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1247 points mangoman | 3 comments | 05 Dec 16 14:57 UTC | HN request time: 0.659s | source
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elicash ◴[05 Dec 16 15:31 UTC] No.13105963[source]▶
I worked at a grocery store for several years, and one thing I recall is customers CONSTANTLY putting items back in a random aisle, rather than where they found it.

I wonder how this tech deals with that? Maybe they figured that out, too. But I was amused in the video when I saw the customer putting it back where it belonged, because that's not how I remember that going...

All that said, this is fantastic and exciting.

Edit: I also hope they're already thinking about EBT cards and WIC.

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Cthulhu_ ◴[05 Dec 16 15:38 UTC] No.13106046[source]▶
I really wouldn't trust 'picked up off the shelf' detection, not without the whole thing looking like a giant vending machine. RFID tags on products probably works better.
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1. solatic ◴[05 Dec 16 16:30 UTC] No.13106561[source]▶
RFID probably works better if you control the packaging, for instance, for deli counter products. But for packaging that you don't control, you either have to slap an RFID tag on when the items get to the store, negotiate with suppliers to start to include RFID tags in their packaging for items shipped to your store, or arbitrarily limit yourself in terms of which products your store may sell. Not to mention that, if your store slaps on RFID tags itself, it raises the OpEx of running the store as well as needing to come up with tamper-resistant tags, because somebody would be able to steal a product by discreetly removing a tag and then walking out of the store.

In essence, RFID tag technology already exists, and there's a reason why it hasn't taken off in grocery stores.

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2. gohrt ◴[05 Dec 16 16:44 UTC] No.13106690[source]▶
> because somebody would be able to steal a product by discreetly removing a tag and then walking out of the store.

That's already handled in grocery -- people can mess with regular barcodes if they want. it's a known cost of business

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3. altcognito ◴[05 Dec 16 17:15 UTC] No.13107016[source]▶
And if they know who you are because of your phone, and they are doing inventory on a really regular basis (every 6 hours, maybe even less), they might actually be able to track down who it was.