Amazon is restructuring its "Just Walk Out' program as it remodels the popular supermarket, according to a report
The company first announced, according to the New York Post, a cashier-less system in 2018 when it debuted the first 10,400-square-foot "Amazon Go Grocery" store near its Seattle headquarters.
The concept ushered in a new approach to grocery shopping.
Amazon Prime members would scan their member QR code, gather their chosen items, and seamlessly exit the store with a fully stocked cart, all without the hassle of traditional checkout or credit card swiping.
Users would later be notified via their Amazon account of the total amount spent.
Amazon is also eliminating its tech option, according to Bloomberg, as it refreshes existing Fresh grocery stores.
It also said it does not intend to feature the program in new locations that are set to open later this year; however, the "Just Walk Out" technology will still be offered in Amazon Go stores.
Tony Hoggett, Amazon's senior vice president of worldwide grocery stores and a three-decade veteran of British retail giant Tesco, told The Information that "Just Walk Out" makes sense in smaller shops where customers are purchasing a few items but isn't ideal for larger grocery stores like Fresh.
Budget-conscious shoppers have voiced concerns about the program's practice of sending receipts via email, sometimes hours after leaving the store. They want to see what they're spending in real time.
Amazon will now rely more on its Dash Cart feature, where shoppers scan items as they go using a scanner on their shopping cart.
The smart shopping carts still allow customers to skip the checkout line, including other benefits like viewing the receipt while shopping, Amazon spokesperson Carly Golden told The Post.
"We've invested a lot of time redesigning a number of our Amazon Fresh stores over the last year, offering a better overall shopping experience with more value, convenience, and selection-and so far we've seen positive results, with higher customer shopping satisfaction scores and increased purchasing," Golden added.
