The grocery industry, like newspapers 20 years ago, could find itself at the edge of a cliff here. I suppose there are good reasons why the big chains didn't undercut this on their own but it won't matter in a year or two.
Consider a grocery story without all the aisles of canned and boxed products but with just a few of each, not 30 or 40. Customers could simply tag each item as they walk, carrying nothing, and find it all waiting at the check stand for them, ready to pay.
You could carry your item, if you just have a few or really enjoy schlepping around with a cart. And you could want to handle your own fruit and veg purchases. But one box of Raisin Bran is identical to the next. Why carry one, just to have someone restock it in an hour?
Would this cost some jobs? Certainly. But are those jobs worth having? Sisphyus is holding on Line 1, if you're interested in discussing that. Big retailers with loyalty programs already know what you buy anyway, not unlike Amazon. They know how often you shop and for what.
But that was the case generations ago, when the dry goods store had to know how much to order based on their understanding of local shoppers. No computers or algorithms, just a knowledge what sold best on what days/weeks/holidays. Butchers and bakers and fishmongers too.
The big retailers could have — maybe still could — create smaller, largely automated shopping experiences and give Amazon a challenge. They have brand loyalty and location on their side. But what to do with the workers who will be forced out of their repetitive jobs?
The bottomline is that this is likely to happen anyway. Shelf stocking will become automated or eliminated and with it those jobs, with or without Amazon Go. It's time for policymakers and unions (some of those jobs are organized) to think on that.
