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.

  • fury
    603 months ago
    link
    fedilink

    “If it’s hot outside, we can raise the price of water and ice cream.

    Dude actually said that out loud. Wild. Teach me how to give that little of a fuck.

    • JasonDJ
      173 months ago
      link
      fedilink

      You know what the world needs? Surge pricing on water.

      –No one, ever.

    • anon_8675309
      133 months ago
      link
      fedilink

      They have a fiduciary responsibility to charge people more when they’re willing to pay more because they’re literally dying of thirst.

      Or some such bullshit.

    • GBU_28English
      43 months ago
      link
      fedilink

      So dumb. Could have said just ice cream and the message would carry better

    • prole
      23 months ago
      link
      fedilink

      And the said that it’s a good thing.

      Capitalism is a disease.