Since Amazon’s venture into autonomous grocery stores, there’s been a question on many consumers’ minds: When is this going to happen everywhere? One man ended up finding a store that appears to be taking the next step: Dollar General.
A TikToker who goes by the name Trash Mechanic (@the_trash_mechanic) posted a video that received more than 35,000 views. In it, he purchased a Mug Root Beer from a completely autonomous Dollar General.
Is There Really an Autonomous Dollar General?
In 2023, Business Insider reported that Dollar General opened one completely autonomous store in Banner Elk, North Carolina. The store, according to the publication, is somewhat reminiscent of Amazon’s Just Walk Out technology.
Dollar General is working with a technology startup, AiFi. AiFi describes how the AI works on its website. When a person picks up something in-store, the technology can detect what the product is. It can also keep track of how many items a shopper has, what type of products they’re grabbing, and how long they’ve been in store.
Dollar General told Business Insider that the autonomous store was created to look for new ways to approach customers’ needs. The company stated that the Banner Elk, North Carolina, location uses “frictionless technology,” and that there are no current plans to expand the technology.
A Dollar General Tour
Trash Mechanic took an opportunity to visit the fully autonomous Dollar General. In his video, he walked around in-store and explained how the process works.
“First things first,” he said. “The door is locked on this thing, so you have to [use your] card. Once you get your card [in], authorize it … [It] unlocks the door.”
After receiving a receipt from a machine outside the building, Trash Mechanic walked in. He strolled around the Dollar General for a few seconds and pointed out a stark difference.
“There is nobody in here, as you can see,” he said. “So I guess when you pick your items up, the camera catches you, and it charges your card.”
@the_trash_mechanic #trashmechanicman @Dollar General ♬ original sound – Trash mechanic
How Does This Particular Dollar General Even Work?
Prior to a guest entering the store, they have to insert a credit card or tap-to-pay a machine. For many, that caused confusion; viewers weren’t sure of how the Dollar General would operate under abnormal circumstances.
“[What] happens when your card gets declined?” one person asked. Another replied, “[It] doesn’t let you in.”
Another viewer replied on the very same thread and asked, “[What] if you have $20 on your card and [it] lets you in, but you grab $40 worth of stuff?”
Then another viewer added, “I’d guess it checks/ verifies the card like gas pumps do for more than your average purchase, but only charges you for [what] you spent.”
Then, another commenter asked, “Do they credit you if you put [a product] back? What happens if multiple people are inside? How do they know who to charge?”
Other viewers raised concerns about the store taking away jobs from employees. In July 2026, The U.S. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that 4.1% of Americans are unemployed. While that’s comparable to recent years, the economy at large is still a chief concern across the United States.
Subplot News reached out to Trash Mechanic via TikTok direct message and Dollar General via email for comment.
