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Step 2, Groceries
prostoalex writes "Fortune magazine runs an article on New York - based FreshDirect, provider of high-quality groceries. Unlike Webvan, which failed with $1B of venture capital, FreshDirect seems to make pretty good money off online grocery sales - revenues of $225M are projected by 2004. The minimum order is set at $40, the company also charges $4 for delivery." If you want to check out their store, try zip code 10022.
newsweek had a similar story in last week's issue about more traditional brick 'n mortar grocery stores going online
the thing with them, though, is that they already have a ton of locations and are in no rush to scale up their web orders: they already are in the black on the retail front and want to slowly and cautiously roll out the web strategy
they also have an edge over the online start-ups through name recognition: it's a lot easier getting somebody who already shops at your store to try something new, rather than risk it on some company they've never heard of.
i couldn't find the link at the Newsweek site, but the issue may still be on shelves at stores around the country until monday or tuesday
My supermarket has been doing this for years now. Yes, online! This is hardly new, and I see it as a complete waste of my time even reading on the article.
Also, I hear this dot.com thing might really take off. I think I'll start selling books online, yeah that's it!!
I am the one who submitted this story, and you're correct about my Russian origin, although currently I live in WA state. Now, Slashdot lists me, as submitter of 58 stories total. They're related to different events, as well as different companies, including Intel, Microsoft, Sony, etc. If all my postings went through some crooked schemes that included fat checks those companies sent me to submit stories to Slashdot, I'd have my own island.
I learned about FreshDirect from Fortune magazine today and I cannot use, let alone have incentive to advertise, their service.
Ok, I'm legally blind, so I will never be able to drive, ever and I hate hearing people whine about how life is impossible without a car. Ok now that that's out of the way, from the sounds of things all you've tried is nothin' and you're all out of ideas. Have you considered:
:-D
-A taxi cab?
-Calling your friend for help?
-Mass transit?
-A bicycle with a rear storage bin?
-Buying your groceries as you need them?
For me a trip to the grocery store is almost a daily occurrance. If I can't walk or bike to where I want to go I get a bus, or if I'm in real need a taxi. Of course this means you have to keep a running inventory of your groceries so you know what you need before it runs out.
My solution to this problem was to write a little app that allows me to record what I have and when it entered the system. From there I generate a report that I can print out for myself that includes information on useage frequency, average quantity purchased, average price, item importance and critical low stock notification. Yeah, I spend more time sorting my stuff when I get back from shopping, but I don't often run out of anything and the system was capable of supporting at least four people.
New features I might add are an internet-based interface and WAP device capabilities so If anyone else goes to the store I can get a new report on my phone or before I leave work thru the net! (Also, since I buy a lot of the same products over and over I could monkey around with a barcode reader maybe).
So to sum all this junk up:
Just because you don't have a car doesen't mean you aren't allowed to use your brain to solve a problem
crazy dynamite monkey
I'm surprised no one's mentioned tesco.com yet. It's the world's largest online grocery delivery service, with revenues of over $560m last year, and it's running an operating profit. They've just started expanding out of the UK and have launched in the US in a partnership with Safeway. The unique thing about them is that rather than have a huge distribution centre somewhere, they make use of their existing bricks and mortar infrastructure. When you place an order, it gets sent through to your nearest store where a member of staff goes and picks it off the shelf for you, and it's delivered the next day (within a 2 hour timeslot you request, too). I've been using them for a while now, and have few complaints (other than a few IE-isms on the web site).
"The invisible and the non-existent look very much alike." -- Delos B. McKown
Tesco UK have an ordering site optimised for PDAs and other small screen devices.
It's so easy to walk into the kitchen and see what I need, then order with an 802.11b enabled PDA.
Theres also Schwans they are all over, a few bucks more. They also have allot of butchers who will deliver meat if you buy in bulk, and its cheaper than the stores.
Myself, I prefer costco(warehouse store). You buy in bulk, but the cost is about 30% cheaper than the stores. Buy an executive account, and you get 2% of your money back at the end of the year.
An example, Milk is 3.60 at the normal store (3.99 online order), its 1.99 a gallon at the quickie mart, at costco its 2 for 2.70. I have a family of 6, and we drink almost a gallon of milk every 1-2 days, need to shop and save money.
-
Save a little money each month and at the end of the year you'll be surprised at how little you have. - Ernest Haskins
In the UK this has been happening for the best part of the last two years.
Unsurprisingly it is big stablished companies who have been providing this service. It took them a while to realize why this is good, but when they finally got around it they got it right.
IANAL but write like a drunk one.
Troy
Yes a "legally blind" person can.
A completely blind person shouldn't attempt it.
BTW "Legally blind" simply means your visual acuity falls below a certain point even with corrective lenses.
http://www.icbvi.state.id.us/DEFBLIND.HTM
I live in lower Manhattan. The grocery stores down here are horrendous! We were one of the first neighborhoods they delivered to. The first order had a $50 credit. My bill for the first order came out to $1 (i went over). On the second order I had a credit for $25 and still free delivery.
Since then, I have used them about 10 times, and so far it has been good. The prices are the same that you would see in a large grocery store in the suburbs. The only problem I have seen is that they don't carry a lot of grocery items i like. They specialize in fresh foods. Since I am not a gourmet chef, I tend to buy the easy to cook items.
I am just happy that I don't have to shop at Gristedes anymore. The thing that bothers me about NYC is that every deli/grocery store claims they are 'gourmet' you'll see the dirtiest slop whole of a store (gristedes) and they will carry 40 different cheeses, 40 different olive oils and nothing else!
I will continue to support fresh direct, but I am skeptical that they will not stay in business. Or if they do, they will raise prices to the NYC going rate which is extortion.
Anyhow, if you are in one of there delivering zip codes (if you are you surely have heard of them) I highly recommend trying them. The delivery people are very nice, and they actually do not accept tips.
In a city like NYC where customer service is second rate, it is nice to see a company like them come around.
Notice: I do not have any relationship with the company; I am merely a new resident of NYC that believes buying groceries for a reasonable price should be a right for everyone.