I just don’t get how these things work. I’m talking about free grocery delivery. First, let me say this (since I wouldn’t want people to think I’m totally stupid), yes, I know, Amazon has big pockets and their most profitable division (AWS) is probably propping up the grocery delivery services. But, there is now, “Instacart”, and “Shipt“, as well as perhaps, many others. I’m assuming everyone is aware of the fact that the grocery store business lives on a very razor sharp profit margin of something like one or two percent (a much smaller margin than other retail stores).
So, about a yr and a half ago, I started using Amazon Delivers (aka, PrimeNow), and I’ve been pretty happy with it, but I have found their selection a bit limited. So, a few months ago, I’ve moved to using Shipt, which is a Target delivery service, and while I don’t really do a price comparison on each and every item, it seems to me, the stuff I’m buying via the delivery service, is essentially the same price as if I bought it at the brick and mortar.
I’m thinking a bit more on this as I’m typing, and not knowing how much these delivery people are making, I guess, somehow, the grocery store people (Tar’get), with the advent of having the customer scan their own groceries (sort of like going from the man at the gas station gassing your car for you in the ‘60s-‘70s, to you putting in your own gas after that period), they’ve reduced the number of cashiers they used to need, and now, they can afford to “hire out” people to make individual deliveries?
And, as I’m typing this last paragraph, I am recalling memories of how it used to be in the early sixties – where we had milk men driving down the street, delivering milk, ice?, and whatnot – I was just starting elementary school probably when this type of service delivery ended.p, so these are vague memories for me – were there other delivery men delivering other things, like bread, or was it just the milk guy?
Yes, I vaguely remember the FullerBrush guy, selling, I guess, brushes or ?
In some respects, It seems (most likely due to the Web, and cell phones, and probably lots of other higher technology things, like smart phone apps, etc.), we are going back to individualized customer service – which, in my opinion, is pretty awesome.
Just got my Shipt msg: Elizabeth is now shopping for my Tar’get order and will be delivering it in about an hour or so!
The chocolate (and peanut butter) ice cream is almost here!
[I’m going to file this post under “Food For Thought”]
[Groan.]
