Hello!

Since I was browsing through the photos on my phone, I found an interesting series of pictures that I took right after New Year's, on the fifth, when my friend Ari was still visiting Lahti.

Ari, Leo and I had been checking if the local superstore Kärkkäinen (It's somewhat similar to the Walmart in the US I guess), if they had the 12–24mm lens that I was hoping to buy. They didn't have it available, so we left and went to grab some hamburgers at a local McD, that happened to be automated too. (Sorry, I don't have any photos from there.)

Ari remembered his mother mentioning this new "robot grocery" nearby and asked if we were willing to check it out.

Leo and I were interested, so we wrapped up and drove there. Along the way Ari told it was a completely computerized store, and that it would be open around the clock, but it wouldn't sell things like tobacco or alcohol.

There aren't very many stores open around the clock in Lahti. At an ABC gas station next to the Helsinki-Lahti motorway, there is a S-group Supermarket that does, but that's about it. (The above mentioned McDonalds is also open 24/7, and that's also the only place to get something to eat if you work late.)

To get in to the store you need to have a working credit or debit card (a bank card essentially) that you will have to read at the door.

^{"No pets!", "Camera surveillance!"}

^{The store shelves.}

^{There's also an automated post-office inside.}

^{The payment system and info kiosk.}

^{First reserve some currency to make the purchases with.}

^{Then enter your card pin-number.}

^{"Start Shopping!"}

^{There was a lot of candy to choose from.}

^{Condoms... garbage bags, and plastic forks.}

^{Energy drinks and soda pop...}

^{Other refreshments, sugary drinks, oat and soy milk. Even Glög.}

^{Cleaners, soaps, shampoos, and bandages.}

^{CLOSED CLOSED CLOSED}

^Cheeses...

^{Instant meals.}

^{Pro-tip: This chocolate waffle is actually quite good.}

^{Tip2 This slab of chocolate is quite good too.}

"Small piece of Love"

But I wanted to buy something. And I finally found it!

^{I just put my card in the slot, and...}

^{...out comes...}

^{...the protein milkshake.}

Then I noticed they also had something I haven't had since my childhood...

^{Pumppernikkeli}

But I didn't get that one. I'm not really into sugary things anymore.

When we left the store Leo mentioned a weird thing he had noticed.

^{Look at the food emblems and see if you can notice what was missing from the store.}

Yep. Unlike in the picture in the store window, there were actually no fresh produce nor frozen stuff like icecream. Bummer.

And the prices were crazy! I mean it was like they'd straight multiplied the price by 1.5 for each item.

The third thing that was a bit off was that there were no baskets to put purchases in, no bags to carry them out with. I mean if they want to make this thing work, at least let people buy more than 20 euros worth of produce and provide with baskets to load their purchases in.

Oh, and for goodness' sake lower the prices to a humane level.

Anyway, it was a fun try-out. I'm not sure if I'm going there anymore. The service was non-existent, the products were overpriced, and there was no fresh produce. Those there were the deal breakers for me.

^{Bye bye robotic store!}

Would you use a store like this? Do you think it's a viable business model?

I'll be taking off now, so see you again later! :)