Top 8 things to know about Amazon Fresh
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| Amazon Fresh newly opened store |
Think technology can be amazing and if anyone knows how to use it, Amazon sure does. That shows clearly in the Amazon Fresh store. We had an Amazon Fresh store open just recently and it was surrounded in tech. I had an idea before we got there of what the store was going to be like and I have to say, I was wrong. I thought it was going to be devoid of people, strangely stocked and limited but that is not the case. Have are the top 8 things you should know.
Amazon Fresh does have people along with Alexa
On opening day, the Amazon fresh store was filled with more than the usual amount of associates. We did see many stockers, an good amount of managers, people at the deli, fresh food and butcher areas. I was under the impression that the store would not have many associates except for the stockers and a manage, but I was wrong. On checkout we did ask if there were going to be people normally in the store and were told yes. There are even cashiers there as well as the self checkout. There are even a few Alexa stations that you can ask for something if a person is not available. The self checkout is a cool thing to do. Pick up an item and it gets added to your virtual cart and paid for when you self check out, with your app. That made shopping more fun and check out was also enjoyable. We did have a little problem using one of the checkout gates but moving over to the next gate it worked without a problem. The associate was quick to say they were going to check on that gate right away.
Amazon Fresh has cameras just about everywhere
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| Amazon Fresh Visible Ceiling Cameras |
I have seen commercials before that showed people putting an item in a cart and the cart recorded the purchase. That technology is not being used at this store. There are cameras located throughout the store and there are so many you cannot miss them. The system watches what you put in your cart or take out of it keeping a record of your purchases. The one advantage of this is you can bag as you go. That is another thing to remember, bring your own bags but if you forget, you can purchase them there. You can also load up your cart and then bag at your car, its your choice.
Amazon Fresh items are similar to Whole foods
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| some candy as displayed in the aisles |
We know that places like ShopRite, Giant and Acme have their home brand and so does Amazon. They have a generic brand called Aplenty and some of the brands from Whole Foods are also available. Not every item has a generic but is the same at the other grocery stores as well.
Amazon Fresh has hot and ready food
They have an area that you could get a slice of pizza, yes Pizza. You can get a whole pie if you want. They had a section that was not ready or stocked yet but it will be for self service. You can get some pasta, meatballs, BBQ chicken and salad. They had coffee on the side as well. Before you leave, there is even a section that you can sit at and eat what you just purchased if you want to.
Amazon Fresh has Coupons and Weekly Deals
On the first day, we went with the wonder of what we would find and did not really prepare. Normally before we go food shopping we prepare by looking at any circulars, store app specials, online coupons and general paper coupons. When we got there, Amazon did provide use with a 10 dollar coupon which was great. Amazon does offer online coupons that you can use, just like the other grocery stores, your savings will vary on the items you chose.
Amazon Fresh items are mostly bought for individually.
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| Produce display and arrangement |
On our shopping list was bananas. I thought you would buy them by the pound but that's not how they sell them. Items like that are bought by the bunch or by the item. One banana was 15 cent, a bunch was something like 2.19 or something like that. I am use to picking a bunch and paying by the pound so that was kind of weird. The same kind of idea goes for most of the meat. We saw ground beef already separated by almost the exact pound. They did have a deli, meat and seafood area but we did not try it this time. They appear to sell by your preferred amount but I am not sure.
Amazon Fresh has Amazon Secure Lockers
It's not just a grocery store, it can be your package pickup stop too. You can order items from Amazon and have them delivered to the store. There is a section that has lockers and an actual person there that can help you with returns. Each store may have different hours or requirements so check to see if that is an option when you check out online or plan a return. This sure is a great option and allows you to get two things done at the same place without going to two different stores.
Amazon Fresh Does Not Require a Prime Membership
Amazon Fresh is not like a box store where you need a membership. You can enter and pay cash, by credit or through the app. You don't need the app nor to you need an Amazon Prime membership to by or enter, but having the Prime Membership can help. There are different items that could be at a discount for Prime Members and for certain departments it rotates amongst different items.
Amazon Fresh is open to everyone. The store is advanced for purchases and check out but it is still a grocery store with some added benefits. It might be a change to order somethings by item count instead of by the pound, just something that will take some getting use to. I know the next time I have to order something, I might just select the onsite lockers and pick up a cheesecake or cookies on the way out and enjoy the quick check out. Hopefully when you get one close to you to try, you enjoy the experience too.