Microsoft Announces Automated Grocery Carts

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Discussion Overview

The thread discusses the announcement of a high-tech grocery cart developed by Microsoft and MediaCart, which scans items and automates checkout. Participants share their thoughts on the implications of such technology, including privacy concerns, the effectiveness of automated systems, and personal experiences with grocery shopping.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Opinion-based
  • Anecdotal
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant mentions the cart's ability to scan items and automate checkout, expressing concern about the need for frequent shopper cards and targeted advertising.
  • Another participant recalls seeing similar concepts previously and finds them interesting.
  • Several users express discomfort with the idea of constant surveillance and targeted ads while shopping.
  • One participant questions whether the cart will automatically bag groceries, while another humorously notes the challenges of using plastic bags.
  • One participant shares a positive experience with reusable bags and their effectiveness in transporting groceries.
  • Another participant expresses a desire for the cart to provide calorie counts to help manage impulse buys.
  • Some participants reflect on the environmental impact of plastic bags and the changing perceptions around them.
  • One participant shares skepticism about the durability of the automated cart and recounts a frustrating experience with self-checkout systems.
  • Several participants discuss their experiences with making reusable bags from various materials, including plastic bags and old t-shirts.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Views differ on the desirability and practicality of the automated grocery cart, with some expressing enthusiasm for the technology while others raise concerns about privacy and functionality. No clear consensus emerges on the overall effectiveness or acceptance of such systems.

Contextual Notes

The discussion reflects a mix of personal experiences and opinions regarding grocery shopping practices, technology, and environmental considerations.

Who May Find This Useful

Participants interested in the intersection of technology and grocery shopping, as well as those reflecting on personal shopping experiences and environmental impacts of shopping practices, may find this discussion relevant.

  • Thread starter
  • #31
ChefBeckyD said:
I will do whatever it takes to not stand in a line.....I don't even care if it takes me longer to do it myself, at least I'm doing something, and not just standing in line. I HATE standing in lines!


And Ann - it completely ticks me off when someone has a cart full of groceries in the 15 items or less lane - I always want to ask them if they know how to read and count!:D
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They really should bring back pillories for people like that. And for people who empty the car ashtray on the parking lot, next to their open car door.
 
Are you all trying to get my heart rate up? Just thinking about the time I waste at the grocery store in line is starting to make my blood boil.
Let's see how far we can reach around the groceries that I've placed on the counter in a certain, baggable order to get something way over there because we think it would fit nicely in this little spot right on top of my bananas. Oh, and please, don't forget to put all the lite boxes in one bag and all the jars and cans in their very own bag, stacked on top of each other. One more thing, oh forget it. I just read the attitude thread.
 
karaboo2 said:
Okay -- had to share ... found it way too funny ... was in the express lane (8 or less) today with a couple things, and there was a gal in front of me with a dozen eggs, a bag of oranges, and a bag of milk (the one gallon bag that has 3 smaller bags inside) -- the checkout clerk told her she had too many items for that lane because there were 12 eggs, 5 oranges, and 3 bags in the milk!!!! Talk about moronic!!!!!!
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At least he knew how many eggs were in a dozen! LOL... I got a dozen donuts at the store once, a while ago now and told the kid there were a dozen inside... he asks, seriously "how many is that?"... I grumbled the answer to him. My dad told me I shoulda told him 10 and gotten a discount based on his stupidity. LOL..

I do get annoyed with folks who get 20 cans of cat food and go through the express lane claiming "it's all cat food"... I'd count that as items though... even if they're all the same flavors our cashiers still scan each... individual... item.. LOL
 
JAE said:
Are you all trying to get my heart rate up? Just thinking about the time I waste at the grocery store in line is starting to make my blood boil.
Let's see how far we can reach around the groceries that I've placed on the counter in a certain, baggable order to get something way over there because we think it would fit nicely in this little spot right on top of my bananas. Oh, and please, don't forget to put all the lite boxes in one bag and all the jars and cans in their very own bag, stacked on top of each other. One more thing, oh forget it. I just read the attitude thread.
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LOL... this is my incentive for taking my cloth bags in and doing the bagging myself, which I don't mind doing at all. Then I know where all the cold stuff ends up at least. You hand them cloth bags and they treat 'em like the plastic... one or two things in each bag :rolleyes: I actually get better service if I go in all chipper and say something like "hi! yes I did find everything I needed and today's your lucky day... put those items behind you and I'LL bag 'em for you"... then they perk up, they stand up straight and sometimes I don't even have to empty my cart, they do that for me too. :cool:
 
The_Kitchen_Guy said:
I love self check out! I HATE standing in lines, especially if I have a handful of items.

We don't have any in Wisconsin, it might be against the law in this regressively progressive state.
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Kinda like it's against the law to pump your own gas in NJ, eh?

I'd rather stand in line than wrestle with those inane check out thingies. Ugh... standing in line allows me the chance to catch up on who's having an alien baby, what's going to happen next with my soap opera and allow me to put things on the conveyor belt that help me bag my stuff. Plus, I like to play the "guess which line will go faster" game with myself... I know, it's a weird little world I inhabit sometimes. LOL
 
lkprescott said:
LOL... this is my incentive for taking my cloth bags in and doing the bagging myself, which I don't mind doing at all. Then I know where all the cold stuff ends up at least. You hand them cloth bags and they treat 'em like the plastic... one or two things in each bag :rolleyes: I actually get better service if I go in all chipper and say something like "hi! yes I did find everything I needed and today's your lucky day... put those items behind you and I'LL bag 'em for you"... then they perk up, they stand up straight and sometimes I don't even have to empty my cart, they do that for me too. :cool:
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Wow - I'm fortunate then! I have one particular checker who's line I always try to get in - she is awesome! She takes my bags (these new ones from Meijers really are great - they have side pockets so things don't tip, and flat bottoms....really nice!) and attaches them to her plastic bag holder, and packs each one carefully. Things like eggs, she leaves until the very end, and then asks if I want them on the top of a bag, in a plastic bag, or if I just want to carry them. She also makes sure all of my refrigerated/frozen stuff gets packed together - love that! Then, I don't have to dig through every bag when I get home to find the stuff that needs to be put away first.
 
I LOVE self check. So much faster and quicker and my items get bagged correctly. I like to put items down the belt that go together, meats, frozen, chips, boxes, etc. That way when I get home, certain bags go by the fridge to get unloaded and other bags go by the pantry area. I am that person with a cart full of stuff going through self check but I can do it pretty quickly. I hate standing in regular lines and then the cashier cannot figure something out for what ever reason.
 
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  • #38
lkprescott said:
Kinda like it's against the law to pump your own gas in NJ, eh?

I'd rather stand in line than wrestle with those inane check out thingies. Ugh... standing in line allows me the chance to catch up on who's having an alien baby, what's going to happen next with my soap opera and allow me to put things on the conveyor belt that help me bag my stuff. Plus, I like to play the "guess which line will go faster" game with myself... I know, it's a weird little world I inhabit sometimes. LOL
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I got into a small tussle with a guy in NJ at one of those gigundo gas stations with about 50 pumps. I pulled up in Sonja, my '29 Ford and said I'd pump the gas. He told me no, it was against NJ law. So I stood back and watched, waiting for the inevitable. The guy had no idea where the filler is located in a Model A. The best he could do was try to "open" the chrome step, for the rumble seat, on the right rear fender. It was quite amusing, actually.

When he finally got over his little snit of self-importance because he couldn't figure out where the filler was, and asked me where it was, I told him I didn't allow anyone else to put gas in the car because I don't like someone spilling gas on the paint. I don't think he was too happy about it, and was happy to see me leave, but too bad.

:D
 
In addition to bagging the groceries, how about coming home with me and putting them away. Now THAT I would buy (depends on what he looks like though)!!!!!
 
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  • #40
Now, there's an entire Harlequin bodice-ripper novel right there, just waiting to be written.
 
"No," she said, reaching for his hand as Drew pulled the olive oil out of the sack and headed for the cupboard. "We'll need that in another room."*snort!*
 
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  • #42
That should be Olive Oyl and Popeye.Oh, K-Y?
 
Quit changing your Av every 5 minutes! It's unnerving.
 
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  • #44
Why, I have no idea what you're talking about.
 
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