It Feels Like Stealing

Today, I bought myself a new folio cover for my iPad mini in sage green to match the one on my larger iPad. For some time now, the Apple Store has allowed customers to scan products on their phone and complete purchases without ever talking to an associate. Seriously, you pull your phone out, open the Apple Store app which recognizes you’re in that Apple Store via GPS, which gives you a prompt to scan products, opens the camera to let you scan the barcode on the product, adds it to your virtual basket, then allows you to checkout. I was in and out in less than two minutes. I spoke to no one, even on the way out. I kept my phone unlocked with the receipt showing in the event someone wanted to question me, but nothing. I simply left without an interaction.

This isn’t the first time I’ve done this there, but, it blows my mind every time. It reminds me of the Not Just Bikes video about buying groceries in Amsterdam (YouTube link | Nebula link). As you walk in, some stores have a hand scanner for you to scan your groceries as you shop. You bag your groceries with reusable grocery bags you keep around the whole time, so there’s no re-bagging at checkout. Once at checkout, you plug your hand scanner back in, wave your contactless payment in front of the terminal which prints a receipt that you scan to let you out of the building. Again, with little or no human interaction.

I’m in favor of shopping like this. It’s like shopping online, but just in person. It’s not that I don’t like talking to people. But, I’m not always up for small talk, especially when I’m tired after a day of work or on my days off when I’m in my own personal zen mode. The more other shoppers and the store itself can get out of the way, the better. That’s a future I’m in favor of.