A French Grocery Chain Is Trolling Amazon Go(fastcocreate.com)
fastcocreate.com
A French Grocery Chain Is Trolling Amazon Go
https://www.fastcocreate.com/3066794/quick-hit/this-french-grocery-chain-is-totally-trolling-amazon-go
124 comments
This actually looks more useful to me than Amazon's version.
I agree, but it also seems trivial for Amazon to integrate this into their Amazon Fresh service which is grocery delivery to your house.
When you finish walking around shopping you put your basket/ cart into a waiting slot and some Fresh delivery person grabs it and loads it into their truck. They already have your payment and shipping information too.
When you finish walking around shopping you put your basket/ cart into a waiting slot and some Fresh delivery person grabs it and loads it into their truck. They already have your payment and shipping information too.
Good point. Well, they automated the checkout process (through some "machine learning" "computer vision" black magic that I still don't understand). They might as well have it so that the items in the waiting slot get picked up by a drone that gets it to your place before you even get there.
As someone who doesn't own a car and loathes online shopping (for a multitude of reasons) this would be amazing for me!.
Have you checked whether one of your local markets will deliver your order after you checkout? It's quite common in NYC and I know at least one of the local Whole Foods locations in the Boston area does (in addition to the usual Instacart online option).
How does the checkout part work? Obviously you can't just leave your trolley at the checkout - they need your address and need to bill you. Is there a membership card you quickly scan or something like that?
Two ways:
1. You pay and leave your delivery informations.
2. You're a regular customer and have an membership account for that.
I can see a lot of people living outside the city using this service because Monoprix is near their workplace. They go after work, ask for delivery, go back home by train, and then are delivered the day after for instance.
I can see a lot of people living outside the city using this service because Monoprix is near their workplace. They go after work, ask for delivery, go back home by train, and then are delivered the day after for instance.
You sign up for free. Then you can just leave your trolley (along with your phone number so they find you in their DB) and go home and will pay upon delivery. I used this for some time and it was indeed very convenient
Even Costco requires you to have a membership. I'd imagine you have to sign up. Just like on Amazon.com
How do you tell them when to deliver the stuff?
Can you take some of the items immediately?
Do checkout lines still occur?
Can you take some of the items immediately?
Do checkout lines still occur?
This is still a regular supermarket with cashiers. Your can either :
- leave your trolley to the shipping service and pay everything when your are shipped.
- leave your trolley, pay everything there pick any item your want and be shipped the rest later. (Depending on the crowd, there will likely be checkout line)
- go to the cashier (or an automatic machine), pay there and bring your stuff home yourself. (Checkout line here also)
- leave your trolley to the shipping service and pay everything when your are shipped.
- leave your trolley, pay everything there pick any item your want and be shipped the rest later. (Depending on the crowd, there will likely be checkout line)
- go to the cashier (or an automatic machine), pay there and bring your stuff home yourself. (Checkout line here also)
I am still sceptical about AmazonGo.
1. How will Amazon technology work if two friends are walking into the store and both are adding products to the cart?
2. How will it work in a crowded store as it's quite possible that the product will end up if a different account?
Amazon might have to invest in more security guards than cashiers!
1. How will Amazon technology work if two friends are walking into the store and both are adding products to the cart?
2. How will it work in a crowded store as it's quite possible that the product will end up if a different account?
Amazon might have to invest in more security guards than cashiers!
Amazon does these things for PR only. The only place checkout lines have ever been an issue for me is the Whole Foods at Union Square NYC and that's a rare situation.
Fyi french supermarkets like carrefour or leclerc already have solutions where they give you a scanner and you scan yourself the stuff you buy and just pay when exiting. Very fast and convenient.
Here in Belgium the Carrefour also introduced that system. It's fast if the system doesn't (randomly) pick you out for inspection. Nevertheless I like the system.
What I have also seen in the Hypercarrefour in Bruges that they scan your groceries when waiting in line to the checkout. Then they print a ticket on their mobile printer which you just need to give to the checkout and pay.
A local Delhaize (Food Lion in the US) experimented with a fixed POS where you needed to take out all your groceries, self-scan and pay. I have also used the same system at Tesco in Prague. Not the most pleasant system in comparison than the mobile version Carrefour and also Auchan uses where you just walk through the store with a mobile scanner.
Other local retailers (colruyt, aldi, lidl, Albert Hein) are more classic in that regards.
"t's often broken, and some items are subject to different buying conditions and can't be purchased via these self-service checkout lanes, like alcohol, or "luxury" items with high margins, like razor blades."
To be honest that's not a problem when using self-scan at Carrefour. Only if you buy alcohol or tabaco they may ask for your age or if you are picked out for an inspection. There is no limit in what you buy.
Although that is the situation here in Belgium.
What I have also seen in the Hypercarrefour in Bruges that they scan your groceries when waiting in line to the checkout. Then they print a ticket on their mobile printer which you just need to give to the checkout and pay.
A local Delhaize (Food Lion in the US) experimented with a fixed POS where you needed to take out all your groceries, self-scan and pay. I have also used the same system at Tesco in Prague. Not the most pleasant system in comparison than the mobile version Carrefour and also Auchan uses where you just walk through the store with a mobile scanner.
Other local retailers (colruyt, aldi, lidl, Albert Hein) are more classic in that regards.
"t's often broken, and some items are subject to different buying conditions and can't be purchased via these self-service checkout lanes, like alcohol, or "luxury" items with high margins, like razor blades."
To be honest that's not a problem when using self-scan at Carrefour. Only if you buy alcohol or tabaco they may ask for your age or if you are picked out for an inspection. There is no limit in what you buy.
Although that is the situation here in Belgium.
Carrefour is not the only shop here to have introduced it, I have seen it in Match as well (in Leuven).
The smaller shops of Carrefour, the "express shops" don't have it iether, so not all stores of carrefour do, but then again they are smaller shops and there usually are not _that_ much people.
Colruyt, aldi and lidl might consider the expense of the machine + people to do the random inspection as a cost they do not want, as they do aim to keep the price as low as possible. Wether you pay people to sit at a checkout or wait to check other people, the amount of money you might end up saving might have been considered not significant.
Colruyt, aldi and lidl might consider the expense of the machine + people to do the random inspection as a cost they do not want, as they do aim to keep the price as low as possible. Wether you pay people to sit at a checkout or wait to check other people, the amount of money you might end up saving might have been considered not significant.
That's really not limited to France though. I've seen the same at Tesco, Waitrose and Saintsbury in the UK, in several chains in China, in a bunch of Germany as well (Aldi?), and in Australia (Whoolworths, Coles...). Ikea has had that for a while as well. So has Metro all over the world, obviously.
I have been using self-service checkouts for more than a decade in most countries. I'd be surprised if that was considered news.
Amazon Go and instant payment systems are a different topic entirely though.
Also, "very fast" is debatable: it's often broken, and some items are subject to different buying conditions and can't be purchased via these self-service checkout lanes, like alcohol, or "luxury" items with high margins, like razor blades.
Quite often, if given the choice of an almost empty till queue or a self-service line, I'll pick the almost empty till queue. It's often more efficient.
Self-service is great for 24/7 supermarkets though. I remember really huge Tesco stores in the UK that are but where you can shop at 3AM and use the self-service. Most employees at this time of night are the stock management people, and there's only one or 2 cashiers left (and security, obviously). The rest is self-service. For that scenario, it's indeed convenient.
I have been using self-service checkouts for more than a decade in most countries. I'd be surprised if that was considered news.
Amazon Go and instant payment systems are a different topic entirely though.
Also, "very fast" is debatable: it's often broken, and some items are subject to different buying conditions and can't be purchased via these self-service checkout lanes, like alcohol, or "luxury" items with high margins, like razor blades.
Quite often, if given the choice of an almost empty till queue or a self-service line, I'll pick the almost empty till queue. It's often more efficient.
Self-service is great for 24/7 supermarkets though. I remember really huge Tesco stores in the UK that are but where you can shop at 3AM and use the self-service. Most employees at this time of night are the stock management people, and there's only one or 2 cashiers left (and security, obviously). The rest is self-service. For that scenario, it's indeed convenient.
There's a huge difference between https://www.coop.se/PageFiles/4406/toppbild-ShopExpress.jpg and http://scontent.cdninstagram.com/t51.2885-15/s480x480/e35/11... .
With the handheld ones (first picture) you just scan the products and put them into your bag when you pick them up at the store aisle. To pay, scan a special barcode at the checkout and put your card into the machine.
No need to rebag your stuff, shows you your current total to pay at all times, and it's simple enough that I've never seen it out of order. Oh, and there's no risk of getting stuck behind that family that apparently wants to get the whole year's food shopping out of the way.
With the handheld ones (first picture) you just scan the products and put them into your bag when you pick them up at the store aisle. To pay, scan a special barcode at the checkout and put your card into the machine.
No need to rebag your stuff, shows you your current total to pay at all times, and it's simple enough that I've never seen it out of order. Oh, and there's no risk of getting stuck behind that family that apparently wants to get the whole year's food shopping out of the way.
Tesco has had that in the UK for a while.[0] I'm unaware of anyone who's ever actually used it though.
[0] http://www.tesco.com/scan-as-you-shop/
[0] http://www.tesco.com/scan-as-you-shop/
Ah, I may have completely misunderstood the parent comment then. Indeed, have never used these, in any country so far.
Neat.
Neat.
Plus in The Netherlands has this as well. Same with Albert Heijn [1]. I don't know how it works at AH, but at Plus I do. When you're at the cashier, the cashier takes 2 products out to sample if you scanned them. You can then pass (right now they're lenient with customers forgetting since its still kinda new).
With Albert Heijn you can also order online and they'll deliver it (not all areas supported yet), and with Plus you can order online from an app. The disadvantage with not picking your own groceries (as being outlined in the video of this article) is that you can't pick an article which expires later, or looks/smells fresher. You don't get to check if your eggs are all intact. You don't get to check if none of your cookies are broken. Etc. Not saying that always matters, but it can be important.
[1] https://www.ah.nl/over-ah/services/zelfscannen
With Albert Heijn you can also order online and they'll deliver it (not all areas supported yet), and with Plus you can order online from an app. The disadvantage with not picking your own groceries (as being outlined in the video of this article) is that you can't pick an article which expires later, or looks/smells fresher. You don't get to check if your eggs are all intact. You don't get to check if none of your cookies are broken. Etc. Not saying that always matters, but it can be important.
[1] https://www.ah.nl/over-ah/services/zelfscannen
I'm really surprised stores like Costco and Sams Club haven't adopted this yet. You have to waiting very long lines at these stores and still have to wait again at the door for someone to check your receipt against what's in your cart.
This would make shopping there much more appealing.
This would make shopping there much more appealing.
I don't have a membership to any of the warehouse stores any longer but they seem to be the only places that routinely check receipts at the door in my experience. It's unclear to me why they feel a need to do this when Walmart, for example, doesn't.
It depends on which Walmarts you shop at. They often have people checking receipts at the doors but you can just walk past them.
From my experience, larger/unbagged items seem to be what they stop you for.
And less jobs for people working on supermarkets, indeed very convenient for employers.
The main reason I stay away from such services.
The main reason I stay away from such services.
This is a very fun bit of PR, but it represents a very common mistake from corporate innovators.
1) Successful business model (retail)
2) Smart iteration on the business model (Monoprix livraison a domicile +)
3) For legacy reason, do not upend the whole business model, do not put it front and center, limit it to some categories / users
4) Watch a younger competitor, not uncumbered by legacy, focus solely on that service
5) Get shocked when they get PR. Release a video to say you've done it for 10years
6) Go bankrupt as the new service spreads like wildfire
Monoprix home delivery is great, my grandmother uses it quite a lot, but retailers are still totally going to get taken over by Amazon
1) Successful business model (retail)
2) Smart iteration on the business model (Monoprix livraison a domicile +)
3) For legacy reason, do not upend the whole business model, do not put it front and center, limit it to some categories / users
4) Watch a younger competitor, not uncumbered by legacy, focus solely on that service
5) Get shocked when they get PR. Release a video to say you've done it for 10years
6) Go bankrupt as the new service spreads like wildfire
Monoprix home delivery is great, my grandmother uses it quite a lot, but retailers are still totally going to get taken over by Amazon
I'm afraid you may be right, and it makes me sad.
I like shopping online with Amazon, but I would hate seeing groceries taken away with unmanned dystopian and probably very dysfunctional automated outlets like on the Amazon video.
What happens when something goes wrong? -- The automated video system thinks you have taken two products when you have taken just one; or it thinks you have taken one and you took two, and a security guy who has zero authority over how the system operates, or understanding of it, accuses you of stealing; or a discount was advertised on the shelf but not implemented on the system; etc.
What happens if Amazon decides, for some reason that they will not explain and that you can't appeal, to cancel your account? Then you can't even go grocery shopping?
The future is much less exciting than it used to be.
I like shopping online with Amazon, but I would hate seeing groceries taken away with unmanned dystopian and probably very dysfunctional automated outlets like on the Amazon video.
What happens when something goes wrong? -- The automated video system thinks you have taken two products when you have taken just one; or it thinks you have taken one and you took two, and a security guy who has zero authority over how the system operates, or understanding of it, accuses you of stealing; or a discount was advertised on the shelf but not implemented on the system; etc.
What happens if Amazon decides, for some reason that they will not explain and that you can't appeal, to cancel your account? Then you can't even go grocery shopping?
The future is much less exciting than it used to be.
> What happens when something goes wrong?
Personally I've found Amazon's customer service is pretty reasonable (sometimes you need to dig in the site to find something). I know they aren't a great company in other ways - their workers are poorly paid and overworked, but that's one thing I'm not worried about.
> What happens if Amazon decides, for some reason that they will not explain and that you can't appeal, to cancel your account? Then you can't even go grocery shopping?
Only if they have a monopoly, if this proves successful I expect other shops will start investing in this too (or licence the technology). You're just as likely to have an issue currently if you live in Bumfuck, Nowhere and the only store around refuses to serve you because they suspect you of stealing.
Personally I've found Amazon's customer service is pretty reasonable (sometimes you need to dig in the site to find something). I know they aren't a great company in other ways - their workers are poorly paid and overworked, but that's one thing I'm not worried about.
> What happens if Amazon decides, for some reason that they will not explain and that you can't appeal, to cancel your account? Then you can't even go grocery shopping?
Only if they have a monopoly, if this proves successful I expect other shops will start investing in this too (or licence the technology). You're just as likely to have an issue currently if you live in Bumfuck, Nowhere and the only store around refuses to serve you because they suspect you of stealing.
The only store in Bumfuck doesn't operate a giant online marketplace and therefore is very unlikely to refuse to serve me because of a computer glitch, or because someone somewhere hacked my account, or because I changed the username on my Kindle (https://www.reddit.com/r/amazon/comments/5gvgdl/using_a_amaz...)
In any case I can always walk up to the manager at Bumfuck General Store and resolve any disagreement we might have, simply by... talking. Also, said manager is in charge, he can make decisions and reverse previous decisions.
Amazon employees aren't in charge of anything, the system is. They can read what's on their screen, and press a few buttons on screens that have choices, and that's it.
The problem with automation isn't only that robots are displacing humans, but that at the same time it's changing humans into robots (dumb ones).
In any case I can always walk up to the manager at Bumfuck General Store and resolve any disagreement we might have, simply by... talking. Also, said manager is in charge, he can make decisions and reverse previous decisions.
Amazon employees aren't in charge of anything, the system is. They can read what's on their screen, and press a few buttons on screens that have choices, and that's it.
The problem with automation isn't only that robots are displacing humans, but that at the same time it's changing humans into robots (dumb ones).
Amazon's pursuit of the grocery business is precisely the opposite of focusing solely on one product. The direct line from books to bananas runs through the land of conceit. Amazon's legacy infrastructure is built around the long tail items that can sit on a warehouse shelf for five years without spoiling.
Amazon is not a plucky young startup. It's a twentyfive year old enterprise that hires MBA's in the hope of staying relevant. It's last major success was AWS, a product that scratched its own itch and monetized necessary but idle capacity. Most importantly it was B2B.
In B2C Amazon has been incrementing extraction since the original Kindle. Prime is Sam's Club + Netflix + arcane pricing and shipping terms. Echo is Siri for shopping. All of it comes on the back of higher prices whenever Amazon's algorithms suggest it can get away with it.
And that's the real way to judge the status of Amazon. It structures transactions in its favor and requires consumer vigilance. The Monoprix pitch is really about that more than anything else. The pitch provides a plausible explanation of how the transaction works and implies that the ordinary norms of human transactions are at work. The cashier is going to charge everyone the same price that's on the shelf and the delivery person is not going to implement surge pricing.
Amazon is not a plucky young startup. It's a twentyfive year old enterprise that hires MBA's in the hope of staying relevant. It's last major success was AWS, a product that scratched its own itch and monetized necessary but idle capacity. Most importantly it was B2B.
In B2C Amazon has been incrementing extraction since the original Kindle. Prime is Sam's Club + Netflix + arcane pricing and shipping terms. Echo is Siri for shopping. All of it comes on the back of higher prices whenever Amazon's algorithms suggest it can get away with it.
And that's the real way to judge the status of Amazon. It structures transactions in its favor and requires consumer vigilance. The Monoprix pitch is really about that more than anything else. The pitch provides a plausible explanation of how the transaction works and implies that the ordinary norms of human transactions are at work. The cashier is going to charge everyone the same price that's on the shelf and the delivery person is not going to implement surge pricing.
How so? I live in Seattle, and Amazon's placement of their test stores has been quite poor (picking a roadway on the wrong side of a major bridge, where from 2pm to 6:30pm its a parking lot), they have set them up exclusively for people who drive, and their previous efforts of grocery delivery have fizzled out, with Amazon Fresh having significantly declined in usage to the point that Amazon Prime customers are getting $50 free vouchers to use on Amazon Fresh on a monthly basis.
Amazon can't push the volume needed to compete with the heavyweight in this region (Kroger, thru their Fred Meyer, Safeway, QFC & Albertsons brands control 90% of the grocery volume in Seattle) thus their prices will always be significantly higher. That combined with poor location and a core misunderstanding of their market (eg. who in your average household is buying groceries and what goods/price point will they buy at) will limit their potential market.
Amazon can't push the volume needed to compete with the heavyweight in this region (Kroger, thru their Fred Meyer, Safeway, QFC & Albertsons brands control 90% of the grocery volume in Seattle) thus their prices will always be significantly higher. That combined with poor location and a core misunderstanding of their market (eg. who in your average household is buying groceries and what goods/price point will they buy at) will limit their potential market.
Safeway/Albertson's isn't owned by Kroger FWIW.
Ah shoot, that is right! Safeway and Albertsons merged, don't know why I thought they'd become part of Kroger. That being said, in the Puget Sound Region (where Amazon is trying to launch this) 90% of the market is controlled by the aforementioned players. It'd take massive volume to get close to the price points any of them can hit, cause SuperValu and other wholesalers are not gonna give Amazon volume discounts otherwise.
> Monoprix home delivery is great, my grandmother uses it quite a lot, but retailers are still totally going to get taken over by Amazon
In the USA and the young population. Maybe.
In the rest of the world and population. Not so sure.
In the USA and the young population. Maybe.
In the rest of the world and population. Not so sure.
Is this grocery charging 'Whole Paycheck' prices? The fact that they invest into this well-produced video, while referencing Amazon GO, located thousands of miles away in a different country, suggests their target demographic are tech-friendly and, by transitivity, affluent.
How about Amazon GO? Is that a toy / experience / novelty for affluent tech-savvy early adopters?
Sorry if I'm not political correct. I tried. My intent is not to troll or offend people who do shop at Whole Foods. I actually live in San Francisco, 10 feet away from a Whole Foods. I previously lived in Seattle, too. I feel that, compared to other fields such as Finance or law, tech tend to be more self-conscientious and guilty about income inequality.
How about Amazon GO? Is that a toy / experience / novelty for affluent tech-savvy early adopters?
Sorry if I'm not political correct. I tried. My intent is not to troll or offend people who do shop at Whole Foods. I actually live in San Francisco, 10 feet away from a Whole Foods. I previously lived in Seattle, too. I feel that, compared to other fields such as Finance or law, tech tend to be more self-conscientious and guilty about income inequality.
>Is this grocery charging 'Whole Paycheck' prices? The fact that they invest into this well-produced video, while referencing Amazon GO, located thousands of miles away in a different country, suggests their target demographic are tech-friendly and, by transitivity, affluent.
Not any more than e.g. Whole Foods and Krogers consumers.
>while referencing Amazon GO, located thousands of miles away in a different country
You make it sound difficult. In fact Amazon Go made global news, and we have this web thing.
Not any more than e.g. Whole Foods and Krogers consumers.
>while referencing Amazon GO, located thousands of miles away in a different country
You make it sound difficult. In fact Amazon Go made global news, and we have this web thing.
> their target demographic are tech-friendly and, by transitivity, affluent.
Their target demographic is not tech-friendly at all, quite the opposite, but indeed affluent: they are located in the center of rich french cities, where wealthy, often more than 50, people live.
Their target demographic is not tech-friendly at all, quite the opposite, but indeed affluent: they are located in the center of rich french cities, where wealthy, often more than 50, people live.
Monoprix is definitely high end. Maybe not whole food prices though. French American speaking.
I'd say that it's roughly 20% more expensive than average (at least that's what I see when I compare to a supermarket like Leclerc) but they're well located, easy walking distance from the center of the cities and perfect for people like me who don't want to get into a car to go shopping.
They also have an online delivery service which works really well.
They do tend to have a bit more choice when it comes to fine foods and sell some premium brands like Valrhona that you wouldn't necessarily find in normal supermarkets.
They also have an online delivery service which works really well.
They do tend to have a bit more choice when it comes to fine foods and sell some premium brands like Valrhona that you wouldn't necessarily find in normal supermarkets.
What? Monoprix is your regular supermarket.
I wouldn't exactly call them "regular". They are mostly in the center of cities, their price are high-ish, but not crazy, so you often see people with no car (old people but also students) living in the city shopping there, as well as wealthy people. Their products are rather good.
No way. Monoprix is definetely a high end supermarket, not because it's organic or high quality food only (unlike whole food) but because it's always located in weathy areas of inner towns (your find Monoprix in the XVIth and XVIIth district, not in the XXth).
An analogy to America, to avoid having people imagine Monoprix is Le Bon Marché: Monoprix is like what Target is to Walmart.
Although unlike in the US, most of its competitors are owned by the same parent company, Casino Group.
Although unlike in the US, most of its competitors are owned by the same parent company, Casino Group.
I agree with the analogy, but I would add that it's usually located where your would have a Walgreens in the US, which is much smaller than the average Target.
That's wrong. Monoprix has indeed succeeded in its transformation by setting up in more wealthy areas (often under the "Monop'" name), but there is always a lot of stores, less trendy, in popular areas like Belleville and in small and modest provincial cities.
Prices are adjusted according to location.
I live in the 20eme right in front of one "Monop". I never go there since I usually find better selection and lower prices in Franprix but I wouldn't exactly call Monoprix "high end" or compare it to Whole Foods. Expensive, definitely.
Monoprix is in fact a regular small-scale supermarket for inner-city folks; its prices are higher than at huge "marts" such as Leclerc or Auchan, but are aligned with those of other shops in the same segment, like Franprix or Carrefour Market.
They print little puns on the packaging of their own products.
The bad accent of the man doing the narration is a little unnerving; they could have gone with a heavy French accent which could have been funny (maybe), or they could have hired a native speaker. But this sounds like they took the first guy in the hall who said he spoke English.
They print little puns on the packaging of their own products.
The bad accent of the man doing the narration is a little unnerving; they could have gone with a heavy French accent which could have been funny (maybe), or they could have hired a native speaker. But this sounds like they took the first guy in the hall who said he spoke English.
As well as the accent, the last title on the video also does that French thing where they get English tenses wrong. It's peculiarly French to say 'Since ten years we have the best prices', when you mean 'For the past ten years ...' - I'm not actually sure what the mistake being made here is, some literal translation maybe? But, it's usually a good indicator that the ESL speaker is French...
http://www.lefigaro.fr/conso/2014/02/25/05007-20140225ARTFIG...
Monoprix is the most expensive supermarket.
Monoprix is the most expensive supermarket.
No it's not. Of course your mileage may vary in terms of income, but monoprix has gone regular to premium(ish) in the last 10 years.
If you have shopped elsewhere than Paris, you would agree on
Carrfour Market ~ Monoprix > franprix (who is going premiumish also) > 8a8 > g20 > lidl et al > alimentation general du coin
Carrfour Market ~ Monoprix > franprix (who is going premiumish also) > 8a8 > g20 > lidl et al > alimentation general du coin
Franprix is going premiumish ? really? Wasnt their core brand value low prices in the first place?
Historically I think so. Even the name hints at 'fair price', and the stores weren't fancy. At least a lot less than monoprix. Maybe they just changer strategy to avoid lowering standards.
Everywhere I shop, Franprix is more expensive than Monoprix.
It's clearly above regular, not luxury but fairly high.
Slightly different use case, though. Say I want a sandwich and a drink, I want that right now, not delivered to my house in one hour.
Funny PR, though !
Funny PR, though !
So take it with you? You obviously don't have to get it delivered. It's still an awesome service.
He might have to wait in line though. Which really touches on what the Amazon service is good for. They should be focusing on putting their technology in gas stations and convenience stores, not supermarkets. It would be great to just go in and grab a few things and walk out. Where as in a Grocery store, the french version is much better.
Unsurprisingly, the food in the Monoprix ad look better :/
It's France, they actually have standards for food quality.
They actually have food culture.
I wish we've had some French bakeries and supermarkets in the Bay Area, not this Amazon stuff... Even Whole Foods is not quite there yet :-/
I wish we've had some French bakeries and supermarkets in the Bay Area, not this Amazon stuff... Even Whole Foods is not quite there yet :-/
It is more then just "Have french bakery". Culture is fitting because it is not just the bakery that makes the bread great. Farms, delivery, trade schools, customers all are required for french level of quality.
A comment I've heard that I suspect has at least some truth to it is that France has something of a monoculture around French food. That may well be overstating it. But I think it's fair to say that there is a highly optimized supply chain around delivering a specific cuisine and rather high consumer expectations around that cuisine.
Not wrapping their cupcakes in a ton of petro chemical plastic either. So no instore bakery for Amazon I guess.
Websites like this one piss me off. Here's the video on Youtube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8sF868SJSrE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8sF868SJSrE
This is seriously better than Amazon Go; error-free and free delivery!
When I go to a supermarket, I have to deal with finding the stuff I need, way too many people in the store, etc. but at least I can take my stuff home immediately.
When I buy online I have to wait for delivery, but at least I don't have to go looking for stuff in 20 different isles only to find out the thing I needed is in a completely illogical place, or deal with all the people there.
This concept combines all the disadvantages of physically going to a supermarket with all the disadvantages of buying online. Amazon's concept actually improves the physical buying experience.
When I buy online I have to wait for delivery, but at least I don't have to go looking for stuff in 20 different isles only to find out the thing I needed is in a completely illogical place, or deal with all the people there.
This concept combines all the disadvantages of physically going to a supermarket with all the disadvantages of buying online. Amazon's concept actually improves the physical buying experience.
Going to a (small) supermarket is not a disadvantage, I find it a nice experience, because you can see/smell/touch) the products you want. I wouldn't buy fruits, vegetables, meat, fish, cheese, etc. online.
Not being able to take your stuff home is a little annoying, but depending on where you live it can be almost necessary to have groceries delivered. In Paris many buildings don't have elevators at all, or very small ones that can hold at most two people and not many bags. If you live on the 5th floor you're happy to get someone bring the bags up the stairs for you.
Not being able to take your stuff home is a little annoying, but depending on where you live it can be almost necessary to have groceries delivered. In Paris many buildings don't have elevators at all, or very small ones that can hold at most two people and not many bags. If you live on the 5th floor you're happy to get someone bring the bags up the stairs for you.
For me, it really depends on how reliable the market is. If I know produce and fish are going to be reliably high quality and fresh, I'd be more inclined to use an online service. However, that's not really the case with the average supermarket and therefore I prefer shopping in person. (If it were available where I live, I'd probably use Instacart with Whole Foods from time to time, but I'm lukewarm on using Peapod which is available for me.)
Is going to the store such a big disadvantage? I work from home, I spend most of the time physically away from people. I do enjoy my shopping. You know, a little bit of interaction with people. I have tried online shopping with delivery when living in the UK. Very often, at the door, it turned out that X, Y and Z was not in stock and I had to go to another shop and find the missing bits myself. Waste of time...
That was pretty much what I found while I was using grocery delivery (Peapod) because I was on crutches. This was a while back and there are generally more options today (though not where I live fr the most part). I'd get substitutions I didn't care for and random common items I absolutely needed for a recipe would be out of stock.
I could imagine using a reliable service again but, so long as driving to the store and shopping is straightforward, ordering online for delivery isn't something I really need.
I could imagine using a reliable service again but, so long as driving to the store and shopping is straightforward, ordering online for delivery isn't something I really need.
Depends how much time the physical delivery takes. From my experience Monoprix picks high-rise locations (not like WallMart). Most of its customers should be at walking distance.
I don't want to speculate but it would help if a french gentleman tells us his experience.
I don't want to speculate but it would help if a french gentleman tells us his experience.
You're right, every city I used to live in France, I had at least 1 Monoprix within a short walk distance. Where I currently live, I can get to 3 different Monoprix in less than 10 minutes by walk.
Never seen a Monoprix outside of a city anyway:)
What Amazon ad didn't show is a huge cart full of items which will have to be unloaded into the car then again from the car to the house. That's not negligible when the weather is cold.
This is exactly how innovation is supposed to work - if a rival company (or a new entry to the market) comes up with a better solution then you have to innovate to survive. It's exactly why competition is important. It forces companies to improve what they offer. If they can do it in clever ways that don't cost much, that's even better. The business wins and the customer gets a better experience.
If Amazon has shocked the supermarket industry in to action then that's awesome.
If Amazon has shocked the supermarket industry in to action then that's awesome.
This service is actually 10 years old.
But you are right, though - I'm working in this space and Amazon Go definitely helped to shake up some people. Let's see if we can turn this into action.
But you are right, though - I'm working in this space and Amazon Go definitely helped to shake up some people. Let's see if we can turn this into action.
Amazon didn't really shock them into action as the service has been available for quite a few years. They are probably trying to show that Amazon shopping is not that disruptive.
I guess that was the Monoprix's point that have a system with no cashier for more than 10 year now. Or do you mean that the 10 years old system pushed Amazon to innovate by redoing it with an app ?
> If Amazon has shocked the supermarket industry in to action then that's awesome.
Pffft, it's got nothing to do with Amazon, that's just the marketing spiel.
Pffft, it's got nothing to do with Amazon, that's just the marketing spiel.
You didn't get the part where Amazon "started thinking about this" 4 years ago but Monoprice is already doing it for 10 years.
Either Amazon copied the ideia or they reinvented the wheel.
Either Amazon copied the ideia or they reinvented the wheel.
If my understanding of this Google-translated French page[0] is correct, it costs 1€, and there is a minimum order of 50€. I may be mistaken.
If so, that can be a big difference, especially to the crowd that puts groceries in their personal bags, as depicted in both ads.
[0] https://www.monoprix.fr/livraison-a-domicile?menuName=servic...
If so, that can be a big difference, especially to the crowd that puts groceries in their personal bags, as depicted in both ads.
[0] https://www.monoprix.fr/livraison-a-domicile?menuName=servic...
French stores are forbidden to give non-reusable plastic bags, precisely to nudge everyone to switch to reusable bags.
Did anyone else find the original Amazon Go video's mentioning "deep learning", "webscale technologies" and "generic buzzwords" funny, when in reality they probably use people behind security camera screens tallying up what you buy?
>when in reality they probably use people behind security camera screens tallying up what you buy
I doubt they are using that.
I doubt they are using that.
I imagine that edge cases will be flagged and checked by a human operator, a bit like postal services do with machine unreadable addresses. Deep learning isn't perfect - how would you suggest those cases are handled?
>Deep learning isn't perfect
Didn't claim it was.
>how would you suggest those cases are handled?
Obviously the same way as you suggest.
But the parent talked about them MERELY using human operators behind cameras, like it's just some mechanical turk-based fraud...
Didn't claim it was.
>how would you suggest those cases are handled?
Obviously the same way as you suggest.
But the parent talked about them MERELY using human operators behind cameras, like it's just some mechanical turk-based fraud...
Eh, I'm sure they use some face recognition to track people and products, but that's about it. How would you have implemented it?
I wouldn't make any claims like Amazon did, unless it was an over 95% automated, with humans involved only in some case of dispute etc.
So, face recognition to track people + image recognition to track products (which is not that difficult, since it's a constrained data set e.g. 40.000 products to train, and they can also use information about position to narrow results -- eg. aisle B, so it's one of the soaps, etc).
So, face recognition to track people + image recognition to track products (which is not that difficult, since it's a constrained data set e.g. 40.000 products to train, and they can also use information about position to narrow results -- eg. aisle B, so it's one of the soaps, etc).
"image recognition to track products (which is not that difficult, since it's a constrained data set e.g. 40.000 products to train, and they can also use information about position to narrow results -- eg. aisle B, so it's one of the soaps, etc)."
Wish it was that easy. People have a habit of picking stuff up and putting it in the wrong place. Staff at stores spend forever putting stuff back to it's correct place and binning stuff that should have been refrigerated but placed somewhere non-refrigerated.
Wish it was that easy. People have a habit of picking stuff up and putting it in the wrong place. Staff at stores spend forever putting stuff back to it's correct place and binning stuff that should have been refrigerated but placed somewhere non-refrigerated.
>Wish it was that easy. People have a habit of picking stuff up and putting it in the wrong place.
Well, the stuff will already have been identified in the picking stage.
Well, the stuff will already have been identified in the picking stage.
"Well, the stuff will already have been identified in the picking stage."
Sure, but you take some semi-random object out of the basket and add it to the wrong shelf. Do that a few times and things are going to get much harder.
If we're honest, regardless there will be wrong classifications anyway - if it wasn't for laser scanners humans would make more mistakes as well and these are nowhere near human intelligence.
Sure, but you take some semi-random object out of the basket and add it to the wrong shelf. Do that a few times and things are going to get much harder.
If we're honest, regardless there will be wrong classifications anyway - if it wasn't for laser scanners humans would make more mistakes as well and these are nowhere near human intelligence.
In India all local stores have this service, you fill up a basket leave it at counter with your address. They'll bill it and deliver at home and you'll pay in cash. Though no large chain I know does this.
Is all this "deep learning", "computer vision" and "sensor fusion" necessary when you could just put RFID tags on the items?
RFID tags would raise the cost of the items. E.g. garlic costs pennies, less than an RFID chip.
As usual Amazon tries to take over an industry and makes no profit, which is their usual recipe. They have a P/E of 174 which means there is no chance they will ever make enough to be a real profitable enterprise. Outside of AWS I think everything else contributes no profits at all. But I do like the leave the cart idea although that only works if the prices supports the extra delivery.
Ahah, nice troll. But I still prefer to both those options the way I do it : I just shop on store's website and ask for delivery. This allows me to have shopping lists that I can use as templates, I can shop any hour of the day and take time to compare products.
Granted, this is especially a good fit for me because I work from home and can receive deliveries any time.
Granted, this is especially a good fit for me because I work from home and can receive deliveries any time.
It's interesting that you see just about every permutation of shopping and delivery options out there.
You have online shopping and delivery as you mention. I'd do this more myself if there were a service I liked where I live.
One of the local chains around here started up a "To Go" service recently. You shop online and pick up. I assume the market here is people who can easily drive but may not be very mobile or have young kids that just make it a hassle to do the picking themselves. (My anecdotal observation is this service isn't being used much.)
And this case is pretty much what a lot of markets in cities have been doing forever. (Often smaller markets but I believe Whole Foods does this in some locations as well.)
You have online shopping and delivery as you mention. I'd do this more myself if there were a service I liked where I live.
One of the local chains around here started up a "To Go" service recently. You shop online and pick up. I assume the market here is people who can easily drive but may not be very mobile or have young kids that just make it a hassle to do the picking themselves. (My anecdotal observation is this service isn't being used much.)
And this case is pretty much what a lot of markets in cities have been doing forever. (Often smaller markets but I believe Whole Foods does this in some locations as well.)
The point of Amazon Go is instant gratification. The point of this is not carrying stuff to your house. Cool troll, but they should be careful of the false sense of superiority. Perhaps they could hire some Nokia and BlackBerry execs to explain the concept to them.
No, the point of both is convenience. Which one is more convenient? Depends on how many items you purchase on supermarket trips.
I wonder what the difference between the cost of Amazon's technology is vs Monoprix's service?
Monoprix may have found that they can make more money / save on initial outlay of shop fitting by offering a similar service, but without the technology.
Monoprix may have found that they can make more money / save on initial outlay of shop fitting by offering a similar service, but without the technology.
Amazon Go Is About Way More Than Groceries: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cA2-iMz479o
I know that I often don't go to the grocery store to pick up an item or two simply because I don't want to wait in the checkout line.
"Seatle's a bit far away" :D:D:D:D
The fun bit is that Monoprix is beating Amazon through a superior e2e logistics solution.
I couldn't stand the feeling of anxiety that you have to be home an hour later and wait for someone to show up with your grocery. Not only that, but what if they miss or misplace something? Too many questions to write. Obviously not for me. But Amazon Go looks like something I could use.
I'm guessing that you could say "Deliver in 3 hours" as well.
Haha. Cute ad but let's see where customers go when everything is ~10% cheaper at Amazon.
Starbucks: Cute ad but let's see where customers go when doing it yourself is 90% cheaper.
Whole Foods: Cute ad but let's see where customers ...
There is always a market for people willing to pay more for whatever reason.
Whole Foods: Cute ad but let's see where customers ...
There is always a market for people willing to pay more for whatever reason.
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On another topic, please don't be that site: 66 MB over 325 requests and 30s to load over a 50mbps connection. And that's after Origin blocked 166 more assets. You're ruining the internet for everyone.
By contrast, HN is 65k and 1s.
By contrast, HN is 65k and 1s.
On the plus side, the site works fine with NoScript with just the Google properties whitelisted.
The site works fine with no javascript at all (disabled on my mobile)
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Human technology costs too much and doesn't scale well.
Monoprix live in a nice niche of upper class consumers living in the center of rich towns. The produits are kind of expensive, but the service is neat.