[LeRoySmith]

Originally Posted by OrangeBlossomBaby

Has nothing to do with minimum wage, since the employees that these robots replace, are paid MORE than minimum wage to start with. In addition, someone has to make those robots. Someone has to write the programs for them, and update the programs as the needs of each store changes. Someone has to deliver them. Someone has to repair them. Someone has to do periodic maintenance on them. Someone has to run the company that manufactures them, and they need sales people to convince store companies to buy or lease them. And I can guarantee that NONE of the people doing any of these things is being paid minimum wage.

What is happening, is there's a whole new genre of skilled employees who work in robotics. A great career opportunity for someone who doesn't want to be stuck counting boxes of cereal on a shelf for the rest of their lives.

I don't know about inventory robots but I've replaced many cleaners with robotic vacuums or ride on vacuums. All those folks were at or below minimum wage. A $15,000 vacuum is a bargain compared to a handful of cleaners. Salary is a major factor in the decision making process.