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Amazon is closing its cashierless stores in NYC, San Francisco and Seattle

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Re: Amazon is closing its cashierless stores in NYC, San Francisco and Seattle

#61

Post by justeleblanc »

tchock23 wrote: post #56
crazygringo wrote: post #23

Earlier quoted context omitted.

In basically every retail store, and especially grocery/convenience stores, you are being observed by security cameras at literally every second. In every aisle. This has been the case for decades. It's how they catch shoplifters. I rather like the fact it can be used for customer convenience now, rather than just punitively.

I was on a jury for larceny from a Target. The footage they showed from so many points around the store made me feel creeped out with every store I go into now.

Larceny goes to a jury where you live?

Re: Amazon is closing its cashierless stores in NYC, San Francisco and Seattle

#62

Post by CydeWeys »

Nanana909 wrote: post #59
aendruk wrote: post #53

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It’s listed as a drop-off location when you’re returning a traditional web order. There’s no warning about it being an innavigable dystopia in the return flow. I had the same experience.

Is that an issue with the store concept, or an issue with not making it clear to users that it’s a non standard drop off location? I don’t see the lack of a warning reflecting on the actual store itself very strongly. Also- why even bother with Amazon and trying to return packages etc if you have no easy way of getting your password? If this is too much of a hassle just use in person stores.. I’ve had drop off at mai…

It's definitely an Amazon failure, as Amazon controls all sides of this return.

Re: Amazon is closing its cashierless stores in NYC, San Francisco and Seattle

#63

Post by gorbypark »

endisneigh wrote: post #7

Amazon Go seems incredibly overengineered. Why is this superior than a portable scanning plus toggleable RFIDs that disable items on scan and alarm gates? Cameras everywhere and computer vision seems overkill.

The Decathlon (sporting equipment stores like REI or MEC) stores in Spain (and other countries, I’m sure) have RFID self checkout and it works way better than the type where you scan everything yourself. There’s a big “basket”, you put in your items, and they’re just detected as they are put in. Then you just pay and go. They have the little barcode scanner guns for the bulky items that don’t fit in the “basket”.

Re: Amazon is closing its cashierless stores in NYC, San Francisco and Seattle

#64

Post by zwkrt »

MonkeyMalarky wrote: post #18
chrischen wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

In the midwest we have a giant store called Woodman's that just does low-tech self-checkout lanes and 24-hour stores... Self-checkout is just you doing the scanning and paying yourself... Aside from a high-precision scale and one worker for all of the self-checkout lanes (to assist in errors), it's more or less honor system that just works for the most part.

Trusting customers to key in the correct product code when using the scale is foolish though. Supposedly there's a store out there that sold more bananas in weight through the self-checkout than they had shipped in.

The one thing about sushi and peanuts is that they both have a weight…

Re: Amazon is closing its cashierless stores in NYC, San Francisco and Seattle

#66

Post by CydeWeys »

justeleblanc wrote: post #61
tchock23 wrote: post #56

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I was on a jury for larceny from a Target. The footage they showed from so many points around the store made me feel creeped out with every store I go into now.

Larceny goes to a jury where you live?

It's a criminal charge, so yes, according to the Sixth Amendment it could go to a jury trial in any jurisdiction.

Re: Amazon is closing its cashierless stores in NYC, San Francisco and Seattle

#67

Post by luckylion »

crazygringo wrote: post #23
nomy99 wrote: post #10

I shopped at their location at 30 rock. It was a mixed bag feeling. I was in awe of the technology, but at the same time I felt like I was being overly observed like in a prison.. I never went back, even though I work in the building.

In basically every retail store, and especially grocery/convenience stores, you are being observed by security cameras at literally every second. In every aisle. This has been the case for decades. It's how they catch shoplifters. I rather like the fact it can be used for customer convenience now, rather than just punitively.

The constant filming from every angle is what makes me even more confused when you need to personally tell employees that something is broken somewhere, or the queue for the cash register is miles long, or some sales point isn't staffed and has people waiting. Everything is being watched, why aren't they reacting proactively?

Re: Amazon is closing its cashierless stores in NYC, San Francisco and Seattle

#68

Post by wildrhythms »

leesalminen wrote: post #12
chrischen wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

In the midwest we have a giant store called Woodman's that just does low-tech self-checkout lanes and 24-hour stores... Self-checkout is just you doing the scanning and paying yourself... Aside from a high-precision scale and one worker for all of the self-checkout lanes (to assist in errors), it's more or less honor system that just works for the most part.

My mother-in-law operates the self-checkout lanes at a Kroger brand store in the midwest. The honor system definitely does not work there. Shoplifting is through the roof over the past couple years. It's gotten so bad that management is debating shutting off the self-checkout lanes. A few months ago she was pepper sprayed after confronting a shoplifter who had an entire cart of things, but only scanned and paid for 3…

>Then last month, someone came in and just wheeled out the entire tobacco shelving unit with a dolly.

And how would 'shutting off the self-checkout lanes' solve that?

Re: Amazon is closing its cashierless stores in NYC, San Francisco and Seattle

#69

Post by Nanana909 »

TedDoesntTalk wrote: post #50
Nanana909 wrote: post #43

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> I don't use the app So then why attempt to go to a store that’s entirely based on using the app? The store concept is based around your account - and you didn’t know your account details. The app can help avoid this, but you also refused to use the app. How is this any different than someone who refuses to use their password to sign in to Amazon.com and complains about not being able to submit a return? Or going to…

He was trying to return a package, not shop at the store. You can return Amazon packages at WholeFoods, Kohl’s and the UPS Store using the Amazon website on your phone — app not needed. I do it all the time because I refuse to use their app.

> He was trying to return a package, not shop at the store.

So then it sounds like he’s not in very a strong position to declare the stores as an unmitigated failure…

Re: Amazon is closing its cashierless stores in NYC, San Francisco and Seattle

#70

Post by looping__lui »

_8j50 wrote: post #36

Amazon is such an anti-human company. From their warehouses to their tech workers they are terrible against people. That said, if people like these stores then good for them. I am honestly shocked and confused when people enjoy this. Or targeted ads or *GPT generated content. I am not anti-tech by any means. Maybe I am just not impressed and awed enough by these technologies to overlook the downsides? I don't support…

Much to my surprise, I genuinely loved the experience im the Amazon Go stores. I was super skeptical, but it is really convenient. I didn’t know how much I hate checkout lines or self-service checkout counters until I visited an Amazon Go store.

Amazon also owns Ring which can be used to protect your home (although it’s certainly less sophisticated). I own a Ring home security system and I’m very fond of it. Same for my parents when they go for their vacation home - big game changer for their ease of mind. Now, I’m not super fond of how Ring shared footage without consent in some countries with authorities; but it’s probably the company I trust most with my personal data footage etc. And I deem them more capable in protecting my data.

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