In the UK all the major supermarkets have or had self checkout. It is different in that you scan the items yourself with a device. You have to have an account. At first you get checked a few times and if you are found to have non-scanned items you'll be checked more frequently. If you are found to be honest you get checked less frequently. When the system was introduced it was found to decrease theft. (Getting checked is really slow and huge pain)
In Canada it is becoming commonplace to have self checkout counters.
Using ones cellphone to pay in restaurants, for taxis etc has been around for many years as well in some countries. That is not strictly self checkout but it adds a level of convenience - no cash or wallet required.
In the UK all the major supermarkets have or had self checkout. It is different in that you scan the items yourself with a device. You have to have an account. At first you get checked a few times and if you are found to have non-scanned items you'll be checked more frequently. If you are found to be honest you get checked less frequently. When the system was introduced it was found to decrease theft. (Getting checked is really slow and huge pain)
In Canada it is becoming commonplace to have self checkout counters.
Using ones cellphone to pay in restaurants, for taxis etc has been around for many years as well in some countries. That is not strictly self checkout but it adds a level of convenience - no cash or wallet required.
I'm not sure we're talking about the same thing.
PS: I really need to check this out. I might have switch clothes with a bum to get the full effect of my experiment.
1) Automated checkouts in grocery stores have been around but they aren't something you can do with your phone. They are stationary machines that even go so far as to check the weight of the item you are placing in the bag area. That's one built in safety. There is also a person for x-many of these machines that are there to assist as well as detour theft because if you pick up your items before you pay then the station will alert the store that you need "assistance". That's a 2nd safety.
2) Paying with your phone for taxis or Starbucks, or even with NFC isn't the same thing because you are still giving your item to some to make, bag,or at least get a receipt from. In some way you are locked into engaging with other people.
With this service you can buy the product with your phone, have the email sent to your iTunes account, and never have to speak a single word or look someone in the face to complete the transaction.
This is new! It's more like when you get gas and pay at the pump, expect that you can't steal more than what you've paid for so there is no chance of theft unless you're using someone else's card.
We are and we aren't. The way Apple does it is different and yet it has many similarities to existing system. I wouldn't call it re-inventing the way we shop
Quote:
PS: I really need to check this out. I might have switch clothes with a bum to get the full effect of my experiment.
1) Automated checkouts in grocery stores have been around but they aren't something you can do with your phone. They are stationary machines that even go so far as to check the weight of the item you are placing in the bag area. That's one built in safety. There is also a person for x-many of these machines that are there to assist as well as detour theft because if you pick up your items before you pay then the station will alert the store that you need "assistance". That's a 2nd safety.
The supermarkets in the uk don't do any weight checking. You have a scanner in your hand and you scan each item as you place it in your bag. When you replace your scanner an itemized list is printed and you then go and pay for that. Sometimes you are checked but rarely. But it is very different in a supermarket because you are a returning customer with an account
Quote:
2) Paying with your phone for taxis or Starbucks, or even with NFC isn't the same thing because you are still giving your item to some to make, bag,or at least get a receipt from. In some way you are locked into engaging with other people.
With this service you can buy the product with your phone, have the email sent to your iTunes account, and never have to speak a single word or look someone in the face to complete the transaction.
Yes it is new - or I'd rather say its a development of several similar ideas. The theft thing is not really an issue because it is no different than today where you can help yourself to the same items and walk out of the store. The Apple stores are crowded with staff and most people don't do it. I don't think the fact that you can pay without speaking to anybody will have much impact on theft levels.
The last few times I've bought accessories from a checkout person they've done an email-receipt and I've declined to use an Apple bag, so I just stick the box in my own bag and walk out. And I don't think they ever did any demagnetizing.
Maybe Apple has a special type of sensor at their door that in a split second checks the package's sensor ID against recent purchases, and sets off the alarm if there isn't a match?
Don't even need RFID scanner in the phone, just link the barcode to the RFID code, and you can do the same thing. They could even set up a window where a particular item in a particular store (without unique identification) will not trigger the alarms. No need to make the alarms audible either.
...who's to say they don't already have it in place...
Very good point.
Barcodes are unique to a product's model #. There's no way you can scan a barcode and the system knows to only deactivate the rfid in your hand.
Knowing this, if there are 50 magic mouses on display around the store and only 1 person purchases it, anybody holding the same item can walk out before them without triggering the alarm.
Comments
Okay. That's eight.
Take a good look, everyone. This is number eight. The eighth way that Apple has changed the world.
Computers, Music, Phones, Laptops, Tablets ? the other two? and this:
PAYING. FOR. STUFF.
Apple has created a successful implementation of a technology that destroys to its foundation civilization's belief of how retail is done.
Not Really - it is called 'self checkout' and it has been around for many years in one form or another. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Self_checkout
In the UK all the major supermarkets have or had self checkout. It is different in that you scan the items yourself with a device. You have to have an account. At first you get checked a few times and if you are found to have non-scanned items you'll be checked more frequently. If you are found to be honest you get checked less frequently. When the system was introduced it was found to decrease theft. (Getting checked is really slow and huge pain)
In Canada it is becoming commonplace to have self checkout counters.
Using ones cellphone to pay in restaurants, for taxis etc has been around for many years as well in some countries. That is not strictly self checkout but it adds a level of convenience - no cash or wallet required.
Not Really - it is called 'self checkout' and it has been around for many years in one form or another. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Self_checkout
In the UK all the major supermarkets have or had self checkout. It is different in that you scan the items yourself with a device. You have to have an account. At first you get checked a few times and if you are found to have non-scanned items you'll be checked more frequently. If you are found to be honest you get checked less frequently. When the system was introduced it was found to decrease theft. (Getting checked is really slow and huge pain)
In Canada it is becoming commonplace to have self checkout counters.
Using ones cellphone to pay in restaurants, for taxis etc has been around for many years as well in some countries. That is not strictly self checkout but it adds a level of convenience - no cash or wallet required.
I'm not sure we're talking about the same thing.
PS: I really need to check this out. I might have switch clothes with a bum to get the full effect of my experiment.
1) Automated checkouts in grocery stores have been around but they aren't something you can do with your phone. They are stationary machines that even go so far as to check the weight of the item you are placing in the bag area. That's one built in safety. There is also a person for x-many of these machines that are there to assist as well as detour theft because if you pick up your items before you pay then the station will alert the store that you need "assistance". That's a 2nd safety.
2) Paying with your phone for taxis or Starbucks, or even with NFC isn't the same thing because you are still giving your item to some to make, bag,or at least get a receipt from. In some way you are locked into engaging with other people.
With this service you can buy the product with your phone, have the email sent to your iTunes account, and never have to speak a single word or look someone in the face to complete the transaction.
This is new! It's more like when you get gas and pay at the pump, expect that you can't steal more than what you've paid for so there is no chance of theft unless you're using someone else's card.
I'm not sure we're talking about the same thing.
We are and we aren't. The way Apple does it is different and yet it has many similarities to existing system. I wouldn't call it re-inventing the way we shop
PS: I really need to check this out. I might have switch clothes with a bum to get the full effect of my experiment.
1) Automated checkouts in grocery stores have been around but they aren't something you can do with your phone. They are stationary machines that even go so far as to check the weight of the item you are placing in the bag area. That's one built in safety. There is also a person for x-many of these machines that are there to assist as well as detour theft because if you pick up your items before you pay then the station will alert the store that you need "assistance". That's a 2nd safety.
The supermarkets in the uk don't do any weight checking. You have a scanner in your hand and you scan each item as you place it in your bag. When you replace your scanner an itemized list is printed and you then go and pay for that. Sometimes you are checked but rarely. But it is very different in a supermarket because you are a returning customer with an account
2) Paying with your phone for taxis or Starbucks, or even with NFC isn't the same thing because you are still giving your item to some to make, bag,or at least get a receipt from. In some way you are locked into engaging with other people.
With this service you can buy the product with your phone, have the email sent to your iTunes account, and never have to speak a single word or look someone in the face to complete the transaction.
Yes it is new - or I'd rather say its a development of several similar ideas. The theft thing is not really an issue because it is no different than today where you can help yourself to the same items and walk out of the store. The Apple stores are crowded with staff and most people don't do it. I don't think the fact that you can pay without speaking to anybody will have much impact on theft levels.
Maybe Apple has a special type of sensor at their door that in a split second checks the package's sensor ID against recent purchases, and sets off the alarm if there isn't a match?
Don't even need RFID scanner in the phone, just link the barcode to the RFID code, and you can do the same thing. They could even set up a window where a particular item in a particular store (without unique identification) will not trigger the alarms. No need to make the alarms audible either.
...who's to say they don't already have it in place...
Very good point.
Barcodes are unique to a product's model #. There's no way you can scan a barcode and the system knows to only deactivate the rfid in your hand.
Knowing this, if there are 50 magic mouses on display around the store and only 1 person purchases it, anybody holding the same item can walk out before them without triggering the alarm.