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High Tech Shopping Carts Offer Discounts, Ads
An anonymous reader writes "'Imagine walking down a supermarket aisle and hearing a chime as you pass the peanut butter letting you know it's on sale. Or picture reading the local five-day weather forecast, checking the Dow Jones industrial average and finding a new chicken and rice recipe, all from your shopping basket. Souped up with a computer attachment, your shopping cart could become a know-it-all that gives you special discounts based on what you buy or provides news and information as you sail through grocery aisles.' Full story here, and the Cart manufacturer's site here. I might just have to warshop in Moraga today..."
...you could create a beowulf cluster out of all of the carts in the cart return!
(sorry, had to say it!)
No trees were harmed in posting this message. However, a large number of electrons were terribly inconvenienced
I worked in a supermarket for over 6 years (mostly as a second job to suplement my poor earnings as a student, and doing IT for a school) When ever we got new shoping carts or hand baskets in, they came at no cost to us. If you notice, there has been a new trend of putting ads on the front and sides of baskets and carts. These basicly pay for these items. This new computerized cart system will most likely be subsidised by the "ads" purchsed by companies to further their sales. Do you really think that the stores will spend all this money on their own?
On a side, but related note, What does everyone think the purpose of thos "bonus savings club cards" or shoping cards are for. They make you think that you need them to save money, but the truth is that what they really are using them for is to track your spending, and, now wait for this. . . . target products directly to you. You know those coupons that you get at the register with the red stripe on the top and bottom? Those are generated based on what you just bought, and your spending habits in the past. i.e. - This person always buys 2 cans of Pringles every time he comes, so lets give him/her a coupon for a $1.00 off three. Next time he buys 3 cans, he gets a coupon for $1.00 off 4. This person buys Pepsi, so lets give him a coupon for coke. . . It goes on, and on, and on like this.
These computerized carts are just the natural next step. Alot of things are paid for by marketing money. Why do you think that there are ads on the backs of your recipt? Thats free for the Supermarket too.
I'm not just making this stuff up, I've just been around it long enough to see how it works.
-= Who are The Headlocks? =-