Walmart is leading the charge to replace traditional paper price tags with electronic shelf labels (ESLs) by 2026. The retailer aims to introduce the technology in 2,300...
We’ve had digital price tags for decades. But you couldn’t do this in NZ. Stores are obligated to sell you a product at the price they advertise it for AND have a reasonable quantity of units at that price… you couldn’t sell 1 TV for $1.
So these systems would need to track what price you saw it at.
(Caveat: Our stores are still cunts and have been found to overcharge people)
this gets into what if the price changes between pikcing it up and purchasing. They should really guarantee to not change prices while the store is open and find an hour to close and make 24hour stores 23 hours.
Paper tickets at work but change frequently. Had this happen a couple times. Since its manual we normally ask if someone updated the isle. I’ve had to respond a few times and had the ticket in my pocket still.
If there is major doubt though register price will be used, it’s not hard for someone to lie or move a ticket.
Oh also iirc there is a way to check price history to see if someone is lying so that can be used too if the store has that in the system.
Best thing for any store is to take a photo tbh since its not just eink.
I don’t really agree with this but its the way it is.
As noted in other comments, that certainly happens now even with paper tags - but it makes that wheel just a bit more greased…
It’s understandable given the effort required to update tags manually, but it would be nice to see price guarantees from stores (“price stable for 24 hours!”).
Lots of stores do have the price guarantees, you just need to ask someone. For example we have 7 days but you need to ask an employee for a quote first. Also I might be willing to quote a single pencil but I don’t think everyone is, its normally big ticket items or a group of things.
It would be a crying shame if someone were to figure out a way to force those e ink displays to refresh fast enough that it kills the batteries on those things…
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It’s not just Walmart - the entire grocery sector is doing it. The potential for abuse is certainly not low.
It’s America, so the answer is probably “No”.
Do you not have consumer protection laws?
We’ve had digital price tags for decades. But you couldn’t do this in NZ. Stores are obligated to sell you a product at the price they advertise it for AND have a reasonable quantity of units at that price… you couldn’t sell 1 TV for $1.
So these systems would need to track what price you saw it at.
(Caveat: Our stores are still cunts and have been found to overcharge people)
this gets into what if the price changes between pikcing it up and purchasing. They should really guarantee to not change prices while the store is open and find an hour to close and make 24hour stores 23 hours.
Paper tickets at work but change frequently. Had this happen a couple times. Since its manual we normally ask if someone updated the isle. I’ve had to respond a few times and had the ticket in my pocket still.
If there is major doubt though register price will be used, it’s not hard for someone to lie or move a ticket.
Oh also iirc there is a way to check price history to see if someone is lying so that can be used too if the store has that in the system.
Best thing for any store is to take a photo tbh since its not just eink.
I don’t really agree with this but its the way it is.
As noted in other comments, that certainly happens now even with paper tags - but it makes that wheel just a bit more greased…
It’s understandable given the effort required to update tags manually, but it would be nice to see price guarantees from stores (“price stable for 24 hours!”).
Lots of stores do have the price guarantees, you just need to ask someone. For example we have 7 days but you need to ask an employee for a quote first. Also I might be willing to quote a single pencil but I don’t think everyone is, its normally big ticket items or a group of things.
It would be a crying shame if someone were to figure out a way to force those e ink displays to refresh fast enough that it kills the batteries on those things…