Stopping By Amazon Go NYC

Amazon Go has seven locations around Manhattan and they are all convenience stores.  I visited the 42nd street location to better familiarize myself with the "GO" experience.  The location was clean and there weren't many people inside except for a worker or two.  There were a variety of sandwiches, snacks, soups, salads, drinks and etc.  Being a born New Yorker, I can give my honest opinion on what I think of this "convenience store." It's definitely not like your traditional bodega or corner store which tend to be stocked with more than just food.  Bodegas or convenience stores have everything from skincare to home essentials to pet food.   Amazon Go is a very scaled down bodega with high technology that allows for a seamless, quick meal shopping experience. That is--if cold cuts are your thing!  And yes, I said quick meal, meaning grab a bahn mi sandwich and make a dash back to the office or wherever you're headed to, as I did not see any seating inside the store.   I also didn't notice any extraordinary offerings of organic and natural food brands typical of the ones you'd see in a Whole Foods.

What I love about Amazon Go 

The main purpose of Amazon Go stores is to provide a cash and cardless shopping experience for customers who are on the go.  The most petulant aspect of shopping for many is having to wait in lines. Amazon Go offers a very innovative solution by getting rid of the line experience and allowing users to grab items they want and pay for it at the same time with no interactions.  It gives shopping for the independent and this is what I love most about Amazon Go! I think that they will continue to lead technological advances when it comes to cashless shopping.  However, right now, it's very restrictive to those who do like paying with their cash or cards or those who may not have their phones with them as payment happens via sensors and in app.  Basically, these types of customers have no choice but to exit the store, the minute they walk in.  Maybe Amazon should incorporate a dual shopping experience that allows for traditional shopping, such as a dedicated aisle for regular checkout or self checkout.  I mean--you're clearly losing money from these customers--I'm just saying.  So while you have the vision for the future in motion, you could also slowly wean these traditional shopping customer types into shoppers of the future because some do need time to make adjustments.

What I What to See from Amazon Go

I want to see a full fledged Amazon Go Grocery store in lower New York whether that be in Manhattan, the Bronx, Brooklyn or even Westchester. I think it's time Amazon because the Amazon Go convenience stores are very limited and don't have everything that the average person walking into a bodega or grocery store would need.  Amazon Grocery has recently opened up in Ealing, London and there is only one other location in Seattle.  Amazon does own Whole Foods and they also have a grocery delivery service called Amazon Fresh so maybe that's a reason they haven't opened up more Amazon Go Grocery stores.  I believe New Yorkers who are Amazon shoppers would be quite happy to see an Amazon Go Grocery store as prices on Amazon really can't be beat!