People in Hounslow are divided following the announcement that Amazon will close its 19 till-free Fresh stores across London.
The retail giant said on Tuesday it would shutter 14 shops with the remaining five converted into Whole Foods outlets, the US chain acquired by Amazon in 2017.
Amazon Fresh opened its first high-street store in the UK four years ago, allowing customers to walk out without visiting a till by charging their account online. There are 250 staff employed across all sites, with Amazon stating as many as possible will be offered redeployment opportunities in the organisation.
Speaking outside the Hounslow branch in west London, author Natasha Walker, 36, told The Londoners: “This is killing me. It’s the easiest place to get lunch before work. For the quality you get its cheaper than elsewhere.
“It’s ridiculous Amazon would do this – when it’s a prime place near a train station.”
Natasha believed using her mobile account to pay was daunting but ultimately easy to master, adding: “It took me a year to build up the courage to come here.
“The first few times I went in I was genuinely afraid they would accuse me of stealing. So I purposefully kept everything in my hand because it’s weird just putting it in your bag and walking out.”
Iran Lodhi, a first-time visitor who works at Heathrow, said the technology was confusing but added: “The staff were really helpful. It’s a shame they’re shutting.”
Geena Binua, 26, also felt the closures were a shame but said: “If they go there’s other stores for us to go to that are more convenient.”
The Hounslow branch is in close proximity to several local supermarkets, and chains such as Lidl and Asda.
Vanessa Borges, a 25 year old from Isleworth, said: “I don’t think it’s the right market here, because you have local shops and then Lidl down the road.
“I think mostly people prefer buying from Lidl. I don’t see a lot of people coming to Amazon Fresh.”
NHS worker Yosser Shamki, 28, who was initially opposed to the store because of Amazon’s “unethical business practices”, said: “I was boycotting Amazon for seven years until I started working nearby. It’s the only place I can go without being late back from lunch.
“I would love for this place to be gone tomorrow.”
South West Londoner has contacted Amazon for comment but received no reply.
Feature image credit: Jack Prentice
Join the discussion