Amazon Halts All New Amazon Fresh Just Walk Out Stores

[ClownLoach]

Apparently Schaumburg, IL has been fully remodeled to the "new" Amazon Fresh. I only found one interior picture so far that would be hard to recognize as it was the pickup counter; instead of being orange it was now white with very "target like" simple clean signage. Outside banner picture said "new checkout lanes, self checkout stands, over 3000 new items and a Krispy Kreme Doughnuts shop and coffee bar". Apparently it was a dash cart store, not a just walk out location. Looking for more pictures...

[storewanderer]

There was nothing wrong with the staffed checkout lanes, the addition of self checkout is probably a plus, adding Krispy Kreme is a total non-event, and a coffee bar is basically like any other store. So it sounds like a whole lot of nothing. Also I question why they aren't trying this in SoCal.

This new format sounds like when Fresh & Easy tried to do a re-format on a few stores that made a few self checkouts into staffed checkouts, installed a coffee kiosk thing that was totally self serve, and tried to re-do some presentation to look more like a normal store like square produce tables. They also added a lot of staffing to the store I went to that had the remodel done (Lincoln).

[BillyGr]

There was nothing wrong with the staffed checkout lanes, the addition of self-checkout is probably a plus, adding Krispy Kreme is a total non-event, and a coffee bar is basically like any other store. So it sounds like a whole lot of nothing. Also I question why they aren't trying this in SoCal.

The Krispy Kreme may be a bigger thing, if this is an area that doesn't already have the brand available (or where they were but then closed up). Not so much if it is just another place to get them.

[veteran+]

I am hearing Amazon Fresh radio commercials all the time now.

[VibeGuy]

N=1, but the Federal Way, WA store has shuttered the service seafood and meat counter. Interestingly a lot of the beef SKUs were coming from Pat LaFrieda - I got some amazing dry-aged NY strips off them.

This Fresh has turned into GrocOut-style treasure hunt. They seem to be trying to adjust center store mix, but algorithmic markdowns provide comic relief - 1L bottles of safflower oil with 12+ month Sell-By going for $1.19. C&H Sugar $0,49 in the one-pound box. Grade A Maple Syrup, $2.19/pt. What’s weird is they end up restocking these items and returning them to normal retail price - presumably because they see the sales boost from dropping them to nothing.

Receipt accuracy and speed has improved substantially, but on average there’s more customers at an Amazon Go C-store than this Fresh location.

[storewanderer]

I guess the Krispy Kreme in the Schamburg Amazon Fresh is an actual franchise Krispy Kreme concession. As in it is staffed, has a service counter, serves drinks, etc. It uses a KK cash register, takes orders via KK app/website, etc. So I wonder if this is even operated by Amazon or just some KK franchise operator leasing space inside the store?

[ClownLoach]

Strangely enough pictures are now easy to find of the relaunched Chicago stores. Looks like they dressed up the bare bones interior a bit, but the new Dash Cart is a big surprise. Huge step backwards. Now the product has to be scanned before placed in the cart, and the scanner appears to be under the handle of the cart. So you have to wave each product below the handle, make sure it registers on the tablet on top of the handle, then throw it into the cart. This looks like such an unnatural motion that they completely ruined the entire Dash Cart concept from the first version. Can Amazon get anything right with these stores? It sure doesn't look like it.

[storewanderer]

Strangely enough pictures are now easy to find of the relaunched Chicago stores. Looks like they dressed up the bare bones interior a bit, but the new Dash Cart is a big surprise. Huge step backwards. Now the product has to be scanned before placed in the cart, and the scanner appears to be under the handle of the cart. So you have to wave each product below the handle, make sure it registers on the tablet on top of the handle, then throw it into the cart. This looks like such an unnatural motion that they completely ruined the entire Dash Cart concept from the first version. Can Amazon get anything right with these stores? It sure doesn't look like it.

What is stupid about that is the way it was set up before the cameras could observe everything. Having items scanned go down under the cart handle is near people's pockets, purses, reusable bag hanging down, whatever. Also the cart handle blocks full view of the ceiling security cameras of the items going into the cart between cart and shelf.

At least they sell Krispy Kreme below market - just 1.69 each original glazed.

[ClownLoach]

Strangely enough pictures are now easy to find of the relaunched Chicago stores. Looks like they dressed up the bare bones interior a bit, but the new Dash Cart is a big surprise. Huge step backwards. Now the product has to be scanned before placed in the cart, and the scanner appears to be under the handle of the cart. So you have to wave each product below the handle, make sure it registers on the tablet on top of the handle, then throw it into the cart. This looks like such an unnatural motion that they completely ruined the entire Dash Cart concept from the first version. Can Amazon get anything right with these stores? It sure doesn't look like it.

What is stupid about that is the way it was set up before the cameras could observe everything. Having items scanned go down under the cart handle is near people's pockets, purses, reusable bag hanging down, whatever. Also the cart handle blocks full view of the ceiling security cameras of the items going into the cart between cart and shelf.

At least they sell Krispy Kreme below market - just 1.69 each original glazed.

Trucked in Krispy Kreme at $1.69 is overpriced by about $1.69. They're not installing hot doughnut machines in these stores. If they're not hot and fresh they're really not very good.

[buckguy]

Strangely enough pictures are now easy to find of the relaunched Chicago stores. Looks like they dressed up the bare bones interior a bit, but the new Dash Cart is a big surprise. Huge step backwards. Now the product has to be scanned before placed in the cart, and the scanner appears to be under the handle of the cart. So you have to wave each product below the handle, make sure it registers on the tablet on top of the handle, then throw it into the cart. This looks like such an unnatural motion that they completely ruined the entire Dash Cart concept from the first version. Can Amazon get anything right with these stores? It sure doesn't look like it.

What is stupid about that is the way it was set up before the cameras could observe everything. Having items scanned go down under the cart handle is near people's pockets, purses, reusable bag hanging down, whatever. Also the cart handle blocks full view of the ceiling security cameras of the items going into the cart between cart and shelf.

At least they sell Krispy Kreme below market - just 1.69 each original glazed.

They're not that great hot, either. Have been for ages---I remember their pre-"big thing" stores in the Southeast.
Trucked in Krispy Kreme at $1.69 is overpriced by about $1.69. They're not installing hot doughnut machines in these stores. If they're not hot and fresh they're really not very good.