Why is Amazon fresh so bad?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sure, the prices are low. But the stores are not well-stocked, often dirty, and god forbid you have to deal with anyone who works there. It seems like it’s the first day on the job for all of them. Chevy Chase location off Connecticut is particularly bad.

Amazon should be better than this!

No, I’m pretty sure they’re telling you exactly who they are.

[Anonymous]

I think of Amazon Fresh like a better stocked local 7-11 or other small convenience store. Good for an item or two you forgot but not the weekly shop.

[Anonymous]

As someone who launched a bunch of them, it never had a shot. The model was never set to work and the entire leadership team has turned over, multiple times in some cases. When the first store opened in Woodland Hills, there were vendors on the floor crying the night before because they realized how poorly they’d done their jobs. We donated hundreds of pallets of food to homeless shelters because no one knew how to order. We had to go to other retailers to buy Coke to put it on the shelves. They’ve been a disaster from the get go.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Fairfax location looks grungy. I think it's actually clean, but the concrete they used for the floor and the lighting are terrible. I am typically only in there to drop off amazon returns.

There's a new one in Lorton. It seemed fine inside the two times I have been there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I only use Amazon Fresh for delivery and it works well. Always on time, orders always correct, friendly delivery people.

Guess I’ve been unlucky. Can be worth it overall but plenty of incorrect and/or missing or suddenly out-of-stock items. I have trouble planning complete meals because I’m never certain what’s actually going to show up.

[Anonymous]

I love the new one in White Oak. Selection is not as good as say a large Safeway or Giant, but the prices for what they have are great. I'd say I can find about 80% of what I need in there. Especially good for pantry items.

[Anonymous]

I visited the one in Chevy Chase yesterday and was not impressed. There were fruit flies all over the produce and the package of deli meat I picked up had an expiration date of June 22 (5 days expired).
The best part was the check out woman. I had $40 in groceries and she said if I spent another $10, I would get $10 off with a coupon. So I got a few more items and received them for free.

[Anonymous]

Amazon owns whole food. Why another chain of groceries??

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Amazon owns whole food. Why another chain of groceries??

Order matters.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Amazon owns whole food. Why another chain of groceries??

Different — if somewhat overlapping markets. Whole Foods has changed a lot though, since the days when they absorbed Fresh Fields. A smaller percentage of their goods is organic and/or GMO free. There are fewer staff who know the stock — especially with the Whole Body section. At this point, there are things that I used to get from WF that I now get from Trader Joe’s — and they are often better quality and cost less.

Similarly, I used to love shopping online at Zappos, and was blown away by their stellar customer service. They’ve changed too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As someone who launched a bunch of them, it never had a shot. The model was never set to work and the entire leadership team has turned over, multiple times in some cases. When the first store opened in Woodland Hills, there were vendors on the floor crying the night before because they realized how poorly they’d done their jobs. We donated hundreds of pallets of food to homeless shelters because no one knew how to order. We had to go to other retailers to buy Coke to put it on the shelves. They’ve been a disaster from the get go.

So why do you think Amazon doesn't care about its Fresh stores?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As someone who launched a bunch of them, it never had a shot. The model was never set to work and the entire leadership team has turned over, multiple times in some cases. When the first store opened in Woodland Hills, there were vendors on the floor crying the night before because they realized how poorly they’d done their jobs. We donated hundreds of pallets of food to homeless shelters because no one knew how to order. We had to go to other retailers to buy Coke to put it on the shelves. They’ve been a disaster from the get go.

So why do you think Amazon doesn't care about its Fresh stores?

They do and they’re taken steps to improve them but that’s a long road. They froze expansion for sole time and began experimenting with changes to the format, brought in new leadership, are hiring tons of people for it etc. It wss just a disaster at the start.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As someone who launched a bunch of them, it never had a shot. The model was never set to work and the entire leadership team has turned over, multiple times in some cases. When the first store opened in Woodland Hills, there were vendors on the floor crying the night before because they realized how poorly they’d done their jobs. We donated hundreds of pallets of food to homeless shelters because no one knew how to order. We had to go to other retailers to buy Coke to put it on the shelves. They’ve been a disaster from the get go.

So why do you think Amazon doesn't care about its Fresh stores?

They do and they’re taken steps to improve them but that’s a long road. They froze expansion for sole time and began experimenting with changes to the format, brought in new leadership, are hiring tons of people for it etc. It wss just a disaster at the start.

I see. Thanks. If you still work there or keep contacts there, please alert them to the disaster that is Chevy Chase Amazon Fresh. It's too cold, physically and psychologically. The floors are grey concrete and really off-putting. The store is very dark and the lighting manages to be harsh without being adequate. The poor workers are no doubt feeling the vibe and some of them are not very competent. None of them are happy. The few times I went there, I had the feeling I was in some extralegal industrial zone looking for low-grade contraband. And I LOVE Amazon, the online experience!

It's so weird, because despite being owned by the same company, shopping at Whole Foods seems so warm and inviting, and Amazon Fresh just didn't get the memo at all about marketing 101 and how to make customers feel at ease. The AF managers should takes notes from Whole Foods, and other inviting supermarkets, regarding temperature, color scheme, materials used on floorings, ceilings, shelvings, the type and amount of lights to make it look natural, the set-up (like in non-food stores, most people have a certain preferred route in and out of the store). No doubt they've been to Asia and shopped at really pleasant and welcoming grocery stores in Tokyo and Seoul, where the lighting and ambience makes everything look delicious. They're not reinventing the wheel here!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I only use Amazon Fresh for delivery and it works well. Always on time, orders always correct, friendly delivery people.

Guess I’ve been unlucky. Can be worth it overall but plenty of incorrect and/or missing or suddenly out-of-stock items. I have trouble planning complete meals because I’m never certain what’s actually going to show up.

Ordered delivery today. *14* items missing—no excuse for that!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As someone who launched a bunch of them, it never had a shot. The model was never set to work and the entire leadership team has turned over, multiple times in some cases. When the first store opened in Woodland Hills, there were vendors on the floor crying the night before because they realized how poorly they’d done their jobs. We donated hundreds of pallets of food to homeless shelters because no one knew how to order. We had to go to other retailers to buy Coke to put it on the shelves. They’ve been a disaster from the get go.

So why do you think Amazon doesn't care about its Fresh stores?

They do and they’re taken steps to improve them but that’s a long road. They froze expansion for sole time and began experimenting with changes to the format, brought in new leadership, are hiring tons of people for it etc. It wss just a disaster at the start.

I see. Thanks. If you still work there or keep contacts there, please alert them to the disaster that is Chevy Chase Amazon Fresh. It's too cold, physically and psychologically. The floors are grey concrete and really off-putting. The store is very dark and the lighting manages to be harsh without being adequate. The poor workers are no doubt feeling the vibe and some of them are not very competent. None of them are happy. The few times I went there, I had the feeling I was in some extralegal industrial zone looking for low-grade contraband. And I LOVE Amazon, the online experience!

It's so weird, because despite being owned by the same company, shopping at Whole Foods seems so warm and inviting, and Amazon Fresh just didn't get the memo at all about marketing 101 and how to make customers feel at ease. The AF managers should takes notes from Whole Foods, and other inviting supermarkets, regarding temperature, color scheme, materials used on floorings, ceilings, shelvings, the type and amount of lights to make it look natural, the set-up (like in non-food stores, most people have a certain preferred route in and out of the store). No doubt they've been to Asia and shopped at really pleasant and welcoming grocery stores in Tokyo and Seoul, where the lighting and ambience makes everything look delicious. They're not reinventing the wheel here!

Based on the prevailing smell of weed in the garage, my assumption is that the staff is all stoned.