Amazon Thread

Amazon.com has been tiptoeing into the world of brick-and-mortar retailing for some time now. There have been small outposts at colleges and a few beautifully designed bookstores have been popping up in cities with rumors for several hundred more. As I have said before regarding these efforts, they appear to be sleight of hand experiments designed to distract the retail world from the game changing concepts that are to come. Amazon Go is one such idea, one that could drastically change not just food retailing, but every segment of retail.

The premise is simple and the video introduction that Amazon released Monday will surely be among the most watched futuristic retail videos around. But, what should be scarier for retailers is that the future will appear in Seattle early next year in the form of an 1,800-square-foot convenience store called Amazon Go. The deceptively simple premise of the proposition is that you simply scan an Amazon Go phone app at an entry gate, shop for whatever you like and walk out the door. No checkouts, no card transactions, no bagging.

The proposition for the consumer is simple—save time and hassle. The proposition for retailers may be even more compelling—save labor on the biggest component of the store (the front end) as well as improve throughput. In an era in which labor costs are increasing and labor availability is scarce, this becomes an incredibly compelling one-two combination.

http://www.forbes.com/sites/neilstern/2016/12/05/amazon-go-a-game-changer-for-the-retail-industry/?utm_source=TWITTER#7cab25487efb

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Bolded the part for the main bit for you lazy baskets


So...this changes everything. Specially the retail industry. This is essentially what most of us would want. Walk in. Get what you want. Walk out. No queue, no paying, no hassle. Specially considering there will be 0 wait time unlike when you order online.

But this is bad for other stores. Also cuts human jobs.

Thoughts?

The implications of automations might be more negative than positive, sooner than later, we will have fully automated the minimum wage industries, where do the cashiers/bus drivers/etc go? Just an entertaining thought, not against this anyway

Nice idea though, i dont see how it will penetrate the UK market with brands like Tesco/Asda/waitrose etc, they could incorporate a similar system though. Personally, i just order my groceries online without the hassle of going to the store.

Well shit

Unique you might need to start prepping yourself for a new job

ES poses a good question and one we have to confront in the world of automation. I certainly don't have the answer.

To be honest though this does sound awesome. There will certainly be things missed by going full automation though. Still, I expect this to be very successful

This does sound super convenient but it just reminded me of the article RG posted on Silicon Valley's lack of empathy.

Exactly what I first thought about M99

This is only going to anger working class people who work in retail. Because if Amazon post profits after Amazon Go is a success, more and more industries will follow suit.

Automation should be a good thing but the way our society is set up it's seen as a problem that we have to work less.
Solution? Longterm so many of the jobs that are easy to learn will be replaced by machines - I don't really see a way around an unconditional basic income. There are other options obviously but imo this is the least radical change to the current system and thus the one I'd expect to happen.

They likely posed a lot of the same questions that you guys are posing at the beginning of the Industrial Revolution. Time waits for no one and as scary as this is for low-skilled, minimum wage workers, in order to keep up with the times, they must adapt or they will be left behind unfortunately.

Amazon Go just might be the next big game changer.....or it could be a huge bust. I think it's the former.

Honestly looks pretty awesome. Food is just about the only thing you cant order online as well so this is a good growth oppo for Amazon as well.

Yea I am quite impressed with that as well. I agree with Mclewis that it is definitely the next big thing and has at least 70% chance of succeeding.

I can't see a drawback?

This is built for lazy *bleep* like me ffs

Well ultimately it will depend on their selection. I'm willing to wait 5-10 minutes in line for better deals/food.

Don't they have only one store set up right now though?

Seems like it would limit the chance of success without expanded further.

BarrileteCosmico wrote:

Honestly looks pretty awesome. Food is just about the only thing you cant order online as well so this is a good growth oppo for Amazon as well.

Not sure about the US, but in the UK, you can order food (fruits, meat, veggies etc) online

Yeah online shopping for for us in the UK has been pretty much a normal thing for a decade lol.

I do it all the time lol.

Hmm it's not that common here, although in the UK food tasted bland everywhere so perhaps there's no benefit to picking the freshest/best looking stuff yourself?

Say that to my Kebab dealer's face. I dare you.

How will they deal with Black Friday and Cyber Monday?

I'm basically open to buying just about anything online, as long as they can ensure timely delivery to my doorstep. I hate it when they reroute packages to the post office or something and you have to go all the way there to pick it up. What's the point of door delivery if it is not delivered to your door ffs.

El Gunner wrote:

Great Leader Sprucenuce wrote:Yeah online shopping for for us in the UK has been pretty much a normal thing for a decade lol.

I do it all the time lol.

Just doesn't feel right buying groceries online imo.
Only food to be done online should be takeaway food.

Agreed with this. I don't see anything wrong with ordering online but it feels wrong to me. I'll personally probably always go to the store. Just how it is for me

I'm fine with ordering most things online. Including drugs.

The only things I don't feel like ordering online are ergonomic electronics (headsets, mice, keyboard etc) and shoes.

New Amazon service lets delivery people into your home

http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2017-10-25-new-amazon-service-lets-delivery-people-into-your-home


This isn't a bad idea in theory. But this has all the potential to go down wrong.

Haven't even read it yet but I'd like to say RIP in advance to those workers going into 'Murican houses.

Ah USA, from fridges that automatically detects, orders and restocks, to this. Meanwhile, i can't get DHL to deliver to my house without calling them and giving them the exact route from them to me.

I can see so many problems with this on the legal aspect, i suppose there will be a ToS that you must agree before using this shit, so you can't screw them over in court. Property law is pretty convoluted, i guess the consent is when you order the thing. Though whats stopping the guy from confiscating my PS4 controller? That dumbass NSA camera in the video?

I'd love if there were a safeproof way to this, but not gonna give access to my home to some rando

Is this just a USA thing? because i'm uppercutting someone if they walk into my house without my permission.

Can't see how this would work without your permission lol