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This is called amazon go. I believe they had intentions of selling this tech to other stores but it never really took off (maybe uniqulo is using it?). They clo

This is called amazon go. I believe they had intentions of selling this tech to other stores but it never really took off (maybe uniqulo is using it?). They closed several of Amazon's stores which used this in 2023 and there are only around 40. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amazon_Go https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amazon_Go

seanmcdirmid 3y ago
Basic Amazon stores never used this. Only the amazon go convenience stores ever did. As far as I can tell, the former are all closed now while many of the latter are still open. At least here in Seattle.
- Gh0stRAT 3y ago
  Amazon Fresh also used it in a handful of locations. (and still does) IIRC there are 2 Whole Foods locations that use it as well.
- wenc 3y ago
  Amazon Fresh grocery stores have the cashierless thing too, not just Go. Amazon Fresh is all over the Seattle area and in many parts of the country (a number of them are in Chicago)
deeebug 3y ago
> I believe they had intentions of selling this tech to other stores but it never really took off (maybe uniqulo is using it?) They did, it's called "Just Walk Out" - https://www.justwalkout.com/ https://www.justwalkout.com/ and https://aws.amazon.com/just-walk-out/ https://aws.amazon.com/just-walk-out/ . I've seen it a bunch at airports, and occasional random city locations.
- Freedom2 3y ago
  To add onto your comment, I've also seen it used at quite a few stadiums.
- TylerE 3y ago
  Man I’d kill for that to be in every grocery store.
  - interestica 3y ago
    Just put the “self checkout” on the cart/trolley and take them directly to your car. “SmartCarts” have to be a thing at some point. …and they will put video ads on them.
BHSPitMonkey 3y ago
Amazon Fresh grocery stores do something similar, but with the tech (cameras, maybe augmented by weight/pressure sensors?) in the shopping carts rather than covering the ceiling.
- callalex 3y ago
  From what I’ve gathered talking to people who work there about 80-90% of the tech is a gig worker in Africa or Asia diligently watching a bunch of cameras and typing stuff in that gets rebranded as AI.
  - BHSPitMonkey 3y ago
    Guess I should've assumed there'd be a mechanical turk element involved, but either way that's a little disappointing.
baz00 3y ago
Not very reliable. The only two people I know who used one of these stores both got mischarged and never went back again. That news travels fast.
- zoky 3y ago
  With Amazon Go you can request a refund for any item, whether you actually bought it or not, and they just… give it to you. Don’t even have to return the item to the store. I assume there are some limitations and it’s based on good faith, but I don’t know because I’ve never had any reason to request one. I have had them miss items and fail to charge me for them, though. Even if you want to be honest about it though, there’s really nothing that can be done, since they don’t charge you and provide you with a receipt until hours after you’ve left the store.
  - baz00 3y ago
    Why would you put yourself through it though? It's stressful. I spend enough of my time on the phone to Amazon through AWS and because my stuff is stolen.
    - zoky 3y ago
      Stressful? In what way is it possibly stressful? Because you have to keep an eye out for a receipt where you maybe were overcharged for something (but probably weren’t) so that you can receive a guaranteed refund to correct the situation upon request? There are a lot of ways I’d describe the Amazon Go shopping experience. Creepy? Yes. Unsettling? Quite so. Oddly evoking the feeling of being a rat in a maze? I wouldn’t argue. But stressful? If there is one thing it is not, it’s that.
- wenc 3y ago
  I've used it a lot and was never overcharged. Might want to check those anecdotes.
  - baz00 3y ago
wenc 3y ago
> They closed several of Amazon's stores which used this in 2023 I think this is partly due to WFH and loss of foot traffic (these were usually located in business districts, where the lunch crowd would come in and grab a prepared meal and walk out). I don't think it was due to technology not working or uptake being low. Downtown Chicago had a few that were fairly popular. COVID killed the office crowd.

seanmcdirmid 3y ago

Basic Amazon stores never used this. Only the amazon go convenience stores ever did. As far as I can tell, the former are all closed now while many of the latter are still open. At least here in Seattle.

Gh0stRAT 3y ago
Amazon Fresh also used it in a handful of locations. (and still does) IIRC there are 2 Whole Foods locations that use it as well.
wenc 3y ago
Amazon Fresh grocery stores have the cashierless thing too, not just Go. Amazon Fresh is all over the Seattle area and in many parts of the country (a number of them are in Chicago)

deeebug 3y ago

> I believe they had intentions of selling this tech to other stores but it never really took off (maybe uniqulo is using it?) They did, it's called "Just Walk Out" - https://www.justwalkout.com/ https://www.justwalkout.com/ and https://aws.amazon.com/just-walk-out/ https://aws.amazon.com/just-walk-out/ . I've seen it a bunch at airports, and occasional random city locations.

Freedom2 3y ago
To add onto your comment, I've also seen it used at quite a few stadiums.
TylerE 3y ago
Man I’d kill for that to be in every grocery store.
- interestica 3y ago
  Just put the “self checkout” on the cart/trolley and take them directly to your car. “SmartCarts” have to be a thing at some point. …and they will put video ads on them.

BHSPitMonkey 3y ago

Amazon Fresh grocery stores do something similar, but with the tech (cameras, maybe augmented by weight/pressure sensors?) in the shopping carts rather than covering the ceiling.

callalex 3y ago
From what I’ve gathered talking to people who work there about 80-90% of the tech is a gig worker in Africa or Asia diligently watching a bunch of cameras and typing stuff in that gets rebranded as AI.
- BHSPitMonkey 3y ago
  Guess I should've assumed there'd be a mechanical turk element involved, but either way that's a little disappointing.

baz00 3y ago

Not very reliable. The only two people I know who used one of these stores both got mischarged and never went back again. That news travels fast.

zoky 3y ago
With Amazon Go you can request a refund for any item, whether you actually bought it or not, and they just… give it to you. Don’t even have to return the item to the store. I assume there are some limitations and it’s based on good faith, but I don’t know because I’ve never had any reason to request one. I have had them miss items and fail to charge me for them, though. Even if you want to be honest about it though, there’s really nothing that can be done, since they don’t charge you and provide you with a receipt until hours after you’ve left the store.
- baz00 3y ago
  Why would you put yourself through it though? It's stressful. I spend enough of my time on the phone to Amazon through AWS and because my stuff is stolen.
  - zoky 3y ago
    Stressful? In what way is it possibly stressful? Because you have to keep an eye out for a receipt where you maybe were overcharged for something (but probably weren’t) so that you can receive a guaranteed refund to correct the situation upon request? There are a lot of ways I’d describe the Amazon Go shopping experience. Creepy? Yes. Unsettling? Quite so. Oddly evoking the feeling of being a rat in a maze? I wouldn’t argue. But stressful? If there is one thing it is not, it’s that.
wenc 3y ago
I've used it a lot and was never overcharged. Might want to check those anecdotes.
- baz00 3y ago

wenc 3y ago

> They closed several of Amazon's stores which used this in 2023 I think this is partly due to WFH and loss of foot traffic (these were usually located in business districts, where the lunch crowd would come in and grab a prepared meal and walk out). I don't think it was due to technology not working or uptake being low. Downtown Chicago had a few that were fairly popular. COVID killed the office crowd.