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.

  • Brkdncr@lemmy.world
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    5 months ago

    If it’s hot outside we can raise the price of water…”

    Holy fuck dude that’s some endgame capitalism right there.

  • ryan213@lemmy.ca
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    5 months ago

    So what if you placed some water in your cart, walked around and then they raise the price before you check out? How does that work?

    • foggy@lemmy.world
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      5 months ago

      There are laws in many states governing many items clearly articulating that the price cannot change during business hours/within a business day.

      Hopefully the FTC revs up it’s engines like it’s been doing.