Self Checkout is here to stay…and they are upping their game!
This is sort of Part 2 of my Amazing Tech Experiences of the last 90 days. If you missed the WAYMO Driverless Vehicle I road in, click here for that one:
https://www.wealthnavigationadvisors.com/blog/driverless-car-experience-wow
This took place November 17th in Seattle, at Climate Pledge Arena. Although there were several “Tech experiences” inside the Seattle Kraken’s facility, we are going to focus on my trip to a food and beverage kiosk/store. Amazon built or runs this pocket store within the arena. This is what happens:
I approach the turnstile and the employee says, “Please swipe your credit card, and Driver License if you intend to grab alcohol, then proceed to grab whatever you want.”
Being who I am I asked her “Where do I check out?” And when she said it’s all automated I continued to press her for details. Being busy with other confused and skeptical shoppers, she pointed at the ceiling full of cameras and ray beams and said, “They just know.” (If she wasn’t so busy I would have leaned in, put my detective face on and whispered, “Who’s THEY?”)
By now, if you are my age, you should hear the Twilight Zone song in your head, and expect Rod Serling to greet you behind one of the aisle displays.
None the less, we proceeded through the turnstile, Marlyn and I, and began our 3 minute shopping episode. A few bottles of water, a beer, a wine (both in cans) and bag of pretzels later we approached the separate exit turnstiles. Where the screen rolled up all five items and asked “John, do you need a paper receipt?” With all the recycling and environmental focus of the arena, and waterless plants from dew collection, and skylights and solar panels, I felt extremely guilty, but I took the printed paper receipt anyway. (Recycled it after I paid the credit card of course.) I looked back after passing through the checkout turnstile, only old people like me took paper receipts. I suspect all those 20 and 30 year olds don’t really review their credit card statements anyway. But we’ll shelve that topic for a generational email down the road.
Here’s the clincher. The next morning, I got an email asking if I enjoyed XYZ IPA at the Arena. Okay how did “THEY” know the IPA was for me and the Sauvignon Blanc wasn’t? Hmmm. But all I really want to know, is, who on earth is “They” and when can we meet for a coffee? I have questions!
Thanks for your time today, feel free to share this with a friend, and stay tuned for part 3 of the crazy tech thing, which is unfortunately a much DARKER and quite scary experience we had. Luckily, we were prepared!
jjp