Just Walk Out was the clear speed winner in a 2024 Seattle test, but Dash Cart offered more visibility and control. Using the same 10-item grocery list, reporters completed the trip in under nine minutes with Just Walk Out, about 12 minutes with a Dash Cart, and about 14 minutes with a traditional cashier checkout.
The result is more complicated than “Amazon chose the wrong technology.” Dash Cart was slower and more frustrating in this test, while Amazon said it better suited larger grocery trips. Amazon’s physical-store strategy has also changed since the experiment: as of January 2026, the company said it was closing Amazon Go and Amazon Fresh stores and converting various locations into Whole Foods Market stores.
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The test at a glance
| Checkout method | Approximate time | What happened |
|---|---|---|
| Just Walk Out | Under 9 minutes | Fastest and least interactive |
| Amazon Dash Cart | About 12 minutes | More information and control, but more troubleshooting |
| Traditional checkout | About 14 minutes | Slowest, but familiar and human-assisted |
These results came from a GeekWire field test published April 9, 2024. Two reporters made three trips to an Amazon Fresh store on Aurora Avenue in Seattle, using the same 10-item list of produce, vegetables, beef, chips, paper towels and canned cocktails.
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It was a small journalistic test—not a controlled study of every Amazon store, product category or shopper. The reporters became more familiar with the store layout during later trips, although they attempted to account for that learning effect.
#1 Best Overall
- FOLDING SHOPPING CART is compact enough to easily fit into the back of a car, or on public transportation. Easily rolls across most surfaces with a extra tight grip handle that will allow it to be effortlessly carried up steps
- SHOPPING TROLLEY CART WITH WHEELS is durable and lightweight weighing only 7.5 pounds but able to hold up to 90 pounds. Perfect to use as a grocery cart, laundry cart, art supply organizer or cleaning supplies organizer making it functional and efficient
- CART WITH WHEELS is easy to assemble. It's compact and folds flat for easy storage and includes a convenient carrying case
- UTILITY CART IS durable and maneuvers easily with 6 inch wheels in rear and 3 inch wheels in front. The textured hand grip allows for a no slip surface making it both ergonomic and easy to carry while climbing stairs or going over curbs
- ROLLING UTILITY CART PRODUCT SPECS: Overall rolling cart size is 15 x 17 X 36 inches. Actual storage basket area is 12 x 10 x 20 inches
How Just Walk Out works
Just Walk Out is designed to remove item-by-item checkout. Depending on the location and technology version, shoppers identify themselves through the Amazon app, Amazon One or another supported method. They take a regular cart, select products, and leave through a designated exit. Cameras and sensors track the shopping activity, and the customer is charged electronically.
- Use the store’s supported entry or identification method.
- Take a normal cart and pick up products without scanning each one.
- Go to the Just Walk Out exit.
- Scan the app code or use the supported identity method.
- Leave and receive the electronic charge or receipt.
Not every location supports the same entry, payment or identification options. The technology also depends on the store’s particular implementation.
How Dash Cart works
A Dash Cart is a smart shopping cart with a scanner, screen, sensors and, in some versions, produce-weighing capability. It associates the trip with the shopper’s Amazon account or payment setup and displays a running total or receipt.
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1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems- Select an eligible Dash Cart and associate it with your account.
- Scan packaged products as they are placed in the cart.
- Enter or weigh items that do not have conventional barcodes.
- Review the running total on the cart screen.
- Complete any required age or transaction verification.
- Exit through the designated Dash Cart lane.
Exact login, payment, bagging and produce procedures vary by store and cart version. Amazon says a redesigned Dash Cart is planned for dozens of Whole Foods locations by the end of 2026, but that newer model should not automatically be assumed to perform like the cart used in the 2024 test. (Amazon’s announcement reports company-run satisfaction results, not an independent comparison.)
Rank #2
- Space-Saving Design: Weighing only 12 lbs, this compact foldable wagon easily fits into any car when folded (22''*9.8''*7.5''), maximizing space for your journey
- Effortless Maneuvering: 360° rotating front wheels and an ergonomic extendable handle offer smooth control, even when fully loaded
- Sturdy & Enduring: Heavy-duty 1.2mm thick steel frame and 600D Oxford fabric withstand significant weight and all-weather use. Wear-resistant PU wheels would conquer all kinds of terrain
- Detachable Wheels: Allow for hassle-free cleaning, keeping your storage space pristine by preventing dirt transfer from outdoor use. This user-friendly feature ensures maintenance is a breeze
- Versatile Utility Wagon: Perfect for outdoor excursions, camping, groceries shopping, gardening, and sporting events—an indispensable companion for a wide array of scenarios
What happened in the hands-on comparison?
Traditional checkout
The conventional cart-and-cashier trip took about 14 minutes. It was the slowest option, but it also avoided many technology-specific decisions. A cashier can typically handle unusual products, explain a price issue and assist when an item will not scan.
Dash Cart
The Dash Cart trip took about 12 minutes. Its main benefit was visibility: the screen showed what had been added and the running total. The cart also supported product lookup, packaged-item scanning and produce weighing.
In practice, however, the interface introduced several friction points:
- The reporters were unsure whether some produce should be scanned or entered manually.
- Some products, including blueberries, were difficult to scan.
- Moving or adding a shopping bag triggered weight warnings.
- Repeated alerts had to be dismissed.
- The canned cocktails required an additional identity check at the exit.
- An attendant’s app froze during the alcohol verification.
Those are specific problems observed in one store—not proof that every Dash Cart has the same failures. They do show how a system can add cognitive overhead to a simple shopping trip.
Rank #3
- Foldable shopping utility cart for groceries, laundry, sports equipment, thrift stores, garden centers, and more
- Includes an extra-large shopping utility cart made of durable metal with a black finish; 50-70 pound load capacity
- Ample storage with 2 large baskets, plus a smaller basket that works well for personal items
- Heavy duty wheels with 360-degree swivel front wheels for smooth mobility and easy maneuvering in any direction
- Foam covered handle offers a soft, secure, comfortable grip
Just Walk Out
Just Walk Out took less than nine minutes. The reporters did not have to scan products, enter produce manually or deal with cart weight warnings. They placed items in a regular cart, went to the exit, identified themselves and left.
That made it the most seamless option for the particular 10-item trip. Its advantage was especially clear because the basket was relatively small and the product mix did not require extensive in-cart management.
Which technology was better?
For speed and minimal interaction, Just Walk Out won this test. Dash Cart was about three minutes slower, while traditional checkout was about five minutes slower than Just Walk Out.
For seeing the total while shopping, Dash Cart had the advantage. A running receipt can be useful for shoppers managing a budget or checking whether a product was added correctly. Amazon has also said Dash Cart is better suited to larger grocery trips because shoppers can see and control the contents of the cart. That is Amazon’s stated position, not an independently established preference shared by all shoppers.
Rank #4
- HEAVY DUTY 100 LB CAPACITY - Tubular steel frame holds 100 lbs while weighing only 10 lbs. Reinforced mesh base fits 5-gallon jugs, boxes, and groceries. Featured on Shark Tank as America's #1 cart company for shopping and laundry needs.
- PATENTED ONE-STEP BRAKE SYSTEM - Lockable wheel brakes keep cart stationary during loading. Step on brake pedal to secure wheels in place. Prevents rolling on driveways and hallways. Never-before-seen safety feature for peace of mind.
- VERSATILE FOR EVERY HOUSEHOLD - Perfect for groceries, laundry, farmers markets, camping gear, and moving boxes. Ideal for seniors, apartment dwellers, and busy families. Use at laundromats, supermarkets, storage units, or events.
- SMOOTH 360° SWIVEL WHEELS - Front wheels rotate for easy maneuverability. Large rear shock-absorbing wheels glide over curbs, cobblestone, gravel, and snow. High-density EVA tires reduce vibration on uneven surfaces for stress-free transport.
- FOLDS FLAT FOR COMPACT STORAGE - Collapses in seconds with no tools. Lock mechanism keeps cart folded. Cushioned handle reduces strain. Open: 17.5"W × 17.25"D × 37"H | Folded: 17"W × 7"D × 37"H. Perfect for trunks, closets, or garages.
| Priority | Best apparent fit |
|---|---|
| Fast, low-interaction trip | Just Walk Out, where available |
| Running total and visible receipt | Dash Cart |
| Unusual products or human assistance | Traditional checkout |
| Large basket with many exceptions | Dash Cart or staffed checkout, depending on store performance |
Why might Amazon favor Dash Cart?
A faster customer experience does not automatically make a technology the better business decision. Amazon’s choice involved operational and financial questions that this test did not measure.
- Infrastructure: Just Walk Out requires cameras, sensors, networking and store-wide integration. A smart cart concentrates much of the hardware in the cart itself.
- Basket size: A system optimized for quick trips may be less intuitive for a large weekly shop involving produce, bags, discounts and age-restricted products.
- Customer visibility: Dash Cart gives shoppers a running total, which may reduce uncertainty about the final charge.
- Exceptions: Weighed goods, substitutions, returns, promotions, alcohol and disputed charges create difficult cases for any automated checkout system.
- Deployment strategy: Amazon can offer checkout technologies to different store formats and third-party operators rather than treating one system as universal.
The 2024 report identified infrastructure cost as a likely factor, but the test did not provide a complete cost analysis. It also did not measure labor, shrink, maintenance, accuracy across thousands of transactions, customer adoption or store profitability. A shopper-experience winner is not necessarily a retailer-economics winner.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What changed after the test?
The original comparison should now be read as a dated test with a current-status update, not as a description of Amazon’s current nationwide grocery-store experience.
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Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →In a January 27, 2026 update, Amazon said it was closing Amazon Go and Amazon Fresh physical stores and converting various locations into Whole Foods Market stores. That means readers may no longer be able to reproduce the Seattle comparison at an Amazon Fresh location.
Best Value
- ✅【 Extra Large & Lightweight 】This extra large shopping cart is perfect for groceries, laundry, shopping, shipping packages and much more. Please note that this item is LARGE, and due to it's larger size, it will be slightly heavier. ✅【 Dimensions of the Larger Basket 】16-3/4” Width, 15-1/4” Depth, and 23-1/2” Height. ✅【 Dimensions of the Smaller Basket 】16-3/4” Width, 5” Depth, and 9-3/4” Height. Weighing18 lbs, this shopping cart is able to transport all of your goods with ease, and able to be put away effortlessly.
- ✅【 Heavy Duty with Extra Loading Capacity 】Made of ultra durable stainless steel construction, this utility cart is able to support 100 lbs of weight without sacrificing maneuverability. The steel frame is rust-proof, scratch resistant, thick & sturdy. Also included is the water-proof black liner to protect the privacy of your contents and prevent items from falling through.
- ✅【 Space Saving Design & Easy Assembly 】This shopping cart is collapsible to save space when it is not needed. Just a little over 9” when folded, you can easily store the cart in your car, under the dresser, in the storage closet, etc. Effortlessly assemble in 10 minutes, this grocery cart is ready to go for all your transporting needs.
- ✅【 Extra High Mobility 】Equipped with extra large 7-1/2” back wheels and 4-1/4”front wheels, you will be able to effortlessly push this shopping cart through uneven sidewalks, rough terrains, and even through stone roads. The swivel front wheels allows you to change direction easily without lifting the cart to reposition.
- ✅【 Purchase with Confidence 】Our mission at Our Modern Space is to provide high quality products at an exceptional price! For any reason if you're not completely satisfied or if you have any issues with the product, please let us know and we will be happy to help!
Amazon has not abandoned the underlying technologies everywhere. The company says it continues to use or expand Just Walk Out in selected third-party venues and Amazon operational settings, including fulfillment-center break rooms. Amazon also says redesigned Dash Carts are being introduced in selected Whole Foods locations, with dozens of locations planned by the end of 2026.
Amazon’s reported satisfaction figure for the newer Dash Cart—more than nine in ten customers—comes from Amazon’s own testing or rollout data and should be treated as a company-reported claim, not an independent survey.
Which checkout should a shopper choose?
Choose Just Walk Out when:
- The store supports it and speed matters most.
- You are making a small or medium purchase.
- You are comfortable using the required app, card or identity method.
- The product mix is relatively straightforward.
Choose Dash Cart when:
- You want to see a running total.
- You are buying many packaged items.
- You want product lookup or cart-based guidance.
- You need in-cart produce weighing and the local cart supports it.
Choose traditional checkout when:
- Your basket contains unusual, weighed, discounted or difficult-to-scan products.
- You need age verification or human help.
- You do not want to use an Amazon account or app.
- The automated cart is producing repeated warnings.
Important limitations and unresolved questions
The test did not establish how either system performs across different stores, basket sizes or customer groups. Results may change with crowded aisles, larger baskets, more produce, promotional pricing, reusable bags, children or companions handling items, returns, poor connectivity and accessibility needs.
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Random freezes, missing sound and display glitches usually trace back to one bad driver. Find and replace yours safely.Free scan · under a minutePrivacy is another separate consideration. Depending on the implementation, shoppers may be weighing cameras, account-linked transactions, app dependence and biometric identification such as Amazon One against the convenience of faster checkout. The test measured time and usability, not the privacy preferences or data-governance choices of shoppers.
It is also too broad to say Amazon “abandoned” Just Walk Out. The more accurate description is that Amazon moved away from using it as the primary checkout approach in larger grocery stores while continuing selected deployments elsewhere.
