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

“If it’s hot outside, we can raise the price of water and ice cream. If there’s something that’s close to the expiration date, we can lower the price — that’s the good news,” said Phil Lempert, a grocery industry analyst.

Apps like Uber already use surge pricing, in which higher demand leads to higher prices in real time. Companies across industries have caused controversy with talk of implementing surge pricing, with fast-food restaurant Wendy’s making headlines most recently. Electronic shelf labels allow the same strategy to be applied at grocery stores, but are not the only reason why retailers may make the switch.

  • EleventhHour
    6•5 months ago

    as a retail employee myself, i assure you that standing still and pushing buttons would be preferable to all of the added work that comes with restocking something.

    and i said corporate would ignore their complaints, not that they wouldn’t notice them.

    • BoozillaEnglish
      12•5 months ago

      They won’t ignore the metrics. They obsess over them, so the larger point stands. My brother consults with Wal Mart and Kroger, I know what I’m talking about.

      I have worked multiple minimum wage jobs. I have friends who worked in grocery stores. I’m not talking from no experience.

      You’re really stretching to win an internet argument here, when we’re basically on the same side (I assume)…which is price gouging customers is bad.

      • EleventhHour
        2•5 months ago

        corporate pays attention to one metric: profit line go up or go down. walmart is famous for not giving a damn about their employees.

        You’re really stretching to win an internet argument here

        lol, no. i’m here to have a nice discussion. i’m not having an argument, certainly not one i feel needs “winning”. if you’re going to get hostile over nothing, then i’m done here.