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Amazon Go

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Re: Amazon Go

#371

Post by anonbanker »

toss1941 wrote: post #356
anonbanker wrote: post #317

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Upvoted for sensibility. in many rural areas of the United States, it is literally impossible to shop anywhere but Wal-Mart. Nebraska and Kansas had a rather large economic dive in the early 2000's due to the expansion of the Waltons. Their business plan is essentially: 1) Announce intention to move into area 2) woo politicians for financial kickbacks to subsidize expansion 3) launch with prices _far_ lower than all…

In my fly-over town I have 4 Super-Walmarts within 30 minutes of me and there are still as many Grocery stores around as when we only had 2 Super-Walmarts several years ago. There have also been quite a few smaller grocery stores popping up yearly, especially tiny ethnic markets. If your premise is true, and I'm sure it is to some extent, it isn't having a very big impact in my neck of the woods.

Congratulations on having a city council that is not hopelessly corrupt, and having an economy strong enough to withstand 4 wal-mart superstores within driving distance. I hope you understand that your anecdata is in a minority, while there are countless examples of what I'm describing.

Re: Amazon Go

#373

Post by blackaspen »

softbuilder wrote: post #278
blackaspen wrote: post #27

Here's an ad from IBM circa 2006 predicting(?) this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eob532iEpqk Crazy to think we're actually here now. And even sans-RFID.

It's actually from the 90s [1]. So much so that I thought it was one of the AT&T "You Will" commercials [2]. [1] http://digest.dx3canada.com/2015/05/12/retrofuture-ibms-1999... [2] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a2EgfkhC1eo

Glad to know I wasn't alone in thinking it was an AT&T one...that's what I searched for first. Those were the 80s though, right?

Re: Amazon Go

#374

Post by tedmiston »

raverbashing wrote: post #75
draw_down wrote: post #58

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Sounds great if it's not as unbelievably user-hostile as the self checkout machines. Those things are just total crap, every one I've ever tried.

Once I got the hang of it, I've had almost zero problems with self-checkout machines It's usually one of two things: a purchase that must be approved (either alcohol or some medicine) or scanning the single item barcode of a multi-item

Also when something's on sale but the non-sale barcode scans. I think employees are trained to cover the barcodes but it doesn't always happen.

Re: Amazon Go

#376

Post by csears »

Peroni wrote: post #270
Merad wrote: post #86

I hate it when companies offer a "how this works" section that doesn't actually tell you a damned thing about how it works. * How does my Amazon account get associated with the items I take? * How are items detected when leaving the store? If my friend and I walk out side by side, how does it know (if it does) which items are mine and which are hers? * What happens when someone picks up an item and leaves without fir…

These are purely assumptions based on what I saw on the video alone: >If my friend and I walk out side by side, how does it know (if it does) which items are mine and which are hers? Looks like the entry/exit is the same type of set-up you find at most large office buildings with the tap in/out gates (see screenshot: http://i.imgur.com/e7fDglY.jpg ). I assume it only lets one person out at a time which also suggests…

It looks like you don't need to scan anything when exiting. So your phone could die once you're in the store and you'd still be able to check out.

I'm guessing the Amazon Go app generates a one-time-use QR code that gets scanned on entry and then security/tracking cameras follow you all over the store. If the cameras see you in front of an item when its RFID sensor detects it was picked up, they make an educated guess that you picked it up. Then they can re-scan all the RFIDs as you exit for extra confirmation.

Re: Amazon Go

#377

Post by Zombieball »

helipad wrote: post #10

Technology aside, shoppers are going to feel so weird doing this at the beginning. There's already social anxiety when people pay for things and walk past a security guard, or a security barrier. Whether it's an airport, or a clothes store, or a ticket barrier, there's always a nervousness about being called out. It's bad enough in the Apple Store where you can pay and walk out, this will take some real getting used…

I don't know why but I think the turn-styles that identify customers as they enter will help alleviate some of these concerns. Additionally I think if they distributed Amazon Go branded shopping bags in the store it would also help.

I've used the Apple Store feature to buy a charger and iPhone case in the past. I admit it did feel strange as I waltzed out the front door past the genius bar guys just holding an item in my hands. If I had a bag I could put the item into (I imagine I could've asked a worker for one) then I would probably just look like every customer who paid at the till.

This leads me to think that the reason I felt weird is because I was the only one walking out of the store (to my knowledge) that paid in this manner. If I know everyone is doing it, again my mind would probably be at ease.

Re: Amazon Go

#378

Post by mrfusion »

This is really exciting. I've always wanted to see this.

It makes me wonder someday if money will be completely invisible.

Re: Amazon Go

#380

Post by icebraining »

anonbanker wrote: post #345
monochromatic wrote: post #314

Earlier quoted context omitted.

"I don't like the company that you wageslaves work for, so I'm going to create a big stinky mess for y'all to clean up. (And also waste some trivial amount of the company's money.)"

If this was the only tactic one could use to waste money at Walmart, then yes, it would be trivial. Now, imagine a team of 20 people doing this, as well as numerous other tactics to waste their money, weekly at 5 locations in a city. the numbers start adding up real quick. the wageslaves don't care. Wal-Mart pays them low enough that the company assists them with acquiring welfare benefits to supplement their incomes…

I think the point wasn't that employees cared about the loss, but about having to clean-up the mess. Especially if they're forced to work overtime on account of that.
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