General Discussion

matt819

(10,749 posts)

55. Mixed feelings

Wed Dec 7, 2016, 11:31 AM

Dec 2016

I generally avoid the self-service checkouts because it almost never goes smoothly. Maybe Amazon can fix this problem its proposed system. Maybe not. Some questions.

Will the robots clean up in Aisle 5?

Will the robots stock all the shelves? How do route sales people fit in? Or, more important, who will stock the beer?

Will the robots deal with the fresh produce?

Who will slice your cold cuts and cheese and bread?

Who will tell me where the fucking Veggie Wash is?

Maybe there will be a reallocation of the workforce, and some positions may be eliminated. This sucks, but that's the way things are going. But there are, according to a google search, 38,000 supermarkets in the US. It's a vast market, and perhaps Amazon stores will appeal to part of that market. But I think it might be a bit early to panic. Remember the Amazon drone delivery?

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Amazon on Monday unveiled the latest plan to automate American workers out of existence [View all] Kilgore Dec 2016 OP

While I am sure people will do this, a lot of people won't. There are enough people who still_one Dec 2016 #1

That isn't how this would work. n/t rzemanfl Dec 2016 #2

Are you talking about amazon fresh? This is a bit different. NWCorona Dec 2016 #3

Unless I don't understand it, looking at a live cam virtually is not the same thing as still_one Dec 2016 #5

Did you watch the video. It is a grocery store. Statistical Dec 2016 #18

No, I went to the NYPost link in the OP which described it as a virtual experience. Obviously, I still_one Dec 2016 #21

Did u watch the op video? lunasun Dec 2016 #33

The bright side is that there will be a bunch of higher skilled workers necessary to Hoyt Dec 2016 #4

Yes, area51 Dec 2016 #23

Roughly 40 percent of Americans have IQs 92 and below AngryAmish Dec 2016 #26

There are a LOT of things we need to find a way to do. HughBeaumont Dec 2016 #27

People will flock to it. You'll be surrounded by people who look just like the ones in the video. NBachers Dec 2016 #6

People arent going to do it because they think it makes them hip Warren DeMontague Dec 2016 #12

Thank you. I hate shopping. I hate having to identify all of my vegetable selections Maru Kitteh Dec 2016 #20

He had an alien baby?? Really!! Kilgore Dec 2016 #25

You've never been to the Apple Store, have you... brooklynite Dec 2016 #7

Message auto-removed Name removed Dec 2016 #11

I have, and it's dreadful. Tommy_Carcetti Dec 2016 #24

I've been in Apple Store and usually interface with a human. Starry Messenger Dec 2016 #65

It's available in every Apple Store for off the shelf items (software, keyboards, sound systems, etc brooklynite Dec 2016 #66

it gives me the creeps eleny Dec 2016 #8

Me, too - I like the cashiers and baggers at my local store csziggy Dec 2016 #14

No Self Check Out at Publix either HockeyMom Dec 2016 #39

Yes! And as soon as lines back up they open new ones csziggy Dec 2016 #51

Can I just go to the grocery store to eat, then? Ilsa Dec 2016 #9

I DEMAND THE RIGHT TO WAIT IN LINE FOR AN HOUR BEHIND ELDERLY COUPON ARGUMENT LADY! Warren DeMontague Dec 2016 #10

That will appeal to the white working class! n/t kcr Dec 2016 #35

I think not wanting wait in interminably long lines cuts across all demographic categories Warren DeMontague Dec 2016 #61

I can't wait . Service were I live is terrible and often quite discriminatory . If I can leave them lunasun Dec 2016 #38

"A futuristic store without any cashiers"... pipi_k Dec 2016 #13

Definitely depends on the store The Genealogist Dec 2016 #45

Adapt or die, right? It will take a while to get going industry wide. NightWatcher Dec 2016 #15

I think the title is misleading metalbot Dec 2016 #16

Well . . . . . "here comes trouble", then . . . . HughBeaumont Dec 2016 #28

And this "innovation" is not going to happen in east middle-of-nowhere Wisconsin alarimer Dec 2016 #44

They can't even answer the glaring problem of how a debt-strapped millennial buys things. HughBeaumont Dec 2016 #47

yep - well said Locrian Dec 2016 #56

This is a sign of things to come. Next up, white-collar office workers. killbotfactory Dec 2016 #17

Yep. No one gives a shit because people stopped caring a long time ago. kcr Dec 2016 #37

More people are starting to come around to this eventuality. HughBeaumont Dec 2016 #42

Automation is a reality of life and it 'could' be a wonderful thing. Statistical Dec 2016 #19

Within ten or 15 years workinclasszero Dec 2016 #22

Well, they won't. They're not getting any money either. HughBeaumont Dec 2016 #29

But how will the robot know the piece of salmon you're returning is really rotten? Vinca Dec 2016 #30

Look up the definition of luddite Kilgore Dec 2016 #32

I don't have to look up the definition. We Luddites read. Vinca Dec 2016 #34

Shit. Saturday night grocery shopping is my main social event. IADEMO2004 Dec 2016 #31

I prefer Kroger's new service get the red out Dec 2016 #36

The don't require it; but they recognize the brick and mortar is still a "thing" brooklynite Dec 2016 #40

Remember the good old days of the Soviet Union? brooklynite Dec 2016 #41

Unbridled Capitalism or Soviet Russia. HughBeaumont Dec 2016 #43

Wow, these responses. LisaM Dec 2016 #46

It's coming SubjectiveLife78 Dec 2016 #54

So there's a disconnect between people who think the Dems are out of touch LisaM Dec 2016 #57

It's not about wanting to give it up metalbot Dec 2016 #62

the reason this would be successful is because Working Class would use it also JI7 Dec 2016 #64

Ugh. LisaM Dec 2016 #70

Well, as my wife says, MineralMan Dec 2016 #48

After reading how they treat people at their warehouses LisaM Dec 2016 #52

Agree, see my post below. suffragette Dec 2016 #60

Don't know how many pipi_k Dec 2016 #67

You will always need people to fight wars. Yavin4 Dec 2016 #49

I wish I could tell people there's a way to stop automation, but there isn't gollygee Dec 2016 #50

But a universal income on top of basic benefits LisaM Dec 2016 #69

What's a "Cashier"? Have not seen one for a while. Nor a gas pump attendant. ksoze Dec 2016 #53

Mixed feelings matt819 Dec 2016 #55

Elon Musk is right, humans will need a guaranteed monthly income. sarcasmo Dec 2016 #58

Dire news for occupations with highest employment in the U.S. suffragette Dec 2016 #59

It makes me think about this horrible job killer RB TexLa Dec 2016 #63

Next week's headline: meadowlander Dec 2016 #68

goddamn mexican and chinese stealing all our jobs. how dare they? La Lioness Priyanka Dec 2016 #71