4 ms·

What would make this better is if you can buy the stuff without going to checkout. Pick it up. Scan the barcode. Leave. The digital receipt by its self makes

What would make this better is if you can buy the stuff without going to checkout. Pick it up. Scan the barcode. Leave. The digital receipt by its self makes this usefull for me. Edit: added additional comment

cbhl 11y ago
A lot of items at Wal-Mart have anti-theft RFID tags on them, though, and it would be a pain to say "oh you can't buy this shirt or that video game through the app".
- johnward 11y ago
  Are they just generic RFID tags or do they identify the items? If they identify the items there has to be an easy way to match the items in the cart vs what has been paid for, no?
  - deleted 11y ago
    [deleted]
  - bsilvereagle 11y ago
    The cheaper alarms are just two magnetic coils working in conjunction. There's a nice write by Hackaday on them - http://hackaday.com/2015/12/03/how-store-anti-theft-alarms-work-magnetostriction/ http://hackaday.com/2015/12/03/how-store-anti-theft-alarms-w...
  - cbhl 11y ago
    IIRC, it depends on the item. Some clothes have anti-theft tags that spill ink all over the garment if you don't remove them correctly. Other items (video games come to mind) seem to have a mass-produced chip sticker that is about the size of a rice grain.
- clarkmoody 11y ago
  Would take bit of doing, but the solution here it to have the store anti-theft system recognize the fact that your specific item has been purchased.
atom-morgan 11y ago
This already exists in R&D "stores" for certain large grocers within the US. It's definitely on their list of new features. But you wouldn't even have to scan, you'd just walk through a scanner with your goods.
- huac 11y ago
  In terms of R&D, check out Ideo's shopping cart concept: https://www.ideo.com/work/shopping-cart-concept https://www.ideo.com/work/shopping-cart-concept
baldfat 11y ago
This has been on the "Near Future" list for over 20 years now. I am guessing this will happen when it cost less then having cashiers and they are pretty darn cheap right now.
- leereeves 11y ago
  The cost per item for RFID tags is still much higher than the cost of a few seconds of a cashier's time to scan the item.
  - CaptSpify 11y ago
    For me personally, I'd see the RFID as a selling point, not a cost point. As a customer, I'd much rather go to a store that has an automated and seamless checkout system than one where I have to wait in line for a cashier.
    - deleted 11y ago
      [deleted]
nickpsecurity 11y ago
All the tricks customers can do to rob you with that approach means having cashiers or at least observers (eg self-checkout) is better. So, the trick is how to make the current model faster or more convenient.
- jessaustin 11y ago
  As long as there are enough self-checks that one doesn't get stuck behind cavemen, they are definitely superior in terms of speed and convenience. Self-checks do get confused sometimes, and I guess it's important to make sure that only adults buy spray paint, but one clerk can handle those situations for a number of check stations.
  - nickpsecurity 11y ago
    Good point on service. Real reason those are there, though, is to pay less cashiers. Their usability was originally horrible and they forced it on people anyway. They've gotten a lot better, though.
lukeqsee 11y ago
I've seen this implemented in a few grocery stores in Europe (Switzerland, if memory serves). I didn't see a large proportion of customers using them, however.
jkelsey 11y ago
This is possible at Apple Stores w/ the Apple Store app. It works great.
goatforce5 11y ago
Using the Apple Retail app to pay for items like this makes me really nervous. The 2 or 3 times i've used it i've ended up walking out of the store waving the product and the receipt screen on my phone around to make a point of being conspicuous so I don't get jumped on by security.
swang 11y ago
Or maybe something like this? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eob532iEpqk https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eob532iEpqk
thescriptkiddie 11y ago
Reminds me of my local library. They have RFID tags in all of the books and library cards, and a reader capable of scanning multiple tags at once embedded in the counter. You can just place a pile of books and your library card on the counter and a receipt prints out to tell you when they're due. No further interaction required.

cbhl 11y ago

A lot of items at Wal-Mart have anti-theft RFID tags on them, though, and it would be a pain to say "oh you can't buy this shirt or that video game through the app".

johnward 11y ago
Are they just generic RFID tags or do they identify the items? If they identify the items there has to be an easy way to match the items in the cart vs what has been paid for, no?
- deleted 11y ago
  [deleted]
- bsilvereagle 11y ago
  The cheaper alarms are just two magnetic coils working in conjunction. There's a nice write by Hackaday on them - http://hackaday.com/2015/12/03/how-store-anti-theft-alarms-work-magnetostriction/ http://hackaday.com/2015/12/03/how-store-anti-theft-alarms-w...
- cbhl 11y ago
  IIRC, it depends on the item. Some clothes have anti-theft tags that spill ink all over the garment if you don't remove them correctly. Other items (video games come to mind) seem to have a mass-produced chip sticker that is about the size of a rice grain.
clarkmoody 11y ago
Would take bit of doing, but the solution here it to have the store anti-theft system recognize the fact that your specific item has been purchased.

atom-morgan 11y ago

This already exists in R&D "stores" for certain large grocers within the US. It's definitely on their list of new features. But you wouldn't even have to scan, you'd just walk through a scanner with your goods.

huac 11y ago
In terms of R&D, check out Ideo's shopping cart concept: https://www.ideo.com/work/shopping-cart-concept https://www.ideo.com/work/shopping-cart-concept

baldfat 11y ago

This has been on the "Near Future" list for over 20 years now. I am guessing this will happen when it cost less then having cashiers and they are pretty darn cheap right now.

leereeves 11y ago
The cost per item for RFID tags is still much higher than the cost of a few seconds of a cashier's time to scan the item.
- CaptSpify 11y ago
  For me personally, I'd see the RFID as a selling point, not a cost point. As a customer, I'd much rather go to a store that has an automated and seamless checkout system than one where I have to wait in line for a cashier.
  - deleted 11y ago
    [deleted]

nickpsecurity 11y ago

All the tricks customers can do to rob you with that approach means having cashiers or at least observers (eg self-checkout) is better. So, the trick is how to make the current model faster or more convenient.

jessaustin 11y ago
As long as there are enough self-checks that one doesn't get stuck behind cavemen, they are definitely superior in terms of speed and convenience. Self-checks do get confused sometimes, and I guess it's important to make sure that only adults buy spray paint, but one clerk can handle those situations for a number of check stations.
- nickpsecurity 11y ago
  Good point on service. Real reason those are there, though, is to pay less cashiers. Their usability was originally horrible and they forced it on people anyway. They've gotten a lot better, though.

lukeqsee 11y ago

I've seen this implemented in a few grocery stores in Europe (Switzerland, if memory serves). I didn't see a large proportion of customers using them, however.

jkelsey 11y ago

This is possible at Apple Stores w/ the Apple Store app. It works great.

goatforce5 11y ago

Using the Apple Retail app to pay for items like this makes me really nervous. The 2 or 3 times i've used it i've ended up walking out of the store waving the product and the receipt screen on my phone around to make a point of being conspicuous so I don't get jumped on by security.

swang 11y ago

Or maybe something like this? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eob532iEpqk https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eob532iEpqk

thescriptkiddie 11y ago

Reminds me of my local library. They have RFID tags in all of the books and library cards, and a reader capable of scanning multiple tags at once embedded in the counter. You can just place a pile of books and your library card on the counter and a receipt prints out to tell you when they're due. No further interaction required.