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Businesses

Seattle Gets Takeout By Amazon 61

Rambo Tribble (1273454) writes In their ongoing effort to capitalize on local business, Amazon has unveiled a "VERY gradual expansion unless things go gangbusters," of their Amazon Local services, namely takeout food ordering in Seattle. Rivalling smaller, more focused firms in the space, it appears the online giant is trying to wrap recommendations, ordering, and payments in a convenient Amazon bundle. And to think, "word of mouth" used to involve actual mouths.
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Seattle Gets Takeout By Amazon

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  • by Mal-2 ( 675116 ) on Thursday June 26, 2014 @11:44AM (#47325541) Homepage Journal

    It still does involve actual mouths. You have to open yours to taste the food to review it.

  • by Lab Rat Jason ( 2495638 ) on Thursday June 26, 2014 @11:48AM (#47325573)

    Intrepid hacker discovers a way to intercept drones mid-flight and redirect. Takes food and leaves random garbage. All is chop suey until one day he intercepts a drone carying a kilo of cocane and wants to report it to the cops... but can't cause he'd have to admit to the hacking and theft.

    Hollywood gold right there!

  • by Mitreya ( 579078 ) <mitreya AT gmail DOT com> on Thursday June 26, 2014 @11:49AM (#47325595)
    Amazon has their value mostly in guaranteed/fast/free shipping and low prices. How are they going to break into this market?
    • by gstoddart ( 321705 ) on Thursday June 26, 2014 @12:02PM (#47325749) Homepage

      Amazon has their value mostly in guaranteed/fast/free shipping and low prices.

      And analytics which keep track of what you've bought and predict what you might buy. That way you buy more down the road.

      How are they going to break into this market?

      One stop shopping. While you're ordering whatever else you order from Amazon, you can also order a pizza.

      And then subsequently, Amazon will give you recommendations for other places.

      They'll break into it by offering it. And if people use it, they're in.

      • One stop shopping. While you're ordering whatever else you order from Amazon, you can also order a pizza.

        "Your order for 'Enders Game' in hardbound is almost complete. Would you like fries with that?"

    • Amazon tends to be tight lipped on they actually will make money on new things (and they like getting into new things) but I would guess

      Delivery: Amazon is slowly / experientially pushing into delivering goods for the last mile. They are building out their delivery service for same day delivery of many goods. Here may be another way to squeeze value out of their delivery trucks.

      Amazon Prime / Fire table & phone service: Less sure exactly how this would make money, but in general making their services a

    • by Jawnn ( 445279 ) on Thursday June 26, 2014 @12:26PM (#47325995)

      Amazon has their value mostly in guaranteed/fast/free shipping and low prices. How are they going to break into this market?

      Wait... What? You mean delivering small, low margin items, on a local basis, is not a viable business model? Well, shit... Wish somebody'd told us.

      - Kozmo.com

      • There was a period in time where pretty much everyone in my group (including the student helpers) would order snacks, daily, from kozmo.com. The problem was they'd order them independently over a span of a few hours. So the delivery guy would have to make multiple trips to our building to deliver a candy bar, then a pint of Ben & Jerrys, then some licorice or a can of pop.

        It really isn't a sustainable model when you have to send a guy out just to deliver a Snickers bar.

      • by praxis ( 19962 )

        You mean delivering small, low margin items, on a local basis, is not a viable business model? Well, shit... Wish somebody'd told us.

        - Kozmo.com

        I heard somewhere that they will be re-launching.

  • Doritos
    Zig-Zag Rolling Papers
    Twinkies
    Fudgesicles
    Cracker Jack
    Root Beer
    Pop Tarts
  • I read that as "Seattle gets taken out by Amazon".

    Well good.

  • Misread as "Seattle Gets Taken out By Amazon".

    Drones gone haywire maybe.

  • Well it's about time someone takes out Seattle. Ever since we legalized marijuana, Seattle has just been sitting in a cloud of smoke. I think a date with Amazon will provide the kick Seattle needs to break out of this pot haze and become a productive city of the USA again!

  • fast food delivery by flying drone?
  • I wonder how this will work with Seatttle's new $15 minimum wage that is coming...

    • drivers need commercial auto insurance to be covered as most plans DO NOT COVER FOOD delivery and then could levee the victim holding the bag for there bills and amazon may get out of it by makeing the drivers independent contractors but still having employee like control over them.

    • by sjames ( 1099 )

      Since Amazon is probably well aware of the law in Seattle and they are going forward with it, apparently the numbers work OK.

      Don't drink the cool aid being offered by corporate America. Raising the minimum wage will not trigger the apocalypse (zombie or otherwise).

      • by TheSync ( 5291 )

        Since Amazon is probably well aware of the law in Seattle and they are going forward with it, apparently the numbers work OK.

        I think the point is that restaurants that already have delivery drivers (such as pizza parlors) may be more willing to outsource delivery to Amazon in order to not have to pay the higher minimum wage to the delivery people on their payroll.

        [BTW, why should I worry about the minimum wage rise? I'm not a young, low-skill worker. If they loose their job, it is not my problem...until t

  • Word of mouth still does and always will involve real contact with real people. This kind of "public" online "review" is nothing more than a vehicle for revenue. Can anyone say "Astroturf?"

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