Would You Shop at a Store With No Employees?

This Dollar General Has No Cashiers, No Employees, and Almost No Human Interaction

If you hate self-checkout, buckle up, buttercup. You might hate, hate, hate, loathe this Dollar General. Or you might actually... like it!

I was scrolling Facebook when I came across a video tour of a fully automated Dollar General. It looks like a cute, rustic cabin in the woods. The creator's location is in North Carolina, so this could very well be somewhere in the mountains.

When you walk in, the shelves are full of normal Dollar General products, and there's even a freezer section. What you don't see are cashiers or even employees.

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How Does a Fully Automated Dollar General Work?

To gain access to the store, you have to insert your credit card. The door opens, and you can go in. Cameras monitor every move you make. Whatever you decide to purchase, you can just walk out the door with your items. The technology keeps track of what you take and charges your card.

This technology isn't exactly new. Amazon Go stores have been around for a while, but to my knowledge, we don't have anything quite like this in the Tri-State area.

Why Would Dollar General Go Completely Cashierless?

According to OnLogic, one of the companies that creates and installs technology for cashierless stores, there are some advantages.

Instead of staffing a cash register, employees can focus on the customer experience and assist customers where needed. Smaller retail spaces can also accommodate a range of goods, potentially saving retailers money on rent and overhead costs.

And then there's the convenience.

I'm a little torn.

I do love not talking to people. I love the convenience of it. We stop at the DG often to get candy to definitely eat before or after we go to the movies, but not in the movies. And it never fails. I always get behind a very slow person who has apparently done their monthly grocery shopping, has all the coupons, is paying in cash, and has the time to chit-chat.

I also LOVE the Scan & Go option at Sam's. No lines. I can just get what I want and get the heck out of there.

OnLogic also points out that cashierless stores can stay open 24/7, giving customers more flexibility when they shop.

All that sounds great, right?

a person is using a tablet on a conveyor belt

But What Happens to Retail Jobs?

I'm also afraid of the rabbit hole this will create.

Retail jobs provide opportunities and income for a wide array of people. But with that said, many retail stores are having a hard time finding people to work, so it's really a double-edged sword. If a store can operate without employees, it could solve one problem for the retailer while creating another problem for workers.

Would You Feel Safe Shopping in an Employee-Free Store?

My other concern is safety. I wouldn't want to be alone in a store like that, especially at night.

One might argue that you need a credit card to get inside and that there are cameras everywhere. But when you leave the store, there's no one there to help you if someone is lying in wait outside. Yes, I watch A LOT of crime dramas. Still, I can't be the only person who would think about that.

man in white long sleeve shirt driving car

Dollar General Has Already Changed Self-Checkout

I've noticed that Dollar General stores in the area have eliminated their self-checkout lanes, at least in some locations, to combat high rates of inventory loss. A completely automated system would certainly eliminate it. But what a hassle if the system accidentally charges you for something you didn't get.

What Happens When the Technology Goes Wrong?

Walmart in Boonville recently burned my biscuits when I used one of their kiosks to make a key. The key didn't come out right, and the customer service desk said, "Sorry, we can't help." I was HOT. I mean, it's YOUR store. I think if you provide a service in your store, you should back up that service and then deal with the company yourself later. Full stop.

Well, I guess lots of customers felt the same way because that kiosk is gone.

I finally figured out that I had to call a number to get a human on the phone to refund my money. And I had no key.

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Would You Shop at a Fully Automated Dollar General?

So, what do you think? Would you like to see more retail stores like this pop up in Kentucky, Indiana and the Tri-State area? Or would you rather have an actual human behind the counter?

Personally, I'm still torn. The convenience-loving, people-avoiding part of me is absolutely intrigued. The part of me that watches too much true crime is already checking the parking lot.