As many of you may already know, Amazon built a grocery store known as Amazon Go in Seattle. Unlike a conventional grocery store, there is no checkout. That's right, NO CHECK OUT, not even a self check out. They advertise it as you walk in, put all of the items that you want into your bag and just walk out. No, I didn't steal anything, you're still charged for whatever you buy! This may be the future of grocery shopping.
They recently opened the store to the public a few weeks ago after many months of testing and delay. It is located in downtown Seattle, found here. I happened to be in Seattle last week and decided to stop by and check it out myself. Here's my experience!
Since the store just opened, there were a number of friendly staff members at the entrance to help you out. When I went, it wasn't very busy at all, but if there were a lot of people, the staff was ready to handle a queue in an orderly fashion on the outside of the store. To go in, you will need the Amazon Go app. If you do not have it, you can download it on the spot, the shop actually has free WiFi, so even if you're visiting US, you can still give this a go. Upon entering the store, you'll have to scan the app to go through the gates. You can also share the account, so for families, only one person needs to have the app and you can scan all of your family members in. The bill will be sent to whoever that has the app.
After entering, you'll notice that the store isn't very large. It mostly contains snacks, beverages, dairy products, bread, cereals and meal prep kits. There is a small corner in the back for liquor and alcohol and there is a staff member there to verify IDs. Since Amazon owns Whole Foods, there was a small Whole Foods inspired section as well. The store doesn't have any fresh produce like vegetables or fruits. They do carry a lot of local items, like dairy and cheese products from dairy farms that are local to Washington state. There is staff in the store so they would be available for questions. As you wander around, you just grab whatever you want and place it into your bag.
Once you're done your shopping, all you simply do is to walk out through the gate. No need to scan anything through, the gate will open once you approach it. A few minutes after exiting, a notification will pop up on the app displaying the purchased items and how long you spent in the store, definitely a cool concept.
The store is accessible, though I'm not sure if the gates are wide enough for all wheelchairs. There is a restroom as well. Since the store has some microwavable meals, there is a small area with a microwave where you can eat. WiFi and sockets are available for charging as well so if you need a quick meal but still do work, it is possible.
My impression?
- Awesome that there is no need to queue to check out. Saves a lot of time this way.
- Best for someone looking for some snacks, beverages and perhaps grabbing a meal prep kit on their own home from work. Probably also great for someone who just need a snack in the middle of the day as well. Not intended to actually grocery shop as there is no fresh produce and meats area.
- Really convenient if you ever forget your wallet but still have your phone, you can still buy stuff!
My review can be found here.
And here's a quick video for when I wandered through the store.
I definitely had fun exploring. I bought a few snacks as I had a long drive home.
Would you enjoy shopping at a place like this? What do you think?
Please post publicly so others can benefit as well. I do not have private messages. Thanks!
2022
