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I get that, but I remember reading a bunch of reports in the past few months about how they are making gains online. While online shopping is increasing, Amazon and other digital-first retailers are opening bricks and mortar stores. I believe the companies that can provide the best blended experience will win. People in the industry call it omnichannel.

https://www.cnbc.com/2019/02/20/walmart-is-outperforming-amazon-this-year-heres-what-it-means.html

Amazon is scratching its head wondering why it is failing to convert Prime shoppers into Whole Foods shoppers. I think initial media reports about how Amazon would rule grocery via Whole Foods was totally overblown and they seem to share a cozy relationship with the media similar to what some Android people feel Apple does.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/bryanp...ert-prime-shoppers-into-whole-foods-shoppers/

Walmart's in store experience is lackluster, but their grocery pickup seems to be doing well, especially as an alternative to outsourced (aka marked up) services at local/regional stores via Instacart or Shipt. People who aren't into Walmart will use their drive-thru pickup service for groceries.

I don't think Amazon will be the lone player or whatever 10 years from now. Love 'em on hate 'em, Walmart does a good job of staying up to date on things (along with McDonald's in the fast-food arena), unlike Sears/Kmart. And unlike a lot of these cool things that take YEARS if ever to get to small towns, Walmart serves them too.
Yeah, I would try Whole Foods but we don't have one where I live. We shop with Hy-Vee which delivers groceries to our house because it was free if over $100, but they just changed it the other day so we have to pay a yearly subscription to have groceries delivered so my wife is just going to have them deliver them to her car at the store for free because she doesn't want to pay it. I think it's worth it so maybe I can convince her. But once most people are getting pick up, it makes me wonder if these companies will start charging a subscription for that as well. I've been hearing about how some startups are hoping the first wave of autonomous vehicles will be what are basically small electric boxes on wheels that carry loads and drop them off at customer's houses. An upside is that they can learn a lot about autonomous driving from them because they will be easier to get on the road (no passengers) and are small (less likely to cause injuries if they crash). They'll also stay on side roads.

Anyway, the thing I hate most about Walmart is going in the store. It's always so much dirtier than other stores, it's more likely to be full of mothers with 7 kids that she is cussing out, and it doesn't take the latest payment technologies. I also don't like that many of the products they carry in their store are cheaper, flimsier versions of what you find elsewhere because Walmart requires them to hit a certain price point to be allowed on the shelves. I can usually find a better version of what they're selling in-store for 10-20% cheaper on Amazon and Amazon also gives me 5% cash back. If they became more like Amazon then I would consider shopping there.
 
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