“Just walk out” technology by Amazon

Re:“Just walk out” technology by Amazon by Analemma_ on Monday March 09, 2020 @12:52PM (#22526938)

Do these actually reduce labor costs though? I frequently use the Amazon Go store in Seattle right next to the Spheres, and there seem to be as many if not more employees there than at an ordinary convenience store: there's always one person by the liquor area to check IDs, one or two people walking around the store restocking the shelves and helping the clueless tourists download the app, and several people in the kitchen making sandwiches and whatnot. I don't see any labor savings over a regular 7-11.

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Re:“Just walk out” technology by Amazon by bookofjoe on Monday March 09, 2020 @01:02PM (#22527049)

At my neighborhood 7-11, there are often 5-10 people waiting in line with one clerk at checkout. One person buying lottery tickets brings things to a complete halt.

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Re:“Just walk out” technology by Amazon by dazc on Monday March 09, 2020 @01:24PM (#22527328)

There is always someone buying multiple lottery tickets/scratch cards in UK local stores and, yes, it does bring everything to a standstill.

Other regular delays seem to come from staff being perplexed by the complexity of the checkout system.

Also, mostly middle aged women being taken by complete surprise they are being asked to pay for stuff which leads to much fumbling around looking for purses and wallets and then they'll insist on counting out the exact change.

Then the constant 'Do you need a bag?', 'Do you want a receipt?' 'Do you have a stupid loyalty card?' routine.

Bring on automation please and make the world a much more happier place!

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Re:“Just walk out” technology by Amazon by londons_explore on Monday March 09, 2020 @01:07PM (#22527106)

Id checking can probably be done through the app. Most online bank accounts simply require a 30 second video call with a person showing their face and their passport and the account becomes 'verified'. You only ever have to do that once, so very cheap.

Restocking is already a cost stores have to do. Restocking is also something which isn't too time sensitive - you can do more restocking at night if needed. It's also possible to design the shop to require less restocking, by for example having deeper shelving units where products slide towards the front.

Helping people use the app won't be needed as soon as it becomes universal.

The only remaining cost becomes store security, but if everyone has an attached account which has been verified by a passport, even security might no longer be needed. Just bill people for the items they take, ban them if they don't pay the bill, and call the police and ban anyone who is violent.

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Re:“Just walk out” technology by Amazon by shadowgovt on Monday March 09, 2020 @12:58PM (#22527003)

This sounds like the kind of thing that works better at scale. Against a regular 7-11, probably not. But what stops the model in question from being applied to a warehouse-style store with still only four employees needed?

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Re:“Just walk out” technology by Amazon by rhino369 on Monday March 09, 2020 @01:12PM (#22527158)

Even for costco, most employees aren't cashiers--which is only job really affected by this tech.

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Re:“Just walk out” technology by Amazon by derefr on Monday March 09, 2020 @01:51PM (#22527711)

Don’t forget “loss prevention officers” (i.e. security.) In the bad parts of my city, and especially at night, convenience store staffing is 50% security (= one clerk at the counter; one guard at the door.) And that staffing, unlike the clerks, can’t be done on minimum wage.

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Re:“Just walk out” technology by Amazon by anoonmoose on Monday March 09, 2020 @12:55PM (#22526961)

If there are no savings to be had from using this, people won't use it.

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