Hacker News new | ask | show | jobs
by eli 2415 days ago
How is this better than a Dollar General? Cheaper?
3 comments

It doesn't need to be better, just different. Based on the test market, Amazon's offering would appear to address a very different segment from Dollar General, which often serves communities where the nearest Walmart is an hour away.

Amazon doesn't need to be cheaper than Dollar General, just the grocery section at CVS.

Better targeted products, they already know what people in the area of each store demand, so each store could have a different mix of products.
I think you underestimate Dollar General. They are very good at what they do.
They really are. I'm always impressed with how much they can squeeze out of the small footprint of their stores. I wonder if they could link up with Pyxis or similar to do tele/robo pharmacy.
Adds amazon lockers for cheaper deliveries and returns; $1 digital credit is likely cheaper than last mile delivery for many locales.
Hell my driveway is a third of a mile long. If the truck gets 15mpg and the driver drives 10mph at $30/hr it costs UPS about 2 bucks just to drop a package off at my front door.
My local grocery store already has amazon lockers in the parking lot. Clearly you don't need to open an entire store to enable that.