? I, for one, would at least try it out.
Also: Everything I’ve read about Mr. Bezos (and, indeed, everything I’ve experienced while interacting with the companies and services he’s created) leads me to believe that, even though he is one of the richest fellas in the world, he isn’t driven by money in the slightest. Indeed, he seems as someone who doesn’t even have time to spend his bread (on himself, via philanthropy, etc)…too much to do, so little time. He strikes me as someone who is so deeply annoyed on a personal level by all the awful ways he had/has to endure buying stuff that he needed fix it all first before he could kick back and have a cold one. And fix it, he has, market by market, industry by industry, obstacles, naysayers and existing monopolies be d*mned. He has made shopping great. Fun, even. Effortless. Surprising and delightful.
I will ride any train in which Jeff Bezos is the engineer! Choo Choooo! :-)
Cordially,
Chris Kubica
(one of the humble folks interviewed for this article)
2
Chris, Amazon Health Services. Start with Pharmacy. Sure, Drugstore.com didn't really go, but Bezos is better. Way better.
Is a particular good or service valuable? In this Postmodern society it all depends upon who you ask. Let's use a 12" long bungee cord:
The oil well driller will say, as he fractures the earth for plastic products...The bulldozer and excavator operators will say, as they remove a mountain top for metallic products...The pipeline operators, dump truck drivers and the natural resource extraction managers working back at the regional office will think...The merchant mariner shipping raw natural resources to the third world nations and from there the finished manufactured products to the first world nations will wipe the grease and sweat from his brow deep within the engine room missing...
But the countless assembly line workers in the third world nation will be thinking "Just 13 more hours before quitting time," and the executive C-level managers at the Bungee Cord headquarters will be discussing their stock price and shareholder value...The Amazon worker will be struggling to keep up with the orders to fill, and so will the UPS delivery folks...Jeff Bezos will be thinking about how to package and sell politics and the media the way he does bungee cords, and the consumer will complain the bungee cord cost them $1.99 and their kid shot it into a tree 40' high.
The kid loved the bungee cord and couldn't care less about how it was made, who worked on it, how it was shipped, how the fauna and environment suffered all along the process, or what it cost...Just buy me another.
The oil well driller will say, as he fractures the earth for plastic products...The bulldozer and excavator operators will say, as they remove a mountain top for metallic products...The pipeline operators, dump truck drivers and the natural resource extraction managers working back at the regional office will think...The merchant mariner shipping raw natural resources to the third world nations and from there the finished manufactured products to the first world nations will wipe the grease and sweat from his brow deep within the engine room missing...
But the countless assembly line workers in the third world nation will be thinking "Just 13 more hours before quitting time," and the executive C-level managers at the Bungee Cord headquarters will be discussing their stock price and shareholder value...The Amazon worker will be struggling to keep up with the orders to fill, and so will the UPS delivery folks...Jeff Bezos will be thinking about how to package and sell politics and the media the way he does bungee cords, and the consumer will complain the bungee cord cost them $1.99 and their kid shot it into a tree 40' high.
The kid loved the bungee cord and couldn't care less about how it was made, who worked on it, how it was shipped, how the fauna and environment suffered all along the process, or what it cost...Just buy me another.
8
Amazon appears in this transaction as a "surfeited sponge of a speculator" (Trollope, "The Way We Live Now", 1875) that wants to make profit in a field, in which it has neither an established name, nor experience. Amazon should stick to peddling books and delivering all kinds of things by drones, until there will be enough of frightened citizens bringing the menacing drones down within their airspace.
Although I am not an enthusiast of organic foods, the local Whole Foods has a good choice of products even for those who abhor the store being patronized by vociferous vegans and radical leftist supporters of free cannabis use.
Although I am not an enthusiast of organic foods, the local Whole Foods has a good choice of products even for those who abhor the store being patronized by vociferous vegans and radical leftist supporters of free cannabis use.
1
This is Nina Castro:
Most comments thus far have already aired most of my concerns about monopolies, automation taking more jobs, souring of food and reduced choice in the consumer marketplace (reminds me of the Russian dept store, Gumm, we were all forced to contemplate when I was in grade school providing the same shoes for everyone in three drab colors....). Which brings me to my age. My community is still extremely car-centric, and the putlic transit consists of buses very poor connections. When I learned that I could have heavy necessities shipped to my house by Walmart for the same price one would pay in the store, for a minimum of a $35.00 order, I leaped at the opportunity. I hate watching postmen, Fed Ex drivers, UPS, all hauling incredibly heavy boxes to my door, and I tell them so and urge to negotiate what they should be paid. But, what are we aging Americans going to do when we can't drive anymore? I do hope we stop short of dropping huge, heavy bottles of laundry detergent from drones, however. Being taken out by one while trimming the lawn, is not the way I'd like to appear on the evening news......
Most comments thus far have already aired most of my concerns about monopolies, automation taking more jobs, souring of food and reduced choice in the consumer marketplace (reminds me of the Russian dept store, Gumm, we were all forced to contemplate when I was in grade school providing the same shoes for everyone in three drab colors....). Which brings me to my age. My community is still extremely car-centric, and the putlic transit consists of buses very poor connections. When I learned that I could have heavy necessities shipped to my house by Walmart for the same price one would pay in the store, for a minimum of a $35.00 order, I leaped at the opportunity. I hate watching postmen, Fed Ex drivers, UPS, all hauling incredibly heavy boxes to my door, and I tell them so and urge to negotiate what they should be paid. But, what are we aging Americans going to do when we can't drive anymore? I do hope we stop short of dropping huge, heavy bottles of laundry detergent from drones, however. Being taken out by one while trimming the lawn, is not the way I'd like to appear on the evening news......
2
I still won't buy clothes from them. They have zero fashion ambiance. But the idea of getting deliveries from Whole Foods is nice.
I dunno. No ability to check expiration dates.
4
With the details Mr Bezos now has on our behavior (now, including eating) and prodigious expertise in knowledge management, don't be surprised when Amazon Health Services debuts.
5
With the products and quick service offered by Amazon, I can avoid endless wasted hours of freeway travel in Los Angeles. And long, long waits for shipments.
I work international documentaries. When I prepare for an out-of-US project, I often need equipment or components. Without the two day service of Prime, I would be required to search Los Angeles suppliers or wait a week for UPS or US mail delivery. Drive there? Wait a week? Stress!
Last minute stress contributes to disasters. Like driving off from a gas station with the nozzle and hose still plugged into the car. Like other events too embarrassing to detail.
Prime frees me to prepare. Thank you, Mr. Bezos.
I work international documentaries. When I prepare for an out-of-US project, I often need equipment or components. Without the two day service of Prime, I would be required to search Los Angeles suppliers or wait a week for UPS or US mail delivery. Drive there? Wait a week? Stress!
Last minute stress contributes to disasters. Like driving off from a gas station with the nozzle and hose still plugged into the car. Like other events too embarrassing to detail.
Prime frees me to prepare. Thank you, Mr. Bezos.
3
He sees republicans deregulating protections on food safety and responded by knowing people will flock to keep from being poisoned. The future can only be bright for quality foods regardless of inflated prices.
Bezos is fortunate that he has a band of cult followers who are willing to bet on the long-term, permitting the company to make capital investments rather than live or die by the stupidity of quarterly results.
2
one would hope other ceo's would follow and invest for the long term. marching to the quarterly numbers is foolhearty. in a way, it would be ok if amazon never made a profit, just kept investing and changing the world..
1
So far I have managed to live just fine without every buying anything from Amazon but I very much doubt I could get by without buying from Walmart.
While people generally seem to praise Bezos purchase of Whole Foods - that overpriced, over merchandised, over hyped, and overly pretentious foodster for the upscale yuppie, puppy, and muppie generations that was formerly run by a pseudo libertarian rightwinger - they have bashed Walmart's purchase of Bonobos, an online purveyor of equally over priced and pretentious men's clothing. Apparently many of Bonobos upscale buyers didn't like their pretention sullied by the decidedly low brow Walmart name that many people depend on for affordable pricing on every day essentials.
However, if their is a common thread through all of them its their general disdain for their workers who they have adamantly opposed letting unionize. I have no doubt among all these companies, Bezos include, that if they could do away with workers entirely they would jump at the chance, never mind the problem of who would be around to buy their goods.
While people generally seem to praise Bezos purchase of Whole Foods - that overpriced, over merchandised, over hyped, and overly pretentious foodster for the upscale yuppie, puppy, and muppie generations that was formerly run by a pseudo libertarian rightwinger - they have bashed Walmart's purchase of Bonobos, an online purveyor of equally over priced and pretentious men's clothing. Apparently many of Bonobos upscale buyers didn't like their pretention sullied by the decidedly low brow Walmart name that many people depend on for affordable pricing on every day essentials.
However, if their is a common thread through all of them its their general disdain for their workers who they have adamantly opposed letting unionize. I have no doubt among all these companies, Bezos include, that if they could do away with workers entirely they would jump at the chance, never mind the problem of who would be around to buy their goods.
9
Treating people desperate for jobs like slaves surely doesn't hurt his bottom line.
https://amazonslavery.wordpress.com/
Amazon has it's on Wikipedia controversy page. Nice right?
I'm simply certain Whole Food employees are going love their new management model.
https://amazonslavery.wordpress.com/
Amazon has it's on Wikipedia controversy page. Nice right?
I'm simply certain Whole Food employees are going love their new management model.
8
Bezos is keeping John Mackay, the CEO of Wholefoods, on for, I believe, 3 years. Mackay is strongly anti-union and constantly denigrated President Obama. I will continue to boycott this company. There are many better, more humane companies at which to shop.
2
You go Jeff......when you have completely crushed the competition by eliminating tens of thousands of jobs the next sound you hear will be that of crickets; you will have destroyed a vast segment of the spending public who, since they don't have jobs, have no money to buy whatever you are selling.
While automation can be a great time saver and make our lives easier, it is also possible to take it too far.
Just because you can, doesn't mean you should.
While automation can be a great time saver and make our lives easier, it is also possible to take it too far.
Just because you can, doesn't mean you should.
19
Technotopian Kubica is thinking that "Amazon can be understood as a decades-long effort to shorten the time between “I want it” and “I have it” into as brief a period as possible." Well, that period, from a slightly longer and different perspective than Amazon's spreadsheet projections, might be called life. I don't want mine to be as brief and impersonal and insulated from real community as possible. This means that:
* When I enter a store I often rely on the living knowledge base present in the workers and fellow shoppers at the point of shopping. Its easy to be gamed or mislead by virtual recommender systems...not so much when looking someone the eye and inquiring. Similarly, local markets/stores are one of the primary ways we significantly interact with our neighbors. Virtual community isn't enough.
* Main Street is being put out of business by multi-national corporations like Amazon who take the profit generated and concentrate it in the pockets of very few. Your money is exported to NYC, SF, Silicon Valley with the result that your stores close and your neighbors are put out of work. It is laughable to think that Amazon will not automate every job it can.
* Once competition is further eliminated in the areas Amazon is involved, there is NO reason to believe that prices will stay low.
* When speaking of economies of scale its critical to realize that thriving, small scale, local economies are equally vital...to our national security.
* When I enter a store I often rely on the living knowledge base present in the workers and fellow shoppers at the point of shopping. Its easy to be gamed or mislead by virtual recommender systems...not so much when looking someone the eye and inquiring. Similarly, local markets/stores are one of the primary ways we significantly interact with our neighbors. Virtual community isn't enough.
* Main Street is being put out of business by multi-national corporations like Amazon who take the profit generated and concentrate it in the pockets of very few. Your money is exported to NYC, SF, Silicon Valley with the result that your stores close and your neighbors are put out of work. It is laughable to think that Amazon will not automate every job it can.
* Once competition is further eliminated in the areas Amazon is involved, there is NO reason to believe that prices will stay low.
* When speaking of economies of scale its critical to realize that thriving, small scale, local economies are equally vital...to our national security.
10
Thank you for your comment. My favorite toy story was driven out by Amazon. I could go in and tell them the age of the niece or nephew and they had great ideas. Amazon doesn't replace them.
5
I like taking my time in the grocery store (or farmers market). And interacting with the people who work there, and others. And I am there a few times a week --- I am not stocking up so I don't have to go. I would not want to have everything delivered to me. And scanning entire shopping cart full of groceries in one go, without stopping, as I roll into the parking lot? Not for me.
6
For those of us who started out in "mom and pop" retail (mine was in a family hardware fresh out of high school), we have bemoaned the effect that Wal-Mart has had on that business model and several of us have wondered what would come out of retail to return the favor to Wal-Mart.
The answer may possibly be Amazon. For those who don't like Amazon, be patient. Retail will continue to evolve to be what the consumer deems the most convenient. Yes, whatever comes next will have to sell itself on its merits to the marketplace but in the end Amazon is part of that evolution.
The retail marketplace will be what the consumer allows it to become.
The answer may possibly be Amazon. For those who don't like Amazon, be patient. Retail will continue to evolve to be what the consumer deems the most convenient. Yes, whatever comes next will have to sell itself on its merits to the marketplace but in the end Amazon is part of that evolution.
The retail marketplace will be what the consumer allows it to become.
5
Soon this megalomaniac will purchase Trader Joe's.
And I will move to France and pitch a tent in a meadow of lavender...,and wait until I vaporize...
And I will move to France and pitch a tent in a meadow of lavender...,and wait until I vaporize...
6
Jeff Bezos is doing what any good scientist does. He is thinking out of the box and experimenting. The occasional failure on the path to success is another opportunity to learn. You do not grow unless you have these failures to keep you on the path to success.
This is a way of life that conservative buggy whip makers cannot wrap their head around. That is their failing and, with the GOP now in political power in the US, the failing of America.
This is a way of life that conservative buggy whip makers cannot wrap their head around. That is their failing and, with the GOP now in political power in the US, the failing of America.
5
Former cashiers will not be able to buy anything on Amazon or Whole Foods.
9
So I have a suggestion that goes against the grain of American business, but will show huge profits. Start treating you employees as your most valuable asset. Treat them well, invest in their training, listen to them, foster an 'owner's mentality,' then get out of the way. If you can do that, the profits you have seen so far will be just a drop in the bucket.
3
Not a fanboy of Amazon, but theyre obviously doing something right.... In the late 90s Ebay was the king of online shopping when Amazon was a simple book seller. Today people only go on ebay if they want cheap things from China, kinda like an online 99c store, and Amazon is taking over the world, for good or bad. All judgments aside, its interesting to behold.
2
As if all the Trump news isn't depressing enough now we get an added daily dose of Bezos news.
9
>“When you have such a long-term perspective that you think in decades instead of quarters,
Leftists who condemn capitalism for alleged short-range thinking evade long-range businessmen, arbitrary, changing ,govt controls which discourage planning, deliberately brain-dead, anti-ideological Pragmatism taught by virtually all humanities professors and the short-range Pragmatism of virtually all politicians.
Leftists who condemn capitalism for alleged short-range thinking evade long-range businessmen, arbitrary, changing ,govt controls which discourage planning, deliberately brain-dead, anti-ideological Pragmatism taught by virtually all humanities professors and the short-range Pragmatism of virtually all politicians.
1
I am not digitally accomplished, but if you look at the way Amazon "tricks" buyers like me into the $100 purchase of Amazon Prime, Mr. Bezos's company looks a lot slicker than the just-folks image he hustles. I was in the process of a purchase, and I simply could not get past checkout with "giving Amazon Prime a tryout." And if you don't later go out of your way to cancel, you're in the program, as I am.
2
Will this be Prime Foods now? Can't wait till they make it a Costco like experience without the Costco.
1
As an person born in 1950 I realize the World around us is changing. Sometimes it may seem to fast. But as a Prime member for several years I have come to enjoy Amazon. Be it shopping or watching Amazon TV. I remember when Malls were a New Thing. We need companies like Amazon who are pushing the envelope. Something lost Something gained. The unfortunate thing is those stuck at jobs in between. But that has always been. The mom and pop stores were pushed out by Walmart and the Big box stores. Now Amazon comes along and those big box stores are feeling the pinch. just like the OverSeas Operator is long gone.
4
Amazon is driving bricks and mortar out of business with its on-line model. But now Amazon is getting into . . . bricks and mortar? Unless we think Amazon is better able to do the traditional business model than were the old bricks and mortar companies (which seems unlikely - think Borders or Barnes & Noble), it seems that Amazon was simply loss-leading in its on-line business in order to get into the (still profitable after all) traditional retail sector - only now it can do so without those other pesky retail giants. Does anyone have the phone number of the Department of Justice Antitrust Division? Oh, wait. It's 2017. Never mind.
9
For an extreme introvert like myself, the internet has been the most wonderful invention of my lifetime. I no longer have to interact face to face with anyone for any reason. HEAVEN!!!
As to the charge that Amazon is responsible for local booksellers going out of business, last time I checked (Wednesday), my local library was bustling. There are very few reasons to throw your money away buying books.
As to the charge that Amazon is responsible for local booksellers going out of business, last time I checked (Wednesday), my local library was bustling. There are very few reasons to throw your money away buying books.
4
Shopping at my neighborhood WF now is already reminding me, from what I've read reported, of what it's like working inside an Amazon Fulfillment Center. This started months ago when WF added "Instacart Shoppers" to the mix of shoppers. These professional shoppers run around the store not looking where they're going with their eyes trained only on their smartphones instructing them on what product to grab next. What used to be an enjoyable experience is over. WF no longer cares about your health. If it did it wouldn't deprive its customers of a pleasant social experience and turning it into an unpleasant one. Now I know, they don't want me there. They'd rather I stay home and hire someone to do my shopping. This is terribly unfortunate for society, but good for Amazon which, apparently, is all that matters.
3
Good for him. He seems, like Elon Musk, to do ventures that he thinks are of significance. Well I suppose so too does Rupert Murdoch, but in Murdochs case its to significantly distort the minds of those subject to propaganda. For Bezos its a love of books, journalism, and now healthy food!
1
You are kidding I presume, Bezos is a vulture capitalist with little imagination other than bare knuckled brawling in which he undercuts business into insolvency. His main ability is to find venture capitalists and shareholders who share his vision of a company that has no earnings for years as he destroys other small businesses, with the assumption that at some point he will be the last man standing. Were I to compare him to someone it would be Uber or Zappos's founders, low end scavengers. I doubt Mother Theresa would agree with you. B.T.W. Elon Musk is a genius and an innovator not a 'disrupter", like Bezos or is ilk, Musk will leave the world a better place the same cannot be said for Bezos.
5
What is it with Mr. Bezos wanting to be in the health food store business? I get the acquisition of the Washington Post, as a means to influence political processes in favor of Amazon, but Whole Foods? I have looked at this from different business case models and perspectives and cannot make sense of this acquisition. Perhaps I am overthinking Bezos’s motives and it is a simple as Whole Foods was about to close the store in his neighborhood and one way to keep the store open was to buy the company. More likely is that this a move to shore up his image and that of Amazon through association with the Whole Foods brand.
1
It's simple. Amazon's business model is to get closer to the customer – hence their building out large warehouses, smaller sized sortation centers, and using their own fleet of trucks. He has been trying to get into the grocery business with Amazon Fresh, but it hasn't yet been successful. It's only in a handful of locations. The problem with grocery is perishable food. Adding coolers and freezers to existing warehouses wouldn't work. So, he bought 460 distribution centers. Which, not coincidently, happen in the exact demographic areas that Amazon sells the most. Adding the bonus of whole foods customers being able to order and have it delivered, and you have a winning combination. By the way, don't expect the delivery grocery to be Whole Foods type products only. They will run the total gamut. He's not looking for a niche, he's going to sell it all.
3
One's tolerance for risk has to have something to do with your perception of that risk. Surely, Jeff Bezos sees the acquisition of Whole Foods differently than you or I do. Also, he has a level of influence, control and insight into "Amazon's $13.4 billion bet" not accessible to most of us.
I enjoyed reading Mr. Streitfeld's article with POVs from the likes of Mssrs. Kekre and Kubica. But I have read enough similar analyses about big business moves by "experts" to know that their musings are at best, minimally insightful.
I enjoyed reading Mr. Streitfeld's article with POVs from the likes of Mssrs. Kekre and Kubica. But I have read enough similar analyses about big business moves by "experts" to know that their musings are at best, minimally insightful.
2
Regarding the Whole Foods purchase, the one thing I wish stores could provide is a "shopping cart GPS" so I could quickly see where stuff is located. Just say "peanut butter" and red dot blinks on store map screen. Other than that, leave it alone!! I like interacting with clerks, cashiers, sandwich makers, gelato scoopers, baristas, and any other smiling friendly human that wants to interact with me!!! I like looking at products in 3D, not 2 D. Lower tech, lower educated people need jobs too, and not dehumanized back room box stuffers struggling against a performance clock. If Bezos goes that route with WF, count me out. Lastly, if ANY store greets me using facial recognition, they will never recognize me again.
7
I believe it was here in these very pages of the NY Times several months ago that the culture and environment of Amazon was delved-into and the general understanding is that you have to devote your life to Amazon and you are always on call and they push you because the important goal is to make the company better. The whole is more important than the parts. The upside is that the people who survive Amazon are (in the eyes of potential employers) highly desirable because they have gone through the rigors of such a place. Many ex-Amazon employees have the wherewithal to start their own companies (ostensibly serving or being served by Amazon) and others are considered more valuable because of the workplace mentality and having experienced that. Basically all retail jobs require you to devote more time to them (at the expense of your home life) and many are less than accommodating when it comes to extenuating circumstances but Amazon maybe is more demanding than many. Competition is good but if AMazon ends up owning everything and anyone else cannot compete, that is definitely a downside and there will be no price comparisons any more.
7
And that is why every therapist in my area is booked solid people have there work life out of whack because they signed a bad contract or bought it a very unhealthy lifestyle.
2
I already work 55 hours per week. When I go grocery shopping or any kind of shopping, I refuse to ring up and bag my purchases. This is the height of disrespect for your customers.
Also, just where are the 6 billion plus people on this planet supposed to get the jobs necessary to buy all of this stuff?
Amazon is Wal-Mart 2.0 where workers are not paid enough so taxpayers such as myself have to subsidize them on Medicaid. And the workers vote for Republicans making their lives even more insecure.
Bezos giving his money to charity does not compensate for the potential loss of jobs. Why not just pay people more and have more employees? People add value. I do very little shopping online and am not on social media. I like to think I am part of a vanguard to a more personal way of living.
I don't think it is healthy or mature to need or want instant wish fulfillment. That is why there is a time-honored saying, " be careful what you wish for, you just might get it".
I say no thanks to Amazon buying Whole Foods. If the Whole Foods founder really cared, he would have taken the company private as the Nordstrom family just announced they are doing. I wish more companies would get out of the stock market rat race. Maybe then our society would improve.
Also, just where are the 6 billion plus people on this planet supposed to get the jobs necessary to buy all of this stuff?
Amazon is Wal-Mart 2.0 where workers are not paid enough so taxpayers such as myself have to subsidize them on Medicaid. And the workers vote for Republicans making their lives even more insecure.
Bezos giving his money to charity does not compensate for the potential loss of jobs. Why not just pay people more and have more employees? People add value. I do very little shopping online and am not on social media. I like to think I am part of a vanguard to a more personal way of living.
I don't think it is healthy or mature to need or want instant wish fulfillment. That is why there is a time-honored saying, " be careful what you wish for, you just might get it".
I say no thanks to Amazon buying Whole Foods. If the Whole Foods founder really cared, he would have taken the company private as the Nordstrom family just announced they are doing. I wish more companies would get out of the stock market rat race. Maybe then our society would improve.
47
Amen to everything you've written AH. Thank you.
9
The endgame is a corporation filled with artificially intelligent robots producing and distributing goods and services to us in our homes so we never have to go out and work for them anymore. How this builds the wealth of the owners and managers of the political economy is unclear at this time.
6
They are going to have to pay the robots as well. Machines will use the Etheruim network and Tangle for software to software and machine to machine processes and payments. And most of the machines will be self owning through smart contracts. So money still going to flow but being a cashier has never been something you can count on as longterm employment I'm doing everything I can to make my move out of retail.
Did you see the movie "Wall-E"?
3
I like Amazon for shopping. I always go to see what Amazon prices are (and if I get free shipping or not as I don't do Prime), and 9 times out of 10 I will get what I want cheaper elsewhere, and in the case of Target, I have a card that gets me 5% off all purchases AND always free shipping even if all I could order was a $2.99 item.
And as to Whole Foods, the one in my city has a parking lot with about 40 cars at any given time. The other 3 large stores are filled to overflowing except at early morning around 9am.
And as to Whole Foods, the one in my city has a parking lot with about 40 cars at any given time. The other 3 large stores are filled to overflowing except at early morning around 9am.
3
Since the dawn of the Industrial Age We have been moving towards a workplace where people will be less and less important. I think the technologies being investigated by Amazon and other progressive companies could one day be the nail in the coffin of the service oriented workforce. The biggest question will be how our business and political leaders adapt philosophically. We will need to move on from the puritan work ethic where your willingness and ability to work equates to your success and regrettably your very ability to feed, clothe, and house yourself and your family to one in which we acknowledge that there will be less need and less opportunities to work in the future. We will still need to provide for ourselves but we won't have a need to work as hard or as much. How will we transition to a system where the unemployed are lazy and under serving to one in which employment is no longer as important to prosper.
8
Or we go back to owning our own labor, restart family and small businesses. As far as America goes we are going to have to start creating and exporting things out to the rest of the world to survive.
Back in 1997 Amazon billed itself as 'Earth's Bookstore'. Today, and beyond, it's 'Earth's Retailer'. You always hear 'I love Amazon'. When have you NOT heard that.
4
let me explain Amazon Prime simply. It started out as a great idea-"free" shipping for an annual fee. Not an original idea- L:L Bean has offered free shipping for years. But it was essential to making an on-line retailer work. Now, look today the price of those products where Prime will give you free shipping--the price is higher than the same product on Amazon where you pay for shipping. So its no longer free shipping; yet you still pay 100 dollars a year. not a bad business model; yet, someone would call it fraud.
9
I also get access to Amazon Prime Video and a subscription to the Washington Post for that $99. And I don't see that products with Prime shipping cost more than ones that don't. Third-party sellers often adjust their prices with shipping to match Amazon's Prime figure.
I don't feel defrauded at all.
I don't feel defrauded at all.
3
look for the ones that say "fulfilled by Amazon". you will find ones at a lower price even though it is shipped by Amazon. sometimes the total-cost plus shipping"-is less than a product shipped on Amazon prime. Often you will find a retailer whose total cost(products plus shipping) is less than the product on Amazon prime. Also, do you think if a retailer adjusts its price plus shipping to be equal to or less than a product shipped by Amazon prime, the product sold with Amazon prime has had its price upped(i.e. Amazon is selling it for a figure equal to its cost plus profit plus shipping)to hide shipping cost? Put another way,if a wholesaler to Amazon can ship something direct for the same price(including shipping) and make a profit, then Amazon ,who is selling for the same amount with Prime has not upped its profit margin to make back shipping, then I haver a bridge to sell you
1
do a bit more research
2
I'm fortunate enough to have a wonderful natural foods co-op and many great farmer's markets in my area so I never shop at the WH here. I used to shop some through Amazon, which is pretty convenient for those of us who live out in the country. However, I haven't used it for months since I learned that Amazon advertises on Breitbart News. There is a customers' forum on Amazon called "Stop Advertising on Breitbart" with close to 2,000 comments, most in support of boycotting Amazon, Many of the customers (including me) have also written to Bezos, but he has NEVER responded. Why does Amazon support Breitbart? Why doesn't Bezos respond to his customers?
The good news is I have learned that I can get along just fine without supporting Breitbart through shopping at Amazon. The bad news is AMAZON CONTINUES TO SUPPORT HATE-FILLED BREITBART "NEWS."
The good news is I have learned that I can get along just fine without supporting Breitbart through shopping at Amazon. The bad news is AMAZON CONTINUES TO SUPPORT HATE-FILLED BREITBART "NEWS."
27
Buying Whole Foods is a brilliant move, since Bezos picked it up at a low ebb. Customers have fled due to price gouging of all kinds, as well as fakery about environmental values. Bezos will give WF instant credibility. The stores are already there, and all the company needed was a reputation.
Here are the steps he really should take: eliminate the meat section (meat production includes toxins and huge climate impacts), be rigorous about product claims of being organic, local, and healthy, and watch and see what happens. Old school grocery chains will be too slow to adapt, and Amazon will find a huge market overnight.
Here are the steps he really should take: eliminate the meat section (meat production includes toxins and huge climate impacts), be rigorous about product claims of being organic, local, and healthy, and watch and see what happens. Old school grocery chains will be too slow to adapt, and Amazon will find a huge market overnight.
8
Whole Foods has a couple of AKA titles. "Whole Paycheck" being the one I hear most.
The WF store we have in our city is not well frequented and the two largest grocery chains sell a great deal of organic fruits and vegetables.
Not everyone can afford to buy top of the line. And a lot of people who use Amazon do so because they don't shop around enough to know that there are often better prices elsewhere. This isn't going to change for WFs when Amazon gets its claws into it. There will still be 40 or less cars in their parking lot at any given time of the day.
The WF store we have in our city is not well frequented and the two largest grocery chains sell a great deal of organic fruits and vegetables.
Not everyone can afford to buy top of the line. And a lot of people who use Amazon do so because they don't shop around enough to know that there are often better prices elsewhere. This isn't going to change for WFs when Amazon gets its claws into it. There will still be 40 or less cars in their parking lot at any given time of the day.
1
This is just another consolidation of available entities on the Grand Monopoly Board of U S and world corporations. This is not helpful to the low and middle class. It is especially true with the loss of ownership of the media outlets from independent limited corporations to a hand full of GIANT CORPORATIONS that control all the news and form all laws in congress though monetary control of politicians.
20
I think it's at least an open question whether this move by Amazon will be "helpful to the low and middle class." Many of those people work multiple jobs and don't have much time to spend in grocery stores. Being able to order on-line and take deliveries may be a boon to those people.
That's leaving aside any downward pressures Amazon may exert on grocery prices by being an aggressive competitor.
That's leaving aside any downward pressures Amazon may exert on grocery prices by being an aggressive competitor.
Yes, poor people have internet access. There is no lack of options for them to shop online now.
I personally will never let someone else pick my produce. Oh well, thank goodness for farmers markets.
I personally will never let someone else pick my produce. Oh well, thank goodness for farmers markets.
3
Sure, I understand about produce. But who needs to examine package goods? I know which brands of paper towels and crackers I want to buy. I don't really need to go to a store for those.
Amazon is valued completely differently from other companies, on its growth rather than its profitability. Were it to stop growing so rapidly, it would have to show profits in line with other businesses. This is not going to happen. Only its cloud business is very profitable. Bezos will continue to move into other businesses, even if they generate little profit, so investors can cheer his growing revenues,not profits. You can sell a lot of stuff if you do not care about making any money.
7
Amazon will make a lot of money once it has achieved a de facto monopoly in different sectors of the market. That has to be the game plan and it is going to work. At that time, Amazon will cease to offer low prices and profits will go through the roof.
7
Wal-Mart tried that model and it worked for a while. Then they hit a wall. People got tired of empty shelves and poor customer service.
Bezos will find people have different expectations of brick and mortar stores.
Self-checkout has been around a long time and has not caught on. I wonder why?
Millennials supposedly care about experiences. I'm reading of an isolation backlash. I can only hope and pray that is true.
Does WF charge higher prices? Yes, but they also pay their employees better. That is not nothing.
Bezos will find people have different expectations of brick and mortar stores.
Self-checkout has been around a long time and has not caught on. I wonder why?
Millennials supposedly care about experiences. I'm reading of an isolation backlash. I can only hope and pray that is true.
Does WF charge higher prices? Yes, but they also pay their employees better. That is not nothing.
4
My decision this morning is whether or not I can afford to buy a subscription to the NYT for 16.00
Just thinking about what would 16.00 be to the richest man in the world compared to a 75 year old on Social Security.
My risk taking this morning is whether or not to eat an organic, cage free, cholesterol laden egg from Whole Foods.
It is really difficult for me to relate to "risk" taking and the richest man in the world.
Bernie was right, soon corporations will make all our decisions.
Just thinking about what would 16.00 be to the richest man in the world compared to a 75 year old on Social Security.
My risk taking this morning is whether or not to eat an organic, cage free, cholesterol laden egg from Whole Foods.
It is really difficult for me to relate to "risk" taking and the richest man in the world.
Bernie was right, soon corporations will make all our decisions.
28
More and more you've got to believe that is Bezos continues on his way to becoming the billionaire, billionaire, there will no longer be jobs for many Americans who would have used those jobs to work their way out of poverty. Can you believe in your heart that there is a way to stop Bezos given all of the freedoms he is abusing?
8
It is natural for some people to resent automation and worry about loss of jobs. However at the local libraries with search and reservation can be made online, machine check-in and check-out become more and more available and reliable, I asked a librarian about the threat on staff size, she said they are actually increasing the staff, and even foreign countries have sent visitors to learn about their computer systems. I am very pleased with the investment Mr. Bezos made in Washington Post, otherwise the New York Times would be even more lonely !
1
You mean they are increasing staff in your local N.Y.C. Library to teach people from foreign countries how to rid themselves of those pesky librarians and you and the librarians think this is a good thing, God help us.
2
I subscribe to both WaPo and NYT. If I had to give up one subscription, it would NOT be the NYT.
3
This is not a new strategy. Sears Roebuck did it a century ago with the postal service, and this incarnation is almost the exact same for the digital age.
Get big enough with cash reserves and almost any deal can be had without the cumbersome burden of debt. Also, when you run a massive business that crushes unions just like the competition, then it is even easier so.
Get big enough with cash reserves and almost any deal can be had without the cumbersome burden of debt. Also, when you run a massive business that crushes unions just like the competition, then it is even easier so.
13
One would hope Mr Bezos would start an airline. Or better yet, find a way to automate Congress.
22
Thank God he saved the Washington Post.
32
Far and away, his greatest achievement!
Interested to see what they do with WH. Automating everything in these stores doesn't seem to be a fit ... their profit margins are heavily dependant on prepared foods and food bars. My hope is that they will actually reduce prices on the "day to day" items in the stores ... that would bring more people in and they could sell more of the prepped foods and food bar stuff. A real business coming in and taking over a WH would probably close some of the lower performing stores but short-term profitability was never high on Amazon's priority list so aybe that won't happen. Rarely shop there any more, except for a few items (loved them on the 90's) .... too expensive and we have Trader Joe's and Costco for similar healthy food options that are much better priced.
2
I would be thrilled if Jeff Bezos bought FOX and converted it to a truthful news outlet.
76
Love this!!
Amazon also illustrates what happens when a company is still headed by the person who founded it, who's still actively involved in day-to-day operations instead of handing things off to hired managers incentivized by stock price and quarterly earnings to make bonuses.
It's all about short term vs. long term criteria and managers insulating/protecting themselves from shareholders, with the problems brought into sharp relief by Gretchen Morgenson's piece on Wells Fargo today:
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/16/business/wells-fargo-clawback-fair-ch...
It's all about short term vs. long term criteria and managers insulating/protecting themselves from shareholders, with the problems brought into sharp relief by Gretchen Morgenson's piece on Wells Fargo today:
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/16/business/wells-fargo-clawback-fair-ch...
4
Probably a good move for Whole Foods. Amazon can set up a secure service counter at the back of the store, so people can pick up the stuff(i.e. electronics, books etc.) they have previously shipped to their non-secure home. This will drive foot traffic into the store. If they start renting cars, they now have a parking lot and a service counter at the store to rent them. WFs are usually located in affluent areas.
4
I see Bezos as more interested in the logistics and warehousing side of the business myself. Online grocery ordering with at-home delivery is becoming a viable business. I do think you're right about the WF retail stores becoming delivery points for Amazon items like the lockers they maintain today.
1
Interesting concepts.
I love Amazon, mostly because I am a low income senior who has no car. I just bought a mattress and had it delivered to my door. We forget that prior to Amazon's success, our consumer purchases usually cost a lot and delivery was a problem. Today Amazon makes competition for our consumer dollars work for the consumer, resulting in lower prices and more choices.
So if he can transform the grocery business, and let us have the same no cost delivery of needed food I am thrilled that we have a company willing to take the risks to help consumers.
Though first he is going to have to transform Whole Foods a whole bunch.
Hugh Massengill, Eugene Oregon
So if he can transform the grocery business, and let us have the same no cost delivery of needed food I am thrilled that we have a company willing to take the risks to help consumers.
Though first he is going to have to transform Whole Foods a whole bunch.
Hugh Massengill, Eugene Oregon
7
Great points, but there is no such thing as "no cost".
3
Walmart, Google, Amazon. Welcome to the new age world where the billionaires who make their billions off the backs of their workers by baiting and then switching their employment rules with impunity are out to own us all, lock stock and barrel. These 'people' have no conscience, let alone respect for anyone outside of their gated circle of cut-throat political insiders and I can certainly imagine not one of them cares one whit about how real people struggle daily to provide affordable health care for their families and themselves, and put decent food on their table at prices that match their $10 per hour jobs. They don't.
But I blame the sellouts like Whole Foods just as much as I blame the buyers like Bezos. For me, they are just as much an elitist, arrogant and narrow minded entity as the profiteering Walmart and Amazon crowd since they offer absolutely nothing in their trendy sales pitch for hardworking people of meager means. It's a thoroughly depressing experience to try to shop there for me, where it's a rich peoples game to see who can snatch up the $24.99lb grass fed ground beef faster than the other guy. Sorry, but I just can't bring myself to hand over my hard earned paycheck to someone like Bezos or the Walton's who laugh at the plight of the 'little people' on a regular basis.
But I blame the sellouts like Whole Foods just as much as I blame the buyers like Bezos. For me, they are just as much an elitist, arrogant and narrow minded entity as the profiteering Walmart and Amazon crowd since they offer absolutely nothing in their trendy sales pitch for hardworking people of meager means. It's a thoroughly depressing experience to try to shop there for me, where it's a rich peoples game to see who can snatch up the $24.99lb grass fed ground beef faster than the other guy. Sorry, but I just can't bring myself to hand over my hard earned paycheck to someone like Bezos or the Walton's who laugh at the plight of the 'little people' on a regular basis.
29
While you are blaming Whole Foods , don't forget the millions of consumers who have been willing to hand over their money to retailers such as Walmart, and others who are hiring part-time employees to avoid paying health insurance for workers. The problem is that these retailers are undercutting the prices of smaller retailers,who can not dictate price to manufacturers as companies such as Walmart do,which entices consumers to do their shopping
at Walmarts, and the like.
I salute you for your refusal to patronize Walmart and Amazon.
at Walmarts, and the like.
I salute you for your refusal to patronize Walmart and Amazon.
1
>billionaires who make their billions off the backs of their workers
Billionaires create new jobs, new products and methods and lower prices. Leftists are short-range, Pragmatist liars who evade 300 years of increasingly wide-spread, capitalist progress to nihilistically attack man's independent mind. Leftists reject intellectual and moral self-responsibility for The consensus and democracy.
Billionaires create new jobs, new products and methods and lower prices. Leftists are short-range, Pragmatist liars who evade 300 years of increasingly wide-spread, capitalist progress to nihilistically attack man's independent mind. Leftists reject intellectual and moral self-responsibility for The consensus and democracy.
[[They offer absolutely nothing in their trendy sales pitch for hardworking people of meager means. It's a thoroughly depressing experience to try to shop there for me, where it's a rich peoples game to see who can snatch up the $24.99lb grass fed ground beef faster than the other guy.]]
I don't think their ground beef is $25 per pound, but let's say it is.
Bad beef isn't worth eating and good beef costs a lot. Therefore, it should be the last item added to your cart. In other words, YOU control the marketplace. STOP eating inferior beef and they will stop producing it. DOUBLE your vegetable intake and HALVE your meat intake. Splurge on high quality beef steaks.
Also, the next time you're in your local market, take a good hard look at the water-logged chicken and gristle laden pork they're selling at $4.99 a pound and ask yourself if it's worth it.
I don't think their ground beef is $25 per pound, but let's say it is.
Bad beef isn't worth eating and good beef costs a lot. Therefore, it should be the last item added to your cart. In other words, YOU control the marketplace. STOP eating inferior beef and they will stop producing it. DOUBLE your vegetable intake and HALVE your meat intake. Splurge on high quality beef steaks.
Also, the next time you're in your local market, take a good hard look at the water-logged chicken and gristle laden pork they're selling at $4.99 a pound and ask yourself if it's worth it.
1
Amazon is a wonderful way to buy products you customarily buy. Not much will beat the experience of wandering the aisles of a supermarket or stopping by the stands of each farmer at the farmers market or the joy in running into to friends and making new ones. The human interaction. I think we can have and enjoy both.
7
Anything that can make the shopping experience more confident is welcomed. People have forgotten how to shop. Causing tension and rudeness. Remove the checkout lines. And visit a farmers market for the freshest of produce.
6
Go to your local farmers' market. Support your local businesses. Or soon there will be no there there. Nowhere to go, even if you are lucky enough to have a job that pays you enough money to buy anything.
60
How is this brain-dead hysteria, shared by conservatives, intellectually respectable? Withdraw into fantasy, shrink your vision to the range of a flea, as Ayn Rand ridicules Pragmatism, and snarl at people who choose to focus their minds onto reality.
Whole Foods used to be THE place to shop. When WF finally came within shopping distance of where I lived, I followed the flock and was impressed with the quality, selection, and atmosphere of the stores.
Fast forward to today's WF experience. The conventional selections outpace the organic when it comes to fresh produce and meat. Their store brand 365, has many items originating in China. We all know better than to eat "organic" food from China. Selections have dropped way off and franky my local Smith's grocery store has the exact same Cal-organic brand for 50% the price of WF.
WF has dropped so many good suppliers of food and more and more have expanded their floor space for take out or eat in foods. Many many Santa Feans no longer shop at WF for the above reasons but also because of the horrible parking lot.
Perhaps Mr. Bezos can breathe life back into Whole Foods. I have my doubts. Until I see or hear that the store is trending back to its roots, I am not interested. We have so many other choices here in Santa Fe from the twice weekly Farmer's Market, to Sprouts, Natural Grocers and The Co-op. Bye bye Whole Foods.
Fast forward to today's WF experience. The conventional selections outpace the organic when it comes to fresh produce and meat. Their store brand 365, has many items originating in China. We all know better than to eat "organic" food from China. Selections have dropped way off and franky my local Smith's grocery store has the exact same Cal-organic brand for 50% the price of WF.
WF has dropped so many good suppliers of food and more and more have expanded their floor space for take out or eat in foods. Many many Santa Feans no longer shop at WF for the above reasons but also because of the horrible parking lot.
Perhaps Mr. Bezos can breathe life back into Whole Foods. I have my doubts. Until I see or hear that the store is trending back to its roots, I am not interested. We have so many other choices here in Santa Fe from the twice weekly Farmer's Market, to Sprouts, Natural Grocers and The Co-op. Bye bye Whole Foods.
24
I prefer to sit back and ride the waves. Amazon provides for my meager needs and will continue to do so. We have to see what comes of their entry into the food market, but if it doesn't lead to even more outrageous pricing, then that's okay.
While our country is in the hands of Trump, we really don't know from day to day what is going to happen next and frankly, I prefer Bezos unknowns to those of tRump.
While our country is in the hands of Trump, we really don't know from day to day what is going to happen next and frankly, I prefer Bezos unknowns to those of tRump.
12
> I prefer Bezos unknowns to those of tRump.
Trump uses govt to enforce his ideas. Bezos appeals to the independent minds of customers.
Trump uses govt to enforce his ideas. Bezos appeals to the independent minds of customers.
1
Employee satisfaction at Whole Foods has always been high. It’s a reasonable business culture that values its employees. That’s why I also have a Costco membership. Amazon? The Times ran an article about how Amazon basically burns out engineers, then, after a couple of years, fires them. Warehouse workers? Don’t ask. I know a lot of people think this is a fantastic business model, dog-eat-dog zero sum and all that, but I don’t. I’m expecting to see employee satisfaction at WF plummet shortly.
I avoid buying anything online from Amazon. I always check to make sure Bezos doesn’t own the company I’m buying from. I won’t read the Washington Post. I know I’m running out of options, but I will avoid Amazon even if it gets to the point where I have to grow all my own food and make all my own clothes and live by myself in a cave with no electricity. I hope by then Bezos doesn’t own all of America because then I won’t even be able to live in a cave he doesn’t own.
I’m depressed. We are moving toward a world where everything is owned by billionaires. Trust me people, it’s not good. They will leave us with only enough to get by so we can serve them. They’ll pay us all in company scrip and we’ll only be able to buy from them. A Wal-Mart subsidiary in Mexico already tried to do this, fortunately it was shot down by Mexico’s Supreme Court.
In the meanwhile, time to find somewhere else to shop for food.
I avoid buying anything online from Amazon. I always check to make sure Bezos doesn’t own the company I’m buying from. I won’t read the Washington Post. I know I’m running out of options, but I will avoid Amazon even if it gets to the point where I have to grow all my own food and make all my own clothes and live by myself in a cave with no electricity. I hope by then Bezos doesn’t own all of America because then I won’t even be able to live in a cave he doesn’t own.
I’m depressed. We are moving toward a world where everything is owned by billionaires. Trust me people, it’s not good. They will leave us with only enough to get by so we can serve them. They’ll pay us all in company scrip and we’ll only be able to buy from them. A Wal-Mart subsidiary in Mexico already tried to do this, fortunately it was shot down by Mexico’s Supreme Court.
In the meanwhile, time to find somewhere else to shop for food.
83
I agree with many of your points, but the thing that worries me most about the corporate world anymore is the simple fact that all this M&A activity is pushing us toward a business environment that isn't responsive to shareholders or to consumers. When big companies merge or private equity buys out public companies, we all lose. The only shareholder value that exists is in the hands of those with the money. At this point the number of publicly held companies in the U.S. has dropped from about 7,500 to around 3,700. That's ridiculous and it doesn't bode well for the future.
23
The notion that some uncaring, inexpert worker somewhere is going to pick out the perfect bunch of spinach, the ripe piece of cheese, the juiciest peach -- or any other grocery item -- is an absurd one.
You're right, CF, it's time to find somewhere else to shop for food. Out of the U.S., for sure.
You're right, CF, it's time to find somewhere else to shop for food. Out of the U.S., for sure.
4
CF have no fear, their are kindred spirits in the world. I am one of them. I refuse to shop at Wal-Mart because of how they treat their employees especially women and people of color.
I rarely shop at Amazon. I prefer to go to Target. They are also a reasonable employer.
There is always a backlash. The masses will push back. The only question is when. I just heard that 5 men control as much wealth as 50% of the world. In the robber baron days, it was 6 men controlling 30 % of the wealth. Change will happen.
I rarely shop at Amazon. I prefer to go to Target. They are also a reasonable employer.
There is always a backlash. The masses will push back. The only question is when. I just heard that 5 men control as much wealth as 50% of the world. In the robber baron days, it was 6 men controlling 30 % of the wealth. Change will happen.
3
Mr. Bezos's real strength was his willingness to forge ahead with his plans without regard for what Wall Street or the media thought of his actions. A true definition of a long-term value approach. There obviously were bumps along the way, but I've always been impressed with his thinking and his vision. And his delivery. It's been said that the only difference between vision and hallucination is delivery. Good on you, Mr. Bezos.
12
Whole foods is for rich people.
13
@ Al, NYNY "Whole foods is for rich people."
Respectfully (really, no snark) disagree.
I'm a teacher -- not rich, work hard for my money, earn every penny of it (and then some; I'm not in any union).
But WF gets well over 50% of my grocery dollars because of the breadth and depth of their selection and the quality of their offerings, especially in produce, baked goods, frozen foods, meats, fish, deli, and takeout prepared foods.
Can't speak for any other market area, but here in Cambridge, Mass, the big grocery chains' produce is an order of magnitude lower in quality -- even if it were half the WF's price (and it isn't), it would be an inferior value.
(And no, the local co-op isn't as good either.)
The croissants that I buy 4-5 days a week, still warm from the oven, are not only better than those at Au Bon Pain, they're better than the ones at the "French" bakery that has an outlet inside the big Asian market in Central Square -- and they cost less than both, not more.
One other thing that -- as others here have noted -- earns my business is that they pay their people properly, and seem to treat them well, so there's much lower turnover in staff.
Mr Bezos -- not exactly known for employee-supportive policies -- will mess with that at his peril. I'm not the only shopper who's paying attention to that.
Disclosure: I shill/sockpuppet for nobody & no enterprise; I receive no compensations or emoluments of any kind for comments like these. Just another American consumer.
Respectfully (really, no snark) disagree.
I'm a teacher -- not rich, work hard for my money, earn every penny of it (and then some; I'm not in any union).
But WF gets well over 50% of my grocery dollars because of the breadth and depth of their selection and the quality of their offerings, especially in produce, baked goods, frozen foods, meats, fish, deli, and takeout prepared foods.
Can't speak for any other market area, but here in Cambridge, Mass, the big grocery chains' produce is an order of magnitude lower in quality -- even if it were half the WF's price (and it isn't), it would be an inferior value.
(And no, the local co-op isn't as good either.)
The croissants that I buy 4-5 days a week, still warm from the oven, are not only better than those at Au Bon Pain, they're better than the ones at the "French" bakery that has an outlet inside the big Asian market in Central Square -- and they cost less than both, not more.
One other thing that -- as others here have noted -- earns my business is that they pay their people properly, and seem to treat them well, so there's much lower turnover in staff.
Mr Bezos -- not exactly known for employee-supportive policies -- will mess with that at his peril. I'm not the only shopper who's paying attention to that.
Disclosure: I shill/sockpuppet for nobody & no enterprise; I receive no compensations or emoluments of any kind for comments like these. Just another American consumer.
15
Not exactly. We watch quite a few who take food from the buffet or the barbecue section, eat it, ditch the container, then walk out. They never pay a dime.
1
Rich people gotta eat, too.
Two monopolies come together! Soon, we will get our children delivered to us from Amazon.
35
There is a Calvin and Hobbes where Calvin’s father tells Calvin that instead of getting him from Sears he was a blue light special from K-Mart. “Almost as good and a whole lot cheaper.”
Now we are verging on that possibility. In fact children will not be necessary. All the jobs will be filled by robots; people will be redundant.
From Wikipedia
Calvin: Dad, how do people make babies?
Dad: Most people just go to Sears, buy the kit, and follow the assembly instructions.
Calvin: I CAME FROM SEARS??
Dad: No. You were a Blue Light Special at K-Mart; almost as good, and a lot cheaper.
Calvin: AAUUGHHH!
Now we are verging on that possibility. In fact children will not be necessary. All the jobs will be filled by robots; people will be redundant.
From Wikipedia
Calvin: Dad, how do people make babies?
Dad: Most people just go to Sears, buy the kit, and follow the assembly instructions.
Calvin: I CAME FROM SEARS??
Dad: No. You were a Blue Light Special at K-Mart; almost as good, and a lot cheaper.
Calvin: AAUUGHHH!
4
@ The Leveller, Northern Hemisphere "Soon, we will get our children delivered to us from Amazon."
Amastork?
If they come with that A-to-Z money-back guarantee should they not perform up to expectations, I'd be entirely okay with that.
Amastork?
If they come with that A-to-Z money-back guarantee should they not perform up to expectations, I'd be entirely okay with that.
9
Bezo reminds us their are two types of folks in the world of commerce. Wage slaves,and there is the likes of Bezo, Gates, Michael Dell, Steve Jobs, to name a few who couldn't handle what PHD's were preaching in University. Had they headed the herd mentality they to would be wage slaves taxed at source struggling to save for retirement and worrying about paying for medical insurance. amazon buying Whole foods at this point is all about speculation but the possibilities of improved logistics in the grocery business, break up the drug cartel of Insurance companies , middle men , and retail drug outlets, are a few of the possibilities. The Wal Mart model of running small business owners out of business and catering to the poor with geographical strategic locations, paying low wages, may also finally get some competition if Amazon can learn the grocery business and it age old logistics issues. Lets us be reminded the retailer with the most margin dollars per sq foot is Apple.
4
How many of the out-of-work wage slaves will be able to buy anything at all from Amazon when it takes over every retail store in the world, Dan?
Improved logistics in the grocery business -- clicking on your fruits and vegetables and meats and fish without seeing or touching or smelling -- is not something anyone with working senses (or sense) should look forward to.
Improved logistics in the grocery business -- clicking on your fruits and vegetables and meats and fish without seeing or touching or smelling -- is not something anyone with working senses (or sense) should look forward to.
12
Well, Dan, what can I say?
Thanks for sharing your elitist tunnel vision with us here? Thanks for confirming that business has nothing to do with humanity, compassion, care for anything or anyone but itself?
I do admire, though, the clarity of vision which allows you hold a corrupt and valueless corporation like WalMart, which abuses its workers, pays them so little they can't live, and earns money by forcing employees onto welfare, medicaid, etc. as a model of excellent behavior.
I know, I know, a business is supposed to make money. That's all. A business has no morals, no social responsibilities, no concern for the lives of employees outside those cinder-block walls. And if it tried to, people like you would sue its pants off to get it back on track.
So thanks, also, for explaining why business does not equal democracy or the free market or America. For demonstrating why, as Adam Smith notably pointed out, business requires a firm regulating hand at every turn.
Hopefully one day, when we have got rid of the pretend businessman in the White House, maybe even managed to replace him with a real human being, we can get back to building a country and letting businesses do what they do best. With close adult supervision.
I assume from your enlightened commentary that you are no wage slave, if I may permitted to mention so ugly a class of person, but I'm having trouble trying to place you on your list of heroes...Bezos, Gates, Dell, Green?
Thanks for sharing your elitist tunnel vision with us here? Thanks for confirming that business has nothing to do with humanity, compassion, care for anything or anyone but itself?
I do admire, though, the clarity of vision which allows you hold a corrupt and valueless corporation like WalMart, which abuses its workers, pays them so little they can't live, and earns money by forcing employees onto welfare, medicaid, etc. as a model of excellent behavior.
I know, I know, a business is supposed to make money. That's all. A business has no morals, no social responsibilities, no concern for the lives of employees outside those cinder-block walls. And if it tried to, people like you would sue its pants off to get it back on track.
So thanks, also, for explaining why business does not equal democracy or the free market or America. For demonstrating why, as Adam Smith notably pointed out, business requires a firm regulating hand at every turn.
Hopefully one day, when we have got rid of the pretend businessman in the White House, maybe even managed to replace him with a real human being, we can get back to building a country and letting businesses do what they do best. With close adult supervision.
I assume from your enlightened commentary that you are no wage slave, if I may permitted to mention so ugly a class of person, but I'm having trouble trying to place you on your list of heroes...Bezos, Gates, Dell, Green?
4
A couple of things: 1st, about Whole Foods: I love the shopping experience. Aside from the amazing selection/quality/money back-no Qs asked policies, it's the people and the culture in the store. Been shopping the Fresh Pond location for almost 20 years. When on occasion I venture into a "regular" supermarket for a product WF doesn't carry, the contrast is palpable. Don't mess with this Mr. Bezos.
2nd, about Amazon: When I first heard about them in the late '90s I was a scoffer but became a convert. The one thing I never hear discussed is the value their loyal multitudes provide as product reviewers. The detail, including videos in some instances is extremely helpful. Their customer service is also A++ (e.g., helped me re-direct a shipment in transit).
2nd, about Amazon: When I first heard about them in the late '90s I was a scoffer but became a convert. The one thing I never hear discussed is the value their loyal multitudes provide as product reviewers. The detail, including videos in some instances is extremely helpful. Their customer service is also A++ (e.g., helped me re-direct a shipment in transit).
20
well said.
Amazon Web Services provides the platform and infrastructure through which much of the internet operates.
In addition to that, Amazon is the dominant player in online retail, as well as an increasingly relevant player in media/entertainment with Amazon Studios and Amazon Instant Video (and of course, Bezos owns the Washington Post).
They are now, ironically, getting into the brick-and-mortar retail game with Amazon bookstores, and now, Amazon groceries.
I realize that the NYT's editorial line tends to promote big business and Wall Street interests, but at what point do we start to ask whether it's in the public interest for one company to dominate so many spaces of our lives?
We're in an era of huge business consolidation, and nary a peep from the business press, or the "liberal" New York Times.
Is it any wonder establishments are teetering all over the west? Political and media establishments blindly serve corporate interests - this puff piece is a case in point - while the public is left behind.
I hope someone is archiving articles such as this one. When the pitchforks finally come, such an archive will provide a great insight into how "we never saw it coming."