Author Topic: Wal-Mart expands shop-with-iPhone program (Read 5449 times)

stevewfl · « **on:** March 20, 2013, 02:28:06 PM »

The company is happy with tests that allow customers to scan items with their phones and check out on their own.

Wal-Mart (WMT +0.75%) said Wednesday that its test program that lets shoppers scan their own items with iPhones has been a success.

The company is expanding the "Scan & Go" program to more than 200 stores from the 70 test locations, Reuters reports. In the program, shoppers go around the store and use their iPhones to scan the items they want to buy. Then, they pay for their items at self-checkout counters.

The program only works with iPhones, but Wal-Mart plans to expand it to Android devices.

It's another way for Wal-Mart to get customers in and out of stores without talking to a single employee. If the program goes well, it would likely lead to reduced worker hours and less money spent on salaries.

Wal-Mart already uses self-checkout lanes at about 1,500 stores, and is adding them to 1,000 more stores this year, Reuters reports.

Some of the cities getting the "Scan & Go" technology include Phoenix; Dallas; Seattle; San Jose, Calif.; and Portland, Ore.

devilboy · « **Reply #1 on:** March 20, 2013, 03:10:06 PM »

Wal-Mart has been cutting people out of the equation for years. In my former industry Juvenile Products , all of the manufacturer's representatives were commission only including the reps that called on Walmart as part of their Territory. In about 1993, Sam Walton decided that NO rep was going to make money on sales to Wal-Mart and insisted that a company man call on them that was salaried and it was part of his job. The guy that repped the same line as me nearly had a heart attack when he heard that he was going to be out $750,000/yr very shortly..It didnt matter how reps complained. There were people that called on Sam himself when he ran the one store and he knew personally but that meant nothing. Walmart will not be happy until every employee is gone
and every competing business is gone. Part of this thinking trickled down to the box stores I called on to do education and they wanted lower prices and only that could be accomplished was by "downsizing" the rep force. This is the new face of business
where employees are downsized, hours cut and benefits shrunk or lost.... Welcome to 1984 ( a little bit late)

sherob · « **Reply #2 on:** March 20, 2013, 03:49:39 PM »

I remember when they put in a SuperCenter in Katy, TX. I was soooo happy! There was only a Brookshire Brothers in town, and they closed pretty early... didn't have a huge selection of stuff... or drive 10 miles over to Fry Rd.

Over the years, they put in the self checkouts at that WM, before 2007... They just put them in the WM here in Brighton... LOL!!!!

I'm to the point where I won't set foot in a WM... I don't like their business practices (overseas anyway)... and I'm not real happy with employee 'tudes either. I'll drive over to the Super Target, 99 times out of the 100... much happier employees there.

motocopter · « **Reply #3 on:** March 20, 2013, 06:14:26 PM »

So, if I never get an iPhone, W-M would have to have employees at the registers, right?

Cholla · « **Reply #4 on:** March 21, 2013, 08:54:53 AM »

And how is Target any different?
I guess you want to go back to the days where an employee selected your goods and you paid them?
Most stores have self checkout lanes now. WM is no different.
These companies can also choose to not do business with WM if its so bad.
That said, when my local grocer introduced checkerless checkout they put a sign above it that read, "self checkout-for your convenience".
I told the manager the checkers were there for my convenience. The checkerless lanes were for THEIR convenience and I will continue to use the lanes staffed by employees.
If you want me to do their jobs you'll have to pay me.

Rhino · « **Reply #5 on:** March 21, 2013, 09:06:31 AM »

I love ATM's. I don't miss bank cashiers and no access to your money except 9-5 M-F. I like to pump my own gas and pay for it right at the pump. I don't miss pump attendant's and I don't miss going inside and standing in line to pay. Technology marches on and yep I'm old enough to remember all of that. This is no different and WM is no different to embrace technology that makes them more competitive. The market will determine if this does indeed make them more competitive. People are free to vote with their feet and that is as it should be.

VirginiaJim · « **Reply #6 on:** March 21, 2013, 09:34:21 AM »

Quote from: Cholla on March 21, 2013, 08:54:53 AM

And how is Target any different?
I guess you want to go back to the days where an employee selected your goods and you paid them?
Most stores have self checkout lanes now. WM is no different.
These companies can also choose to not do business with WM if its so bad.
That said, when my local grocer introduced checkerless checkout they put a sign above it that read, "self checkout-for your convenience".
I told the manager the checkers were there for my convenience. The checkerless lanes were for THEIR convenience and I will continue to use the lanes staffed by employees.
If you want me to do their jobs you'll have to pay me.

This we agree on....+1

gPink · « **Reply #7 on:** March 21, 2013, 09:38:12 AM »

The self checkouts allow me to limit my interaction with people I don't want to have a conversation with anyway.

sherob · « **Reply #8 on:** March 21, 2013, 09:57:23 AM »

Quote from: Cholla on March 21, 2013, 08:54:53 AM

And how is Target any different?

It's different to ME. I see and feel the difference when I walk into the stores... even something simple like using the pharmacy was a huge difference between the two. I also get to direct a percentage of my purchases back into my local school system with Target.

SteveJ. · « **Reply #9 on:** March 21, 2013, 11:24:44 AM »

Quote from: sherob on March 21, 2013, 09:57:23 AM

It's different to ME. I see and feel the difference when I walk into the stores... even something simple like using the pharmacy was a huge difference between the two. I also get to direct a percentage of my purchases back into my local school system with Target.

Not to mention the 5% off you get at the register for using a red card.

sherob · « **Reply #10 on:** March 21, 2013, 12:45:10 PM »

Quote from: SteveJ. on March 21, 2013, 11:24:44 AM

Not to mention the 5% off you get at the register for using a red card.

+1 and the additional 5% with pharmacy rewards.

stevewfl · « **Reply #11 on:** March 21, 2013, 02:21:40 PM »

The whole shopping experience in TARGET is better, plus you don;t have to deal with the peopleofwalmart.com types.... HUGE plus!

I'll pay extra to shop there

Cholla · « **Reply #12 on:** March 21, 2013, 02:43:25 PM »

So Target admits to charging 5% more...or in another way they could easily charge 5% less and still make money. Oh, the humanity! Such greed (tongue firmly in cheek)!
And then to say THEY give money to schools? More like their customers who are already over taxed.
Gimme the low prices.
Plus WM has guns and ammo.

Maybe that's why WM is so successful.

sherob · « **Reply #13 on:** March 21, 2013, 02:49:04 PM »

WM used to have guns and ammo...

motocopter · « **Reply #14 on:** March 21, 2013, 04:01:39 PM »

Quote from: stevewfl on March 21, 2013, 02:21:40 PM

The whole shopping experience in TARGET is better, plus you don;t have to deal with the peopleofwalmart.com types.... HUGE plus!

I'll pay extra to shop there

I'm the same way with groceries at Publix. I've been to a W-M twice since last May.

stevewfl · « **Reply #15 on:** March 21, 2013, 05:27:56 PM »

Quote from: Cholla on March 21, 2013, 02:43:25 PM

So Target admits to charging 5% more...or in another way they could easily charge 5% less and still make money. Oh, the humanity! Such greed (tongue firmly in cheek)!
And then to say THEY give money to schools? More like their customers who are already over taxed.
Gimme the low prices.
Plus WM has guns and ammo.

Maybe that's why WM is so successful.

I'll pay more to shop in a nice atmosphere, short lines, glossy floors, high maintenance pretty wiminz, and avoid the peopleofwalmart.com types over in the wal-mart store

Cholla · « **Reply #16 on:** March 22, 2013, 08:41:41 AM »

Short lines because everyone else is at WM paying lower prices for the same item!
Target is the Menard's of the big box home improvement stores.

stevewfl · « **Reply #17 on:** March 27, 2013, 08:26:32 PM »

Quote from: Cholla on March 22, 2013, 08:41:41 AM

Short lines because everyone else is at WM paying lower prices for the same item!
Target is the Menard's of the big box home improvement stores.

I agree-

Actually there are more lines open at target, even though there are less people shopping. And if one of those lines gets more than 2-3 people, they'll open even more lines.

Again I'll pay a couple of pennies more per item for the better shopping experience

sherob · « **Reply #18 on:** March 28, 2013, 11:07:19 AM »

Quote from: stevewfl on March 27, 2013, 08:26:32 PM

Actually there are more lines open at target, even though there are less people shopping. And if one of those lines gets more than 2-3 people, they'll open even more lines.

Again I'll pay a couple of pennies more per item for the better shopping experience

+1 and Target has big red balls!

wally_games · « **Reply #19 on:** March 28, 2013, 11:43:50 AM »

Quote from: stevewfl on March 21, 2013, 05:27:56 PM

I'll pay more to shop in a nice atmosphere, short lines, glossy floors, high maintenance pretty wiminz, and avoid the peopleofwalmart.com types over in the wal-mart store

There are SOOO many PG-13 comments that I could make concerning this photo, but I'll be good since this is a family forum.

News:

Author Topic: Wal-Mart expands shop-with-iPhone program (Read 5449 times)

devilboy

motocopter

motocopter