The Daily Money

ALL THE MONEY NEWS YOU NEED TO KNOW

Fri Apr 5 2024

Betty Lin-Fisher | Consumer reporter

@blinfisher

Happy Friday! This is Betty Lin-Fisher with Friday's consumer-focused The Daily Money.

Have you seen or had an experience in one of the stores powered by Amazon's Just Walk Out technology, where you grab what you want, walk out of the store – and then your credit card is charged for your purchases?

The concept of taking things off a shelf and bypassing a register is still pretty weird to consumers. You mean I just walk out?

Amazon has been in the news a lot this week about this technology, which is currently used at Amazon Fresh grocery stores and Amazon Go convenience stores, as well as 130 third-party partners at airports, college campuses, casinos, sports stadiums and more.

I've written two stories this week on the subject. On Tuesday, Amazon said it was ditching the Just Walk Out technology at its Amazon Fresh grocery stores to replace it with what it says is better technology: the Amazon Dash shopping cart. Shoppers can see what they're buying – and the price – on a screen as they shop before they walk out and are charged for their purchase.

Then more news on Thursday: Is Amazon using artificial intelligence, cameras, sensors and 1,000 workers in India to track purchases? Read my story here.

Customers can enter with a wave of the hand and shop in the grab-and-go Market Express located in Detroit's Hollywood Casino. The cashless store uses Amazon's Just Walk Out technology so patrons can make purchases with a credit card or registered palm print.

Kirthmon F. Dozier / USA TODAY NETWORK

Can you get a refund on travel plans if the eclipse is a bust?

I'm in Ohio and in the path of the total solar eclipse happening Monday. I've taken the day off work since the hype around here has been akin to prepping for a national holiday or Y2K for those of you who are old enough to remember the extreme worry about everything going wrong when we moved from 1999 to 2000 (By the way, nothing happened).

But in addition to wanting to see this solar phenomenon literally from my back yard, we've been getting warnings of hordes of people traveling to our area to witness the eclipse. That might mean shortages of gas and food and spotty cell service for days.

Forecasts, though are now saying that it might be cloudy. So can you cancel and get a refund on your travel plans if you decide to bail on the eclipse? Read about your options in a story by my colleagues, Zach Wichter and Kathleen Wong.

📰 Consumer stories you shouldn't miss 📰

•	Is that AI or your doctor? MSN reports that more doctors are using AI in their care.
•	Consumers had a hard time paying heating bills. Can they afford air conditioning this summer?
•	The latest jobs report is showing hiring grew in March.
•	99 Cents Only Stores are closing all locations.
•	Are you moving? Is hiring a mover worth it?

📰 A great read 📰

Here's two recent stories I wrote that resonated with readers: A couple greatest hits, if you will. Read them again. Read them for the first time. Share them with friends.

•	Did you know you can get hot dogs and health care at Costco? Costco's health partner, Sesame, which started offering primary care visits for Costco members last fall, is now offering weight-loss management. Read this story, which I was the first to report with an exclusive.
•	This one is scary and a cautionary tale. An Ohio pharmacist shared her story with me. Scammers targeted her and her pharmacy license and had her so terrified that she lost $750,000.

About The Daily Money

Each weekday, The Daily Money delivers the best consumer news from USA TODAY. We break down financial news and provide the TLDR version: how decisions by the Federal Reserve, government and companies impact you.