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Inside Amazon Go

nytimes.com

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Re: Inside Amazon Go

#271

Post by tanilama »

raz32dust wrote: post #260
samwillis wrote: post #169

Waitrose in the UK has had something called "Quick Check" for maybe the last 10 years. On the way into the store, you swipe your "My Waitrose" card and collect a barcode scanner. You then scan and bag everything on the way around and return your scanner to a dedicated terminal (which generally have no queue) and very quickly pay. More recently they added the ability to use your smartphone as the scanner so that you d…

That's something Walmart or anyone else could do. Doing it without compromising on losing items to theft, that's where Amazon is trying to create its moat, and that is where their competitive advantage lies. They have the technology to go completely employee-free. So while it was enlightening and impressive to read about the Waitrose system, it makes it sound like Amazon is being naive and did not think about this si…

Someone needs to fulfill the items and chiming in under unexpected events, and clean the store. Cashiers might go, but the rest of the crew that needed to operate a store will still be there.

One advantage I would imagine for Amazon Go is going to be the experience for the customers, that without the need to queue and even forget checkout at all, is great. However I doubt how much they could save from going cashier free.

Re: Inside Amazon Go

#272

Post by isitwhatitis »

mulmen wrote: post #264
_ptgt wrote: post #225

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The demographic trends in the GP aren't unique to America. They're more or less the rule in most developed countries, and I think it's safe to say most HN users probably come from developed countries.

Can you cite a source for that? How can you infer the demographics of HN in the absence of data?

Where I come from, it's pretty poor form to ask people to cite sources for obvious statements, without any other insight or commentary. After all, you're asking them to do work for you, but not taking basic steps to suggest you might appreciate their effort.

The preferred option is to do a little reading of your own beforehand, and to share whatever it is you know that makes you think the obvious answer might not be right.

Re: Inside Amazon Go

#273

Post by raz32dust »

tanilama wrote: post #271
raz32dust wrote: post #260

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That's something Walmart or anyone else could do. Doing it without compromising on losing items to theft, that's where Amazon is trying to create its moat, and that is where their competitive advantage lies. They have the technology to go completely employee-free. So while it was enlightening and impressive to read about the Waitrose system, it makes it sound like Amazon is being naive and did not think about this si…

Someone needs to fulfill the items and chiming in under unexpected events, and clean the store. Cashiers might go, but the rest of the crew that needed to operate a store will still be there. One advantage I would imagine for Amazon Go is going to be the experience for the customers, that without the need to queue and even forget checkout at all, is great. However I doubt how much they could save from going cashier f…

This is true, to be sure. And all this tech will also need expensive maintenance. I am not sure how much they'll actually end up saving. I'd also miss the happy experience that you sometimes get when dealing with a cheerful crew. The ambience and crew is one reason I shop groceries almost exclusively from Trader Joe's.

Re: Inside Amazon Go

#275

Post by JimDabell »

samwillis wrote: post #169

Waitrose in the UK has had something called "Quick Check" for maybe the last 10 years. On the way into the store, you swipe your "My Waitrose" card and collect a barcode scanner. You then scan and bag everything on the way around and return your scanner to a dedicated terminal (which generally have no queue) and very quickly pay. More recently they added the ability to use your smartphone as the scanner so that you d…

> They are only one step away from allowing you to pay with your smartphone and walk out...

Apple does this for items below a certain value – you walk in, open the Apple Store app, scan the barcode on the product, then walk out with it.

Re: Inside Amazon Go

#277

Post by fooblitzky »

adrusi wrote: post #92
FLUX-YOU wrote: post #70

Attacks I'd like to try but would get picked up by the cops if I did: - Carry empty bags/containers of cheaper items in the store and place products inside these before pulling them off of the shelf. - Pull products off of the shelf and give them to a friend. Place identical empty bags/containers back to re-credit your account while your friend never has the item debited and walks out. - Drape a blanket over yourself…

Just save your containers from your last visit, bring them with you in your shopping bags, pull an item off the shelf and replace it with an empty container from your bag so that it looks like you changed your mind.

That's a store selling food for public consumption. Stocking the shelves with old containers seems like it might carry some health risk? Or Amazon might not be very happy about what you are doing to the image of their store (and they'll know who you are because of the cameras.) Seems like a big risk to take to save a few dollars on lunch.

Re: Inside Amazon Go

#278

Post by gambiting »

j_s wrote: post #245
thatfunkymunki wrote: post #231

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That's because Costco has an awfully consumer hostile policy of accusing every customer of theft as they exit the warehouse. I absolutely can't stand being accused of crime in this manner.

Curious what happens if someone just bypasses the person doing the double-checking. Is there any legal recourse for the store? I could only see this as the case if there is something in the member agreement, the stuff is paid for...

Nope. If there's a queue waiting to have their items checked I just walk past them. If they can't do it quickly enough it's their problem.

Re: Inside Amazon Go

#279

Post by qmarchi »

raz32dust wrote: post #260
samwillis wrote: post #169

Waitrose in the UK has had something called "Quick Check" for maybe the last 10 years. On the way into the store, you swipe your "My Waitrose" card and collect a barcode scanner. You then scan and bag everything on the way around and return your scanner to a dedicated terminal (which generally have no queue) and very quickly pay. More recently they added the ability to use your smartphone as the scanner so that you d…

That's something Walmart or anyone else could do. Doing it without compromising on losing items to theft, that's where Amazon is trying to create its moat, and that is where their competitive advantage lies. They have the technology to go completely employee-free. So while it was enlightening and impressive to read about the Waitrose system, it makes it sound like Amazon is being naive and did not think about this si…

It is something that Walmart is working on. They're currently piloting it in a handful of stores and it's available at all Sam's Club locations.

Both are by phone, but WM will have dedicated had scanners for those who don't have/want a smartphone.

Re: Inside Amazon Go

#280

Post by Kalium »

srtjstjsj wrote: post #150
Kalium wrote: post #54

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I understand how you feel that way. It feels like Amazon, and others, are creating a wholly atomized society. Where people exist without having to admit that other people exist. Where people are stripped away from society for profit. But... what if I want that? What if I don't want to be coerced into social interaction, every day, just so I get get my basic physical needs met? What if I want to engage with society an…

You might be right, or your view might lead to social collapse. Society has been functioning for millenia; it's not clear that can work without people talking to each other. For an HN-pertinent example: If no one wanted to put together a company, would anyone have a job? Can computers really mediate all human interaction? If so, why are social connections so important in building a successful tech company?

You might be right! It is, indeed, possible that letting people choose to talk to one another instead of coercing them into it may lead to the destruction of society.

But, consider. If letting people talk to one another - or not - as they choose rather than as some would-be society-engineer decides leads to social collapse, what will actually be lost? Is so fragile a system really worth preserving? I submit that it may not be.

Personally, I don't require that computers mediate all human interaction. I do rather like having a choice, though.

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