This is What’s Trending Today…
The online marketer Amazon is opening a new kind of store. It is one where people do not have to wait in long lines to buy a product. Instead, the buyers pay using their smartphones.
The new store is in the American city of Seattle, Washington. It is called Amazon Go. It sells products that are normally found in a grocery store. What you will not find, however, are long lines and cashiers exchanging money.
Customers must have a smartphone, an Amazon account, and a program on their smartphone: the Amazon Go app. The app makes a list of everything that customers plan to buy from the store. After customers have finished shopping, they can simply leave.
Amazon’s line-free grocery store ‘Amazon Go’ promotion (video screenshot)
Amazon says that because its new store does not require as many employees, the prices of goods will remain low.
The company has been working on creating the store for four years.
AmazonGo became a trending topic this week on social media.
One person on Twitter published a photograph of himself waiting in a very long line at a grocery store. He wrote, “I cannot wait for Amazon Go. Longest queue in history.”
But, it may be some time before Amazon Go stores open up in other areas. Even the Seattle store is still only open to Amazon employees. The company plans to open that store to the public in early 2017.
And that’s What’s Trending Today.
I’m Jill Robbins.
Ashley Thompson adapted this VOA News report for Learning English. George Grow was the editor.
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Words in This Story
account – n. a record of money that has been paid and money that has been received
cashier – n. a person whose job is to take in or give out money in a store, bank, etc.
queue – n. (British) a line of people who are waiting for something
shopping – n. he activity of visiting places where goods are sold in order to look at and buy things (such as food, clothing, etc.)
customer – n. someone who buys goods or services from a business
grocery store – n. a store that sells food and household supplies