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Amazon Fresh is introducing what it calls the future of grocery shopping to Long Island with its simple, “just walk out” experience — enabling shoppers to leave a grocery store without the hassle of checking out.
Amazon Fresh debuted its first New York location earlier this month at 3620 Long Beach Road in Oceanside, a location formerly occupied by a Waldbaum’s store that closed in 2016.
For the uninitiated, Amazon Fresh is an online and physical, full-sized grocery store that offers competitively low prices, free same-day delivery, and pick-up in select locations for Prime members.
The store provides a wide assortment of national brands, high-quality produce, meat and seafood. In addition, there is a variety of prepared foods and meals made fresh in-store every day.
There are several ways to shop for groceries at Amazon Fresh and an Amazon Prime membership is not required.
How shopping at Amazon Fresh in Oceanside works
The most notable feature at the Oceanside location is the Just Walk Out shopping, which allows shoppers to skip the checkout line.
There are three ways to enter the store with its Just Walk Out shopping technology.
Amazon Prime members can scan their In-Store Code through the Amazon app, hover their palm using Amazon One, or insert a credit card (Amazon One and credit cards must be linked to a single Amazon account).
Once inside the store, customers can grab a bag or basket and begin shopping like normal.
Thousands of motion sensors hang from the ceilings and there are sensors on the shelves to detect what customers take or put back.
This technology monitors all items and automatically adds them to one’s virtual cart.
Can’t find what you’re looking for? The store implemented virtual assistant technology with its three “Ask Alexa” kiosks that customers can verbally ask questions.
Once finished, customers can scan or insert their entry method once again to exit the store.
Amazon Fresh then sends out a digital receipt, also available through an Amazon account.
Shopping at Amazon Fresh stores is open to everyone. The Oceanside location includes traditional staffed checkouts for customers who do not wish to use Just Walk Out shopping.
Those looking for the standard grocery shopping experience can enter the store through the designated gates and pay at the staffed checkout lanes with cash, credit or debit card, Amazon One, the In-store code in the Amazon App, or SNAP EBT.
Traditional checkout shoppers receive an old fashioned paper receipt.
Amazon Fresh employees are stationed throughout the store to assist the shoppers.
The first Amazon Fresh store opened in August 2020, and there are currently 36 locations in the United States. According to reports, Amazon Fresh is opening two more Long Island stores in Plainview and East Setauket.
Learn more about Amazon Fresh and Just Walk Out shopping by clicking here.
Scroll down to view photos of the Amazon Fresh that’s now open in Oceanside daily from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Top photo: Exterior of Amazon Fresh in Oceanside. All photos are by Ana Borruto.
