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.

  • @gt24
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    66 months ago

    Though others have said multiple states have laws against changing prices during the business day.

    Suddenly it makes a lot more sense why Walmart doesn’t want to be open 24 hours a day…

    • @Zahille7
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      66 months ago

      I mean, even if they went back to 24 hours, I’m sure it would still be able to change at a certain time, like midnight or something.

      But I get what you’re saying.