| No, because a lot of the savings that door-to-door delivery supposedly achieves, I can achieve by simply optimizing for time. I drop off my kid at Main Street for dance. I pick up my laundry and drop off my USPS in the same plaza I continue on to Costco, and if gas (I take whichever car is lowest on gas). Costco has everything you could typically need, but on the way back there are very many stores I can stop at. Pick up the kid, eat lunch at Main Street. The whole circuit, round trip is 16mi, but I've done things I would have done anyways, COSTCO adding only 8 mi, but saving me (usually) having to go do groceries. So let's say an extra 4 mi. Also, my car is far lighter than a utility van, not driving door-to-door so my mpg are much better. Double? So my Costco run is a 2 mi. equivalent. But at Costco (and Target next door) I can get everything in one big shot. W/ Amazon I'll get very many deliverables. Frankly, I just don't think it's that obvious picking stuff up myself isn't better. |
And it isn't that obvious that delivering stuff isn't better. Less demand for in store items could also reduce store sizes, saving on energy costs, and reduce staffing needs, reducing the staff's energy usage to travel to and from work, and so on and so forth. We can keep going and add on the waste and negative effects of huge parking lots around huge stores.
There are many incalculable effects, not to mention that you might happen to have a stretch of road with dance, laundry, USPS, Costco, and Target in close proximity. What about everyone that doesn't?