Amazon Is Closing Its Cashierless Stores in NYC, San Francisco and Seattle

Re:Amazon Is Closing Its Cashierless Stores in NYC, San Fran... by CamperBob2 on Sunday March 05, 2023 @02:59PM (#35033325)

The turnstiles are unfortunate. They send the wrong psychological messages -- complexity, exclusion, a barrier to entry. I can't imagine that they stop any actual thieves, considering how brazen shoplifters are these days.

And they really aren't necessary. The Amazon app has location services permission; it knows when I'm in the store. That's apparently enough to track me along with my purchases, and to flag anyone who tries to enter the store without the app. So what's the point of the turnstiles, exactly?

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Amazon Is Closing Its Cashierless Stores in NYC, San Fran... by throwaway426079 on Sunday March 05, 2023 @04:38PM (#35034248)

I've been in the Aldi version of this. By scanning an app qr code at the barrier I am associating my appearance with that account at that time. I can also bring someone into the store with me on my account (by the slightly clunky process of passing my phone back over the barrier to them).

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Amazon Is Closing Its Cashierless Stores in NYC, San Fran... by wiseleo on Sunday March 05, 2023 @04:45PM (#35034316)

To keep people who don’t have a means to pay at that store by having the app installed and configured with their account away from the sales floor.

It’s one thing to stop a shoplifter at a normal store. Turnstiles reinforce the notion that this facility actively enforces access control.

This is similar to Passport Control line at the airport. If I have Mobile passport (MPC) app installed, I use a dedicated and usually empty lane. The same is true if I have my Global Entry card. It takes a couple of minutes to setup MPC while walking, but most people choose to wait in the main line.

[ Parent | on HN ]