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I've heard of the system you describe, I think Waitrose (UK) are trialling it. I can't find a reference.

They've had a more basic non-phone version for at least 10 years, probably more like 15: http://www.waitrose.com/home/about_waitrose/quick_check.html

Does that actually exist?!

yes. £1.09 each

http://www.waitrose.com/shop/ProductView-10317-10001-110438-Cherry+%26+geranium+cupcake

Waitrose are open about their limits: 5Gb included, and £2 per Gb over that. I don't mind the over charges too much, as the profits go to charity anyway.

I'm in the UK, but most of the major supermarkets do home delivery now.

Tesco and Waitrose to name a couple.

If it works like the Waitrose system, then the only difference in the actual shopping trolley is that it has a (dumb) cradle to put the handheld scanner in. The scanner itself goes back on a rack before you leave the shop.

Good call as to the probable reason for removing them, though, hadn't thought of that.

Yup, Waitrose in the UK have had this for ages.

Yup, Waitrose in the UK has had this for some time now. From their website:

Quick Pay / Quick Check
Quick Check is our scan as you shop service.
Using a handheld scanner, you scan each item as you take it from the shelves. We supply you with special reusable bags, so you can pack as you go. When you have finished shopping, all that is left to do is pay at the Quick Check till, without having to unpack and re-pack your shopping...

You do have to have their account card to do it though.

You specify a delivery slot (depending on the company this can be in one- or three-hour increments) place your order and wait.

They're delivered from the local store in small vans with refrigeration units. If something is out of stock they'll deliver a replacement item. Anything you don't want (ordered too much milk? pears overripe?) you can send back with the driver and the amount is deducted from your bill.

Tends to work very well.

Although the CNN article focuses on the US experience, the UK has had successful and profitable online grocery shopping for several years. UK chain Tesco was one of the first - with an in-house developed software system - and now most of the UK major chains have followed suit with similar systems.

The Tesco system was initially thought to be un-economic as it simply comprised staff going round existing stores and loading carts that where then delivered using small vans to homes in the locality - but apparently its been profitable since the outset.

Tesco's approach is compared to that of WebVan (who feature in the CNN article) in this document written by a Prof at Wharton (free - but registration required)

More recently, a WebVan style UK Grocery operation called Occado has started too - working with upmarket Grocer Waitrose. Their approach is to use central warehouses to fill orders and distribute.

All this competition has resulted in competition between providers both on price (several offer the service 'free' for spends over a threshold of about 75) and quality (for example, discounts if delivery times are missed, or the goods / brands you order are not in stock etc.)

Here in the UK, the Tesco and Waitrose supermarket chains have been taking orders over the net and delivering the goods by truck for several years. It's no longer remarked upon as being anything special.

Tesco were the first to realise that using their regular staff picking goods off the shelves of their regular supermarkets was a low-investment and very cost-effective way of linking orders to delivery trucks.

Paul

Perhaps someone should create one as a wiki. That way improvement can be added all the time by anyone.

This is a good website for recipies. It is from a UK supermarket.

Is that not the case in the US? Don't the main supermarkets do this as standard?

Cheers,
Ian

There's a couple of these in the UK.

Try Care4Free or Waitrose.

Waitrose gives you a choice of a few charities, i think, but i don't know how Care4Free works.

No idea how Linux friendly either of these are, either, i'm afraid.