i-booze.com already delivers to Ballard ... and every else in Seattle ... and you don't have to schedule your delivery ... they deliver within the hour ... if you like booze & cigarettes.

I used to use FreshDirect in New York. At first I really liked it, but then I realized that there's not so much chance I'll ever feel like I'm saving money while buying online. I felt like it was a win if things cost the same. I could get fancier things, but not skimp of staples by getting generic brands.

Nubbbee I'll take your Amazon totes while you're spending time with your kid. I follow Amazon trucks and rob 'em! I am a tweaker!

"The time I spend NOT driving to freddies for staples I can spending walking to the Locks or going to the zoo or something similar with my son. We actually do something EVERY DAY."

Nubee. Never defend your choices in life to these people. It's simply none of their business. The Ballard Taliban can stick it as far as I'm concerned.

Now, where's my SUV parked?

gooner, you forgot that they also break into your car, dump out your glove box and steal your mail while delivering your packages so they can sell them to the tweakers.

i heard that amazon fresh is employing only ex convicts... specificaly those that would never give up their seat for a pregnant woman on the bus. but worst of all, they all own condo's and drive SUVs with "new ballard" bumper stickers on the back while delivering your food.

Calling someone bitter because they complain about the price of nasty diet soda is a lot different than calling someone fat.

Maybe I shouldn't have used the word "bitter" and used the word "snide" because either way, it seems to explain your opinion on Amazon Fresh.

It's silly really, if you don't want to pay $6 for coke, don't. But don't assume people here are lazy or fat because they choose to have groceries delivered.

There is absolutely NOTHING wrong with a difference of opinion, but the personal attacks are just silly,

If I truly hurt your feelings by calling you bitter, I am sorry.

A difference of opinion is what makes a horse race.

Labeling someone as bitter and then later complaining that people are judging you based on your remarks gets an "A" in my book!

Jules, I am sure that even if there was a very innocuous subject say,

"In Ballard today, a leaf fell from a tree"

heated debate would ensue. Old Ballard would come in swinging with Condos being the culprit. New Ballard would counter with progress is good for the community. Next, the blame would turn to homeless folks probably causing the trees to die from over urinating on said tree. All would agree this is the problem and we should form a watch group for protecting Trees n Leaves (tm). But then a lone voice with a different opinion will appear, everyone will turn against this voice, shout it down, ridicule it, and continue on the campaign of righteousness. Somewhere along the way a Pink Pony will have a cameo appearance then disappear as the Orcas swim away. I predict at least 137.34 responses.

dear goofy norwegian yes you are confused. the die yuppie scum vw's are NOT the same people you are seeing today with nannies, maids, organic home deliveries etc. They are very different people. btw, my vw just said "eat the rich" and "dogma kills"

you guys can tear apart ANY topic, good stuff.

I just placed my first order--too bad I didn't see the offer above first. Some prices are higher, but it didn't seem higher than non-sale prices at other grocers. I ordered just above the $30 so that I can check out the quality and I ordered specifically for certain recipes that I make a lot. I will still shop at the farmers market and Top Banana for veggies, but this might cut out my QFC stops. I am tired of going all over to find the right price, but I may find that this increases my budget too much.

I am glad to see the debate here, although I agree with those in favor. Not as much thinking about whether this is good or not would have been done without the debate. I am sorry that some resort to personal attacks, that really isn't necessary.

"As for spending time with family well what is wrong with spending it gathering a few groceries? Might even teach your kids something other than playing or being entertained."

What you say makes sense for older children but what lesson is an infant going to learn while shopping? Not all kids are the same age as yours.

"Really, referring to Amazon as local is kind of stupid, since local usually implies “small business.”"

OK, but why is that inherently better?? I spent years working for independent mom and pop businesses. Most of them didn't offer medical benefits, retirement or any sort of profit sharing. Why is that good?

Just because a company is smaller doesn't make it better. What's more socially responsible: a large company that provides employees with medical benefits or a small company that does not?

Personally, I try to give my money to companies that take care of their employees. Sometimes that's a local company, other times it's a Fortune 500 firm (Costco being a good example).

Not green? Not so much. They can probably load that one refrigerated truck up with 100 grocery orders and then is just makes one big loop, maybe 30 miles total. Compare that to 100 individual round trips by everyone to a store that's 2-3 miles away. That's 500 miles of cumulative driving in a vehicle that may not have even had a chance to warm up. Even if the truck only gets 10 mpg, it's still a big win environmentally.

silence.kit

Amazon employees thousands of people in Seattle so it is very much a local business. AmazonFresh is even more of a local business as it only exists in Seattle.

I understand your meaning that it is not a 'small business' in Ballard, but I really don't see much difference between the Ballard Market and AmazonFresh from a shop local perspective.

Regarding the Green factor it's difficult to fully quantify as there are a lot of variables in play. Yes, walking to the farmers market and buying straight from the grower is far greener, but when you compare it to Safeway or Fred Meyer it becomes more complicated. How does Safeway deliver their food to their stores? Do they have regional distribution centers that truck supplies to all the local stores, how many people drive to Safeway and how far are they driving?

With AmazonFresh everything is delivered to a central facility and then trucked to the end user. If you are the only person in your neighborhood getting a delivery it isn't very efficient, but if the truck is full and delivering to many people in the area it might be as efficient or more efficient than the existing model.

Amazon may be a local company but something tells me that the proprietors at the farmer's market or Ballard Market could use the money a bit more.

Really, referring to Amazon as local is kind of stupid, since local usually implies "small business."

As for spending time with family well what is wrong with spending it gathering a few groceries? Might even teach your kids something other than playing or being entertained. My teen aged daughter complains that so many of her friends are incapable of doing anything that is not planned by their parents.

Off the subject of Amazon but since it was mentioned as a reason to get food delivered…

Ballard Blog readers are never judgemental. They never engage in personal attacks. There are never arguements about old/new ballard. And there are for f**k sure never heated debates about condos or the homeless.

(there are never any sarcastic comments either)

I seldom drink any kind of soda but when I do I get it for $1.99 at Bartells. I just still miss my QFC on 24th. I do suffer Safeway because it is convenient on the way home from work but whoever is arranging that store these days needs to be fired. I will also drive by Trader Joe’s every day and likely will stop often but only for specialty items. Their produce and meat sucks. They do however offer lots of things to make quick meals like good jarred curry sauce and such. About once a month I make the rounds of the Orowheat outlet, Larry’s and Grocery Outlet. Fred’s is a horror for groceries. Please hurry with the 24th QFC!

I suppose if I do break a leg I might have delivery but my friends and family still like me and I figure they would bring me a crust of bread every few days. I can’t imagine any other reason to have food delivered. Even my 88 year old mother gets to her close QFC on foot. We often take her groceries but she still prefers to pick out her own so usually wants us to take her which we gladly do.

"Better to shop at the Sunday Market, or locally-owned stores like Ballard Market."

Amazon is a local company.

Personally, I can't see using the service since I have a Safeway and QFC within a 5 minute walk and Ballard and Greenwood markets within a 5 minute bike ride. OTOH, I can see how for many spending time with their family or on other things is worth the convenience and cost. To each their own.

The environmental impact is also not so great.

i have to agree... this is expensive and totally un-green.

"give me convenience or give me death"

just voicing an opinion.. i hope nobody freaks on me.

I think its rude to assume because I am getting something delivered that means I am fat and I dont leave the house, neither is the case. The personal attack is really unneccessary.

The time I spend NOT driving to freddies for staples I can spending walking to the Locks or going to the zoo or something similar with my son. We actually do something EVERY DAY.

I love how a few people being excited about grocery delivery brings out the jerks, once again. If you don't want to shop at Amazon Fresh, I really don't care, that's fine. But don't be nasty to me because I'd rather spend an extra $5 to have more time in my day, because that's really my choice, not yours.

Leaving the house is important.

Better to shop at the Sunday Market, or locally-owned stores like Ballard Market.

oh and i dont drink diet coke, its nasty.

98119, im a size 2, i walk every day with my son and my husband takes the car to work.

be a little more judgemental why dont you.

Hey Nub - I hear Buy N Large is delivering too. Maybe you could get one of those movable reclining chairs from Wall-E put in your home. That way you'd never have to leave!

I was sent this e-mail at the beginning of the week.


Get a free bag of produce with your first order
Ever wonder, 'How can I trust shopping online when it comes to groceries? ' That's why we're making shopping at AmazonFresh completely risk free . If there's anything you're not happy with, we'll make it right and guarantee your satisfaction 100%.

Order today and get a free produce sampler * with your first order (use promo code S2NSFW8 at check out). No extra charge for delivery on orders over $30**.

Sincerely,
AmazonFresh
www.amazonfresh.com



* Offer applies only to new customers in AmazonFresh's serviceable areas. Limit one per customer on orders over $30 and good until 03/07/2009. Not valid in combination with any other offers.

** $30 Free delivery threshold applies to most areas. Some zip codes may require a $5 delivery charge on orders under $75. (Amazon Prime members have this delivery charge waived.) 6am Pre-Dawn Delivery is limited to availability.

I really enjoy Fresh's selection of cheeses, and other specialty types of foods - I'd have to drive to Whole Foods and search there for some of them.

Well, Iloveseatown, I can certainly imagine situations where this service could really help people. If I broke a leg, for instance, and had a hard time getting anywhere, I'd be happy to take advantage of it for a while.

gurple,

I agree this is very un-green hell some of you posting in here live only a couple of blocks from two or three supermarkets!!!

But hey...paying more to have someone show up at your door with goods delivered in a vehicle that gets worse mileage then a hummer lets you avoid walking away from world of warcraft i guess.

Actually, while some of the prices are higher, some of them are quite comparable. Also, I am offered choices on things I cannot get at Freddies, which I would then have to go somewhere else to get it, making it cost the same. It has nothing to do with new/old (and I was just waiting for this to come up) it has to do with time. Id much rather spend time with my son at HOME and work on my business from home then mess with going to the grocery store. I doubt I will use it every week, but there are times I will gladly pay for the convenience.

Frankly, I hope it does well enough to stick around but not much better. I'd hate to see it take business away from the Farmers Market and Ballard Market. Last-mile delivery via big truck is sort of a grotesquely inefficient way to move food around.

What happened to keeping costs down peeps? I am not bitter when wondering why, when things are tighter than ever (so I hear), so many can afford these and other services? I run a household. I am a single dad. I also run a small biz. I cook a lot and know my prices. It's NEVER "convenient" to get hosed. But then again, it is the "new Ballard" isn't it. Used to see those "die yuppy scum" stickers on VW's. Today the same folks have nannies, maids, home organics delivered, etc. Hmmm, I am confused? But I do love this "trickle down economics" theory.

98119, bitter much? some people like paying for convenience. not to mention, that the normal rate for a 12 pack of diet coke at fred meyers is also about $6 without a coupon or sale, and then you have to lug it home.

Enjoy those $6 12 packs of Diet Coke and those $6.39 boxes of 18oz Cheerios.

nice work 98117!

Woohoo!

Erm, no free for Prime members? Hrm.

But, YAY! Now I don't have to worry about lugging my groceries home on the bus.

Hm, I much rather have it free for amazon prime. Oh well. I screamed and my future husband thought I saw a bug but no it was just amazon fresh!

I am so glad I won't have to leave the house during prime nap time to go grocery shopping. I am already building my list. And Liz, maybe they will eventually wave that charge for us.

Yippeee! Although it'd be great if prime members didn't have to pay the $5 charge. I'm a little bit of a cheapskate and apparently hard to please. But still - yippee!

YAY!