Technology

Work in retail without e-ink and a lot of the concerns people have here already happen with paper. We do full store paper price tag updates daily, also someone will go around with a scanner making sure prices are up to date with website and print new sheets if not.

Normal days will consist of 3-5 new batches of tickets with the full store update batch containing normally ~10-20 a4 sheets. This isn't a huge store either I imagine most wallmarts would have more products.

The prices already update super frequently and e-inks don't really change that. It basically just cuts out the printing and placing, the person running around with the scanner now updates prices.

I think for workers they are nice as they reduce the chance of paper cuts and the back and leg pain from changing the 100s of bottom shelf tags.

The benefit for stores is they likely don't need to hire as many people, less training and possibly reduced material cost over time as the paper would probably add up.

As long as they are still sending out flyers with stuff you buy you are okay. Also, if you already knew the price range of your regularly shopped goods, you know something is off. Superstore is already using digital tags. And you can just pull out your phone and take pictures.

Lastly, it should be put into law so you can't increase price during the day. Going down is fine, but no going down and then going up again for peak hour. Stores can set whatever price they want to sell before opening. (for those non-regulated things)

If they used a screen for the price tag on the display: Cool.

If I have to look it up on my own device: Fuck that.

It's not just Walmart - the entire grocery sector is doing it. The potential for abuse is certainly not low.

The new labels allow employees to change prices as often as every ten seconds. - NPR

Can't wait for somebody to hack them, the displays are certainly neat. Especially if they manage to add it to an existing Home Automation network without extra hardware.

It's bound to happen. Why waste hours replacing tags when you can just change what the shelf says when the prices change.

But this article is so pro Walmart it's crazy.

Retailers argue that these innovations increase efficiency and reduce costs in an industry known for its slim profit margins.

Slim profit margins my ass. Walmarts gross profit for the twelve months ending July 31, 2024 was $163.786B,

AFAIK, they use RFID now so they must be changed manually but maybe someday, they will devise a price-gouging scheme involving face detection and tracking people with security cameras.

"Here comes this lady that always buys four cans of dog food despite the last price increase! Let's notch it up it by another 20%!"

Rightfully worried IMO