A****zon Go

[petermisc]

The big on-line retailer A**zon is apparently opening its first UK Go store.
External Link/Members Only

The system monitors you by cameras and sensors as you go around the store, so there is no need for you to scan items as you go, or at a checkout.  You just put the items in your own bag, and walk out the shop.  Sometime later you will get billed for the items you have bought.  Or rather, the items it thinks you have taken.  I understand it can cope with you picking up an item, and then putting it back.  Not quite so sure it can cope with you putting something in your bag, continuing your shopping, then putting it back some time later because you have found something else.

With conventional shopping, I usually do a quick scan of my till receipt before I leave, particularly if the total doesn't seem right.  For example, on a number of occasions I have found I have been billed for two of an item when I have only bought one, because it has been double-scanned.  And not infrequently charged full price for something that has been marked down. 

With Go, you inherently only get the bill after you have left the store.  As far as I can see, there is nothing on their help pages to say what will happen if, when you get home, you find that you have been billed for the wrong item or wrong amount.  If they believe the customer, then they will surely leave themselves wide open to false claims, so I suspect that they will tend to believe their tech over you.

[kuck]

External Link/Members Only

[David1970]

It’s up to each individual if they want to shop there, if you don’t like the idea of this shop or don’t trust them then simply don’t shop there. I can’t see a company the size of A***zon wanting to cheat you out of the the price of an apple, but some people may think they will. They won’t have any more information on the shopper than your standard supermarket, but some people may feel big brother is watching. There are always Luddites who see progress as a danger, but they tend to be a small fringe group
I suppose it comes down to individual choice, if it’s cheap and convenient then it will succeed I would think.

[Moby Dick]

Disguise yourself by wearing a mask 

[Stretfordender]

Having worked for them a few years ago, the company motto is basically the customer is always right even when they're wrong. This is a huge part of what has made them so successful. So if you got home and realised you had been overcharged then I'm certain 9 times out of 10 you would get a refund with no questions asked.

[RogerBoner]

Why is the word Amazon banned?

[Hobbit]

Why is the word Axxxxxx banned?

Because it's a naughty word. 

[daviemac]

Why is the word Axxxxxx banned?

Because a search for it would direct people to this site and the threads it was mentioned on.

[chrishornx]

It’s up to each individual if they want to shop there, if you don’t like the idea of this shop or don’t trust them then simply don’t shop there. I can’t see a company the size of A***zon wanting to cheat you out of the the price of an apple, but some people may think they will. They won’t have any more information on the shopper than your standard supermarket, but some people may feel big brother is watching. There are always Luddites who see progress as a danger, but they tend to be a small fringe group
I suppose it comes down to individual choice, if it’s cheap and convenient then it will succeed I would think.

agree with most of that and wish them well but surely they will/could have a little bit more than the standard supermarket where you can go incognito' and pay cash

and the one thing I can't get to grips with is access to the store -- what if you just walk in and take some bread - I presume they have that covered but not sure how

[chrishornx]

Because a search for it would direct people to this site and the threads it was mentioned on.

sounds reasonable but doesn't it apply to other brands ?

[daviemac]

sounds reasonable but doesn't it apply to other brands ?

What other brands were used to donate to this site.     They might take a dim view of their vouchers being used like that.

[chrishornx]

What other brands were used to donate to this site.     They might take a dim view of their vouchers being used like that.

no mention was made of vouchers it simply said that 'a search for the name would direct people to this site'

If it is all relevant to vouchers then that is different

[daviemac]

no mention was made of vouchers it simply said that 'a search for the name would direct people to this site'

If it is all relevant to vouchers then that is different

I'll remember in future that you need everything fully explained in words of one syllable so you understand. 

There's a 9 page thread here full of references to how to donate complete with reminders not to use the full name.  https://www.ukpunting.com/index.php?topic=289126.0

[chrishornx]

I'll remember in future that you need everything fully explained in words of one syllable so you understand. 

There's a 9 page thread here full of references to how to donate complete with reminders not to use the full name.  https://www.ukpunting.com/index.php?topic=289126.0

thanks that would be helpful not everyone is as mighty and well informed as you

and when you next have a simple misunderstanding maybe someone can reciprocate

[daviemac]

thanks that would be helpful not everyone is as mighty and well informed as you

and when you next have a simple misunderstanding maybe someone can reciprocate

It's one thing not knowing that searching a name would bring you to this site, it's another not knowing vouchers have been mentioned 100s of times on here over several different threads.

[chrishornx]

It's one thing not knowing that searching a name would bring you to this site, it's another not knowing vouchers have been mentioned 100s of times on here over several different threads.

so it is a good job we have you to explain

[daviemac]

so it is a good job we have you to explain

It seems so.

[Blackpool Rock]

Seeing as this new venture is physically on the high street i'm assuming that they will actually pay their fair share of tax on it or will all purchases miraculously be claimed to have been made in some off shore tax haven  

[Fac51]

More CCTV.....bollox to A*****....!! 

[RedKettle]

With conventional shopping, I usually do a quick scan of my till receipt before I leave, particularly if the total doesn't seem right.  For example, on a number of occasions I have found I have been billed for two of an item when I have only bought one, because it has been double-scanned.  And not infrequently charged full price for something that has been marked down. 

With Go, you inherently only get the bill after you have left the store.  As far as I can see, there is nothing on their help pages to say what will happen if, when you get home, you find that you have been billed for the wrong item or wrong amount.  If they believe the customer, then they will surely leave themselves wide open to false claims, so I suspect that they will tend to believe their tech over you.

I think you get the bill literally as you walk out the door so you can pause to check it.

Given that every cm of the store is covered by cameras and sensors they could confirm any claim you made very easily, I suspect they would just give you the benefit of the doubt unless they had a suspicion about you.

[David1970]

More CCTV.....bollox to A*****....!! 

No one is forcing you to enter the store, it’s your choice. All supermarkets and most small stores have CCTV so why pick on Am**zon?

[Adoniron]

If you're bothered about your privacy don't go in. Use an ordinary supermarket and queue at the checkout with everyone else.

[petermisc]

It’s up to each individual if they want to shop there, if you don’t like the idea of this shop or don’t trust them then simply don’t shop there. I can’t see a company the size of A***zon wanting to cheat you out of the the price of an apple, but some people may think they will. They won’t have any more information on the shopper than your standard supermarket, but some people may feel big brother is watching. There are always Luddites who see progress as a danger, but they tend to be a small fringe group
I suppose it comes down to individual choice, if it’s cheap and convenient then it will succeed I would think.

I am not saying that they are wanting to cheat people.  But it is inevitable that mistakes will occur, and I find it worrying that nowhere do they say anything about how they deal with them.   

While searching, I found some analysis that claimed their American stores were getting about 4 wrong bills a day.  Presumably that is the number that shoppers have detected to be wrong.  As most people don't check their receipts, it could be much higher.

It also noted that their stores are tiny compared to most supermarkets, and there is likely to be big issues as they scale up, with a wider range of items that look and weigh the same, loose goods and items with inconsistent weights.  But then I suppose you start small, and build up, sorting the problems as you go.

[petermisc]

and the one thing I can't get to grips with is access to the store -- what if you just walk in and take some bread - I presume they have that covered but not sure how

According to the reports I saw, to get into the store, you have to go through a turnstile that logs your A+++zon app details.  After that, your every move is monitored, and the app billed when you leave the store.

[smiths]

The big on-line retailer A**zon is apparently opening its first UK Go store.
External Link/Members Only

The system monitors you by cameras and sensors as you go around the store, so there is no need for you to scan items as you go, or at a checkout.  You just put the items in your own bag, and walk out the shop.  Sometime later you will get billed for the items you have bought.  Or rather, the items it thinks you have taken.  I understand it can cope with you picking up an item, and then putting it back.  Not quite so sure it can cope with you putting something in your bag, continuing your shopping, then putting it back some time later because you have found something else.

With conventional shopping, I usually do a quick scan of my till receipt before I leave, particularly if the total doesn't seem right.  For example, on a number of occasions I have found I have been billed for two of an item when I have only bought one, because it has been double-scanned.  And not infrequently charged full price for something that has been marked down. 

With Go, you inherently only get the bill after you have left the store.  As far as I can see, there is nothing on their help pages to say what will happen if, when you get home, you find that you have been billed for the wrong item or wrong amount.  If they believe the customer, then they will surely leave themselves wide open to false claims, so I suspect that they will tend to believe their tech over you.

At present to buy certain items, booze, some painkillers a member of staff has to approve the fact you are an adult by swiping the self service checkout with their access card. How is this going to work in this store, not sell such items. Recognise you are an adult by looking at you which is what the shop staff do at present, they never ask me to prove my age as they can see I am well over 18.

For me the sometime later to get billed process isn't for me, I want to know what I was charged by looking at the receipt while still in the shop and sorting any problems out their and then. And on occasion self checkouts have made errors, for example charging me twice for 1 item and then a human being has had to refund me the extra I was charged by going to a till to give me cash owed.

[Jimmyredcab]

Not for me thanks, sometimes new technology goes too far.     

[king tarzan]

Not for me thanks, sometimes new technology goes too far.     

Old skool 🐅👊👊👊🥊🥊🥊

[Jimmyredcab]

Old skool 🐅👊👊👊🥊🥊🥊

Sadly not everything new is better for the consumer.   

[RedKettle]

Sadly not everything new is better for the consumer.   

How do you know if you refuse to try it?

[Jimmyredcab]

How do you know if you refuse to try it?

Oh Dear, here we go again. 

Some things are forced on us, we have no choice.

I remember when you could phone a company with a query and speak to a real person, now you have to speak to a robot for five minutes first. 

[David1970]

Oh Dear, here we go again. 

Some things are forced on us, we have no choice.

I remember when you could phone a company with a query and speak to a real person, now you have to speak to a robot for five minutes first. 

Hidden Image/Members Only

[myothernameis]

According to the reports I saw, to get into the store, you have to go through a turnstile that logs your A+++zon app details.  After that, your every move is monitored, and the app billed when you leave the store.

At some time the scammers are going to work out a way to make an fraudulent account, and then enter the store and shop like there no tomorrow

[Blackpool Rock]

At some time the scammers are going to work out a way to make an fraudulent account, and then enter the store and shop like there no tomorrow

Quite possibly but Am**** would foot the bill for that so it's up to them to guard against it, another consideration is that with the increase to £45 for contactless payment someone can use a found or stolen card and rack up a large bill by going from shop to shop 

[Blackpool Rock]

Oh Dear, here we go again. 

Some things are forced on us, we have no choice.

I remember when you could phone a company with a query and speak to a real person, now you have to speak to a robot for five minutes first. 

So whose forcing you to shop there then   

[Blackpool Rock]

How do you know if you refuse to try it?

Exactly, I loved the idea of self scan but didn't get on with it when I tried it, so tried a few more times and concluded it was quicker (for me) to use a manned checkout so that's what I do however I gave it a fair go

[myothernameis]

Quite possibly but Am**** would foot the bill for that so it's up to them to guard against it, another consideration is that with the increase to £45 for contactless payment someone can use a found or stolen card and rack up a large bill by going from shop to shop

Contactless limit now £100, once the shops update there software

[Pete123]

Before long you'll have to download an app to buy anything,
Axxxx aren't that bothered about selling food
Its all the information being gathered on your purchases that has the real value

[RedKettle]

Oh Dear, here we go again. 

Some things are forced on us, we have no choice.

I remember when you could phone a company with a query and speak to a real person, now you have to speak to a robot for five minutes first. 

I was not having a go at you, I was trying to make a serious point. One of my frequent rants is about people over engineering things and making complex solutions to problems that actually do not really exist. I guess the old if it ain’t broke do not fix it.

However I have found that it is good to have an open mind on technology and I do try to use it, or at least understand it. Some things that I thought were nonsense I now regularly use and somethings I still think are stupid.

Often technology is good but people use it badly or without imagination, and yes I agree with you on call handling!

I will post lockdown try the new shop as I am curious about it. Not saying it is good or bad at the moment but I will be open minded.

[Pete123]

I don't like contact less
It says it speeds up things
In reality it doesn't it only takes a couple of seconds to put your number in...
And is more secure

[RedKettle]

Exactly, I loved the idea of self scan but didn't get on with it when I tried it, so tried a few more times and concluded it was quicker (for me) to use a manned checkout so that's what I do however I gave it a fair go

I did exactly the same. However recently I used it again and found that the technology seemed to have improved and it was a much better experience.  On balance I still prefer a real person but when in a grumpy old man mood I use self scan.

[Pete123]

All this new technology is ok until it goes wrong
I had to ring the bank to resolve a minor problem
It took over 3 days to sort out and about 4 hours on the phone
Not so long ago it could be sorted out in a few minutes in a high street branch

[petermisc]

I did exactly the same. However recently I used it again and found that the technology seemed to have improved and it was a much better experience.  On balance I still prefer a real person but when in a grumpy old man mood I use self scan.

Agreed.  The technology has come on leaps and bounds.  When they first came in, almost one in two goes involved getting an assistant over to resolve an issue.  Nowadays it all goes smoothly, rarely needing manual intervention.

Mind you, I still object to technology that requires you to listen to what it says, but fails to listen to what you say.  Any human behaving like that would be called rude.

[petermisc]

All this new technology is ok until it goes wrong
I had to ring the bank to resolve a minor problem
It took over 3 days to sort out and about 4 hours on the phone
Not so long ago it could be sorted out in a few minutes in a high street branch

The last time I went into my bank branch to try and resolve an issue, they pointed me at a phone on the wall which I would have to use to speak to "head office".  It put me through to the self-same call-centre I would have got by phoning from home.  No wonder no-one uses bank branches any more.

[David1970]

Agreed.  The technology has come on leaps and bounds.  When they first came in, almost one in two goes involved getting an assistant over to resolve an issue.  Nowadays it all goes smoothly, rarely needing manual intervention.

Mind you, I still object to technology that requires you to listen to what it says, but fails to listen to what you say.  Any human behaving like that would be called rude.

I use the self service all the time, it’s faster because I don’t have to stand behind people with their trolleys overflowing and the elderly who take ages.

[daviemac]

I use the self service all the time, it’s faster because I don’t have to stand behind people with their trolleys overflowing and the elderly who take ages.

I use self scan all the time and by some miracle I can even manage to do it with the AP on my phone. Not bad eh? seeing how late in life all this new fangled interweb thing became available.   

[Jimmyredcab]

Contactless limit now £100, once the shops update there software

That is scary.   

I recently lost a card, first time I have ever done that, I was panicking to go online and cancel it. 

[Yankee21]

That is scary.   

I recently lost a card, first time I have ever done that, I was panicking to go online and cancel it.

No need to panic.
if you can prove that monies were used in fraudulent manner, bank should cover it.

[Adoniron]

The last time I went into my bank branch to try and resolve an issue, they pointed me at a phone on the wall which I would have to use to speak to "head office".  It put me through to the self-same call-centre I would have got by phoning from home.  No wonder no-one uses bank branches any more.

Its a self fulfilling prophecy. The banks encourage people to use online or phone services to save themselves money and then when people do, they use it as an excuse to close branches saying there is no demand for them . Frankly if the banks are going to close most of their branches you may as well move to a fully online bank like Starling, Monzo or Revolut.

[David1970]

Its a self fulfilling prophecy. The banks encourage people to use online or phone services to save themselves money and then when people do, they use it as an excuse to close branches saying there is no demand for them . Frankly if the banks are going to close most of their branches you may as well move to a fully online bank like Starling, Monzo or Revolut.

That makes financial sense for the banks, cut back costs of staff and High Street rents and rates, move it all on line.

I don’t think I have been is a bank branch for 4 or 5 years, do everything on line same as my utilities.

[king tarzan]

That makes financial sense for the banks, cut back costs of staff and High Street rents and rates, move it all on line.

I don’t think I have been is a bank branch for 4 or 5 years, do everything on line same as my utilities.

My neighbour used to wank over online banking as to how super great it was untill he got swindled out of £5k..
Sure changed his time then..
My hairy ass is it 100% foul proof as they lead us to believe