Amazon unveils new cashier-less store.

Connor James Ibbetson, Editor-at-large
@connoribbetson

Making the headlines once again, retail giant Amazon has unveiled a new cashier-less store.

There are already three such stores, all located in Amazon’s hometown of Seattle, opening from 2016 and the newest in 2018.

The new branch of Amazon Go is set to open in Chicago, at 113 S Franklin St.

The stores are not full-blown supermarkets, and are more like convenience stores and probably closer in size to your local Tesco Metro or Sainsbury’s Local.

The Amazon Go stores stock ready made lunches and snacks, drinks as well as basic grocery items.

No more ‘please place item in the bagging area’

The stores are some of the most advanced in the world. Customers enter using the special Amazon Go App, then a system of cameras and sensors within the store track what each customer picks up, and totals their bill.

The customer can then simply leave, and the amount due is charged to their Amazon account. Meaning no lines, no waiting for people to count out change, and no fuss.

In case you were wondering, people do work there, Amazon clarifies on its website:

“Yes. Our great team of associates works in both the kitchen and the store to prep ingredients, make our ready-to-eat food, stock shelves, and help customers. (Need a product recommendation? Ask an associate!)”

Amazon has also announced plans to expand Amazon Go stores to San Francisco and New York. However it might be some time before we see one here the UK.