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Amazon Adds 'Instant Pickup Points' In US Brick-And-Mortar Push (reuters.com)

Posted by BeauHD on from the time-is-money dept.

An anonymous reader quotes a report from Reuters: Amazon is rolling out U.S. pickup points where shoppers can retrieve items immediately after ordering them, shortening delivery times from hours to minutes in its latest move into brick-and-mortar retail. The world's largest online retailer has launched 'Instant Pickup' points around five college campuses, such as the University of California at Berkeley, it said on Tuesday. Amazon has plans to add the program to more sites by the end of the year. Shoppers on Amazon's mobile app can select from several hundred fast-selling items at each location, from snacks and drinks to phone chargers. Amazon employees in a back room then load orders into lockers within two minutes, and customers receive bar codes to access them.

3 of 59 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Conclusion: by Two99Point80 · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Amazon just recreated the Automat! Anyone else remember them from New York City?

  2. An efficient convenience store - wow! by uncqual · · Score: 4, Insightful

    So, a convenience store?

    However, perhaps it should be cheaper to run (so, therefore, prices should be lower???).

    Some upsides:

    1. No customer shoplifting
    2. Less space devoted to stock (the items can be high and low and stacked front/back on the spartan shelves and not arranged for "presentation")
    3. Less lossage due to products not getting shopworn or damaged by customers
    4. No cash to handle or be robbed of (I assume it's all credit/debit card based)
    5. Less product handling -> reduced staff costs
    6. No need to train transient employees in "customer relations" (customers will presumably call an 800 number or initiate a chat if they have a problem?)
    7. Easier to automate more completely
    8. No interaction with a human

    Some downsides::

    1. Less opportunity for "impulse buys" at point of purchase (Slim Jim alert!)
    2. No interaction with a human
    --
    Why is there an "insightful" mod and why isn't it "-1"? If I wanted insight, I wouldn't be reading /.
    1. Re:An efficient convenience store - wow! by Guillermito · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Sorry to be pedantic but you just made a mistake and listed "No interaction with a human" under "downsides"