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.

  • @[email protected]
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    fedilink
    95 months ago

    Wal-Mart shoppers! Chocolate chip cookies are on sale at $1 for the next 30 minutes.

    Good luck!

    • @humorlessrepost
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      45 months ago

      I mean this was a regular thing at K-Mart my entire childhood, and people loved it.