Got the following email from an MNB reader:
Wanted to share a retailer’s version of delivery option gone wrong (in my opinion). Yesterday, I received an email from Costco advising they now offer same-day and two-day delivery options. LOVE that idea as shopping there is not close to home and I always spend too much money when we do finally make it in store. However, there are several staple items we buy because they are less expensive in bulk (such as toilet paper, paper towels, paper plates, dog treats, etc). So, with that in mind, I logged in this morning to see how it would work. While fine with a 2-day delivery, minimum order, as I started to build my cart, the first item I went to select was $7.00 more expensive than shopping in store ($20 vs.$13 in store). Why call something FREE delivery when they simply jacked up the price?
Moving on to the next item which happens to be in the monthly sale flyer, it’s not available for delivery service (the toilet paper we use). Conclusion is, unless you’re willing to pay a hidden convenience charge, don’t bother with their version of “free” delivery. Furthermore, why bother if consumer still must go in-store to get a needed purchase? Bad first impression for sure!
We had some discussion recently about the ownership structure at Eataly in the US, which prompted MNB reader Beatrice Orlandini to write:
Eataly USA may be partly owned by Mario Batali and Lidia Bastianich BUT please bear in mind that it is entirely a concept by Oscar Farinetti.
So, whatever misdemeanor Batali may have done, I find it hard to identify Eataly with him.
If, understandably, you want to boycott all Batali-related activities, I guess there are a lot among which to pick: TV? own-brand products? Other?
Certainly a lot. But not Eataly.
In Italy Eataly has other partners (top and foremost leading food retailer Coop), but on the forefront there is always the genius of Oscar Farinetti.
Everyone identifies Eataly with him.
BTW worth checking the recently opened food theme park in Bologna: FICO
Apologies for my chauvinistic/patriotic rant.
Not at all. You make excellent points.
On the subject of retailers selling expensive survival kits in the event of an apocalypse, one MNB reader wrote:
I agree with your take KC, no survival kits for me either. Judging from people's behavior in the lines of every coffee drive thru I drove by the morning after last week's storm, and there were many, I shudder to think what would happen in a long term power outage situation. I love my coffee but the every man for himself I witnessed the other day was something else!
Wanted to share a retailer’s version of delivery option gone wrong (in my opinion). Yesterday, I received an email from Costco advising they now offer same-day and two-day delivery options. LOVE that idea as shopping there is not close to home and I always spend too much money when we do finally make it in store. However, there are several staple items we buy because they are less expensive in bulk (such as toilet paper, paper towels, paper plates, dog treats, etc). So, with that in mind, I logged in this morning to see how it would work. While fine with a 2-day delivery, minimum order, as I started to build my cart, the first item I went to select was $7.00 more expensive than shopping in store ($20 vs.$13 in store). Why call something FREE delivery when they simply jacked up the price?
Moving on to the next item which happens to be in the monthly sale flyer, it’s not available for delivery service (the toilet paper we use). Conclusion is, unless you’re willing to pay a hidden convenience charge, don’t bother with their version of “free” delivery. Furthermore, why bother if consumer still must go in-store to get a needed purchase? Bad first impression for sure!
We had some discussion recently about the ownership structure at Eataly in the US, which prompted MNB reader Beatrice Orlandini to write:
Eataly USA may be partly owned by Mario Batali and Lidia Bastianich BUT please bear in mind that it is entirely a concept by Oscar Farinetti.
So, whatever misdemeanor Batali may have done, I find it hard to identify Eataly with him.
If, understandably, you want to boycott all Batali-related activities, I guess there are a lot among which to pick: TV? own-brand products? Other?
Certainly a lot. But not Eataly.
In Italy Eataly has other partners (top and foremost leading food retailer Coop), but on the forefront there is always the genius of Oscar Farinetti.
Everyone identifies Eataly with him.
BTW worth checking the recently opened food theme park in Bologna: FICO
Apologies for my chauvinistic/patriotic rant.
Not at all. You make excellent points.
On the subject of retailers selling expensive survival kits in the event of an apocalypse, one MNB reader wrote:
I agree with your take KC, no survival kits for me either. Judging from people's behavior in the lines of every coffee drive thru I drove by the morning after last week's storm, and there were many, I shudder to think what would happen in a long term power outage situation. I love my coffee but the every man for himself I witnessed the other day was something else!
- KC's View:
