“Starbucks just announced that they’re going cashless.”
Starbucks is testing out cashless checkout in stores nationwide, according to several news reports. As of Tuesday, for example, one downtown Seattle store accepts only cards or mobile payments, according to a report from KIRO-7. [...] Just last month, former Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz, told CNBC that Starbucks would soon be a cashless retailer. "That time is nearer than you think," he said, but also added that people would continue to brew and pour coffee. "I don't see a day where artificial intelligence or robotics is going to replace the humanity of Starbucks," he said. [...] The cashless store is positioned as a convenience play, but cash-free payments, especially through a retailer's mobile app, could siphon up a lot of customer data. Starbucks is looking for feedback on its new effort, and the privacy concerns expressed to the Seattle news channel aren't likely relegated to just one store.