4 ms·

Wait, you don't even have to scan your items? Are they using cameras to detect the items you grab?

joezydeco 4y ago
Correct. It's pretty amazing when it works. I used to try and speedrun the Go store and see how fast it worked. My fastest visit was 9 seconds, receipt was 100% accurate.
- ddejohn 4y ago
  Interesting. Another commenter made the point that retail stores already have massive surveillance systems in place, and that it was a good thing that they're being used non-punitively for once. Me, I'm not so sure. I don't think I'd like being reminded that my every movement is being watched. At least when I go to a store, I completely forget about security because I'm, you know, not there to steal something. It doesn't even cross my mind. Or maybe it's a good thing to remind people that they're constantly under surveillance? I dunno.
  - joezydeco 4y ago
    The Go stores completely hide the technology. All the cameras and sensors are tucked away behind shelves or painted black and mounted on the blacked-out ceiling. I mean, with the Go stores there really is no concept of shoplifting since you need a payment method to walk in. Shoplifting would involve fooling the sensors and I suppose Amazon takes that as a cost of training their systems. There are many videos of people trying things to fool the system but I don't know how successful that is. On a philosophical level I don't see any difference between this and, say, an employee following you with a clipboard and marking down everything you do. You're a customer in a private business and they can make any rule they want. Short of anonymous bartering for goods and services in an outdoor setting you really don't have much of a say. If Amazon hides the surveillance is it a trap, or just a way of making you feel more comfortable making impulse purchases?
  - rootusrootus 4y ago
    > At least when I go to a store, I completely forget about security because I'm, you know, not there to steal something. It doesn't even cross my mind. Have you never been to a store that occasionally plays an announcement saying "Security to section 3" or some such nonsense? Those are the best, because that is 100% BS. It's theater, designed to make the people who do shoplift think they're going to be caught. And a lot cheaper than actual security when you're operating a grocery store on tight margins.
none_to_remain 4y ago
When I tried it I joked to my dad they offered San Francisco-style shopping: just grab the stuff and walk out
ElFitz 4y ago
Cameras and other sensors. You do need to scan a QR code from the app before coming in. Some other comments mention having trouble with it, being billed for things they shouldn’t have. But I personally never did. Even though I enjoyed fooling around and trying to trick it by picking stuff up just to put it back. Or coming together with someone else, both using my QR code, and picking stuff up separately. Never any issue. Although, obviously, ymmv. It’s honestly among my most memorable experiences in the past two years.

Correct. It's pretty amazing when it works. I used to try and speedrun the Go store and see how fast it worked. My fastest visit was 9 seconds, receipt was 100% accurate.

ddejohn 4y ago
Interesting. Another commenter made the point that retail stores already have massive surveillance systems in place, and that it was a good thing that they're being used non-punitively for once. Me, I'm not so sure. I don't think I'd like being reminded that my every movement is being watched. At least when I go to a store, I completely forget about security because I'm, you know, not there to steal something. It doesn't even cross my mind. Or maybe it's a good thing to remind people that they're constantly under surveillance? I dunno.
- joezydeco 4y ago
  The Go stores completely hide the technology. All the cameras and sensors are tucked away behind shelves or painted black and mounted on the blacked-out ceiling. I mean, with the Go stores there really is no concept of shoplifting since you need a payment method to walk in. Shoplifting would involve fooling the sensors and I suppose Amazon takes that as a cost of training their systems. There are many videos of people trying things to fool the system but I don't know how successful that is. On a philosophical level I don't see any difference between this and, say, an employee following you with a clipboard and marking down everything you do. You're a customer in a private business and they can make any rule they want. Short of anonymous bartering for goods and services in an outdoor setting you really don't have much of a say. If Amazon hides the surveillance is it a trap, or just a way of making you feel more comfortable making impulse purchases?
- rootusrootus 4y ago
  > At least when I go to a store, I completely forget about security because I'm, you know, not there to steal something. It doesn't even cross my mind. Have you never been to a store that occasionally plays an announcement saying "Security to section 3" or some such nonsense? Those are the best, because that is 100% BS. It's theater, designed to make the people who do shoplift think they're going to be caught. And a lot cheaper than actual security when you're operating a grocery store on tight margins.

none_to_remain 4y ago

When I tried it I joked to my dad they offered San Francisco-style shopping: just grab the stuff and walk out

ElFitz 4y ago

Cameras and other sensors. You do need to scan a QR code from the app before coming in. Some other comments mention having trouble with it, being billed for things they shouldn’t have. But I personally never did. Even though I enjoyed fooling around and trying to trick it by picking stuff up just to put it back. Or coming together with someone else, both using my QR code, and picking stuff up separately. Never any issue. Although, obviously, ymmv. It’s honestly among my most memorable experiences in the past two years.