Shopping in the Time of the Coronavirus

[Johnny Lunchbucket]

It's insane what can be done with tech today. Warehouses with 10s of thousands items in bins in a giant cube, picked by robots, shuttled automatically to packing stations and then delivery, the whole system a "hive" that learns not only where everything is but where to store them based on usage patterns that we'd never think of in a million years but gets better over time and hardly any humans needed.

One of these big warehouses just opened in Ohio, 1st in the US

[Benjamin Grimm]

And although I hadn't really thought of it, the $2.95 convenience fee probably spares me about that much, or more, in the purchase of impulse items, which I don't really need and obviously don't miss.

From the store's perspective, it probably doesn't fully pay for the time the store employee spends shopping for me, but it at least mitigates it somewhat.

[Edgy MD]

I'm going to be mentally grooving to that music all day.

[Johnny Lunchbucket]

Only a little, yeah, and there's downward pressure on what they can charge because you've got companies like Amazon who di it for "free"--you can also buy "free" delivery with Giant now thru a subscription.

They can also apply all sorts of pricing science today that can learn what'll take to inspire a purchase from you, what you might be indifferent to paying more for, and what you are sensitive to price on. That could be (and probably is) very different to me. This is also done much more easily online than in a store.

[Frayed Knot]

And don't think for a minute that 'The Deep State' isn't monitoring every bit of what you're doing online!!

[Ceetar]

I don't plan enough for online groceries, and certainly not for things that are low but aren't on a list. Like "Oh yeah, I made a lot of bread last week, i could probably do with another 5lb of flour"

it's only a matter of time before the impulse buys catch up online though. But FAR more targeted and precise. "90% of people want whipped cream when they buy strawberries CLICK HERE TO ADD WHIPPED CREAM TOO"

or "you usually buy yogurt once a month but it's been 6 weeks, CLICK HERE TO ADD YOGURT"

or "you have bought many different oreo varieties in the past CLICK HERE TO ADD THE NEW CHOCOLATE FUDGE BROWNIE OREO"

or "you like the NY Mets and Pete Alonso just signed a new deal to plug Bounty paper towels CLICK HERE TO ADD BOUNTY PAPER TOWELS"

[Edgy MD]

I'm so pissed off. I always took Pete for a Brawny man.

[MFS62]

I do my own grocery shopping.
I don't want a stranger squeezing my tomatoes.

Later

[Frayed Knot]

I don't want a stranger squeezing my tomatoes.

Isn't this where someone chimes in with, "That's what she said"?

[whippoorwill]

This thread has gone through some changes

[Edgy MD]

I just found the notion remarkable that anyone would head to Big Lots! for milk and eggs.

[Ceetar]

I just found the notion remarkable that anyone would head to Big Lots! for milk and eggs.

i need to know though..do they only sell Jumbo eggs?

[batmagadanleadoff]

I just found the notion remarkable that anyone would head to Big Lots! for milk and eggs.

Never even heard of Big Lots.

[Edgy MD]

You're missing out. A great place to go if you're wondering what might've recently fallen off a truck. Also a terrific destination for when you want a brand-name snack food, but you want the mysterious variety of that brand that'll blow a blazing fireball out your ass, and dammit, you haven't got all day.

Blazing Pringles! Chee-tos Inferno! Napalm Doritos! We've got it!

[Johnny Lunchbucket]

I just found the notion remarkable that anyone would head to Big Lots! for milk and eggs.

Never even heard of Big Lots.

It's like a suburban National Wholesale Liquidators, you used to see in the city. Closeout, special deals, mainly on home goods, kitchen gadgets, luggage and apparel, tools, Picture frames, mattresses like a Kohl's-Macy's mix but with stuff that didn't sell there.

They use milk and other food like substances to help draw visits

[kcmets]

We have two Mr. Coffees from Odd Lots. And one in a box in the basement
in case one craps out. $19.95 a pop, and it's really all you need to make a good
cuppa coffee. Coffee nerds who disagree, start a thread NOW!!!

[Benjamin Grimm]

I went into a supermarket today for the first time since April 4, 2020. I have a recipe for a frittata that calls for "your favorite sausage". The sausage I wanted to use was Premio's Chorizo sausage, which is only available (as far as I know) at the Weis market near me, so I double-masked and went in there. It was exhilarating! I grabbed a basket, stopped at the bakery section and grabbed a Boston Creme donut, went to the meat section and loaded up on chorizo sausages (one package for the recipe, four for the freezer) and then did the self-checkout. It all seemed so normal and familiar! What a strange time this has been, that a trip to a supermarket can seem exciting.

[Edgy MD]

Just say, for the sake of this post, that your local branch of an international supermarket chain has been shut down due to rat infestation. The health department is on the case, and so presumably the issue will be addressed to their satisfaction before re-opening. They are, again, an international chain with a reputation to uphold.

Do you not go there again for two months? Six months? Forever?

[batmagadanleadoff]

I live in New York City. There's rats everywhere.

[batmagadanleadoff]

Yesterday, I saw a dead rat squashed flat on the crosswalk. It looked like it was run over by a truck. It was spread out about as big as a pizza pie.

[Johnny Lunchbucket]

Did the rat infestation surprise you? 🐀 is is clean generally?

[Edgy MD]

I guess so, generally. It's a discounter.

[Johnny Lunchbucket]

Hmmm...

[Edgy MD]

Hmmmm … I wonder what ‘Bucket means by “Hmmm… .”

[Johnny Lunchbucket]

I was just thinking...they are serious about trying to be clean, but they also get by on a low labor model.... I'd give em a 3 week penalty..

We all but gave up on our Lidl. But that has more to do with me trying not to drive anywhere