One year after announcing its effort to change grocery shopping as we know it [1], Amazon finally opened its first brick-and-mortar convenience store in Seattle on Jan. 22, and all we have to say is, "Wow." Dubbed Amazon Go, the high-tech grocery store has zero cashiers, registers, or lines, which sounds pretty heavenly, if we do say so ourselves.
So how the heck does it work? Shoppers must simply scan the corresponding Amazon Go app to enter the retail establishment. Amazon detects and records items every time a customer picks something up or puts it down, and once shoppers walk out of the store, their Amazon account is charged — no cash register or annoyingly long lines necessary. It basically works the same way as getting charged by Uber or Lyft once your ride is complete.
On the surface, Amazon Go certainly sounds like the epitome of convenience, but some internet users aren't quite ready to hop on the bandwagon just yet. Ever since the store opened to the public, many people have candidly voiced their concerns about the business model, with most commenting on how the whole process is eerily reminiscent of shoplifting. Ahead, see what the brand-new store looks like in real life, followed by a few (entertainingly) skeptical reactions to its opening.
Shoppers Must Use the Amazon Go App to Enter the Store
Scanning the App Automatically Grants You Entry
The Aisles Are Packed With Tasty Groceries
There's an Aisle With Meal Kits — and LaCroix!
There's Also a Section With Premade Sandwiches — Lunch Break, Anyone?
The Aisles Are Kind of Giving Us Whole Foods Vibes
Shoppers Put Their Items in Orange, Reusable Amazon Go Bags
