I'm not sure the traditional self-checkout kiosks logistically fit into this model, though. In a "normal" store, everyone needs to pay somehow, and security (in person or in LP) can monitor/flag/stop people who try to leave without paying.
In Go stores, you authenticate as you enter the store through a turnstile, which ensures that even if you were to bolt for the door you'd still pay for what you have and there's no reason for anyone to stop you (besides potentially for suspicious activity).
However, once you start letting unauthenticated people into the store, that entire system flies out the window and you now need to once again monitor who needs to manually pay and whether they actually have or not as they're leaving. You need to worry about when they pick up a can of soup and put it in their pocket, but not worry about it for most other customers.
On top of that, accepting cash (even to a machine) requires additional hardware installed (which comes with its own challenges like how easy it is to integrate into whatever Amazon's using on their backend for inventory tracking, etc) as well as manpower (to track/refill drawers, handle issues if the machine has problems, etc). I imagine there could also be a potential need for more security in a store that contains registers full of cash and goods versus a store full of just goods. Lots of stores around here (in KC) are cashless specifically for the safety argument.
Just seems like a lot of extra work that Amazon wouldn't intentionally commit to for a store built on automating employees away.
In Go stores, you authenticate as you enter the store through a turnstile, which ensures that even if you were to bolt for the door you'd still pay for what you have and there's no reason for anyone to stop you (besides potentially for suspicious activity).
However, once you start letting unauthenticated people into the store, that entire system flies out the window and you now need to once again monitor who needs to manually pay and whether they actually have or not as they're leaving. You need to worry about when they pick up a can of soup and put it in their pocket, but not worry about it for most other customers.
On top of that, accepting cash (even to a machine) requires additional hardware installed (which comes with its own challenges like how easy it is to integrate into whatever Amazon's using on their backend for inventory tracking, etc) as well as manpower (to track/refill drawers, handle issues if the machine has problems, etc). I imagine there could also be a potential need for more security in a store that contains registers full of cash and goods versus a store full of just goods. Lots of stores around here (in KC) are cashless specifically for the safety argument.
Just seems like a lot of extra work that Amazon wouldn't intentionally commit to for a store built on automating employees away.