The problem is, it's not just Wal-Mart and Amazon. It's nearly everyone and blaming a shift in consumer habits is a cop out. Consumer habits didn't change overnight and now SEARS and your local mall are just starting to have problems. A lot of these companies have seen the writing on the wall for years. A lot of these companies have had plenty of opportunity to try to innovate and adjust to stay competitive and half the time their solutions are more layoffs/closing and mergers. Now, I know what you're gonna say, you're gonna say "Well, what would you propose they do different?" Don't ask me, cause I'm not a business guy. But that's not my responsibility. That responsibility lies in the hands of the people running these companies and if a tag like #retailhell is any indication, they're fucking failing.

As for Whole Foods? Minus the 2008 crash, Whole Foods' stock value has been going up ever since the '90s. I don't know if the Whole Foods' model is sick, dying, dead, or whatever, but I do know Whole Foods has competition from similar grocery stores, conventional grocery stores that have started carrying organic food and have put a stronger emphasis on sourcing quality meat, deli, and produce products. Farmers markets are still a thing, buying shares in local farms for a cut of the food is becoming more popular, so is growing your own food. I'm not an analyst, but if you ask me, it sounds like Whole Foods got the trend going and the American Public, from other businesses to individuals, are finding ways to tap into the desire for the products they made popular.

I honestly don't know if it's a good buy or a mismatch. From my vitriolic rants in this thread though, that's obviously not my concern. My concern is for the workers and their wellbeing and I don't think this is a good deal for them in the slightest. I honestly think Wal-Mart buying Whole Foods would be better (but only slightly), that's how low my opinion of Amazon is.