[HN Gopher] Walgreens replaced some fridge doors with screens. A...
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Walgreens replaced some fridge doors with screens. And some
shoppers hate it
Author : tiahura
Score : 20 points
Date : 2022-03-12 22:14 UTC (46 minutes ago)
(HTM) web link (lite.cnn.com)
(TXT) w3m dump (lite.cnn.com)
| the_snooze wrote:
| >The screens, which were developed by the startup Cooler Screens,
| use a system of motion sensors and cameras to display what's
| inside the doors -- as well as product information, prices, deals
| and, most appealing to brands, paid advertisements. The tech
| provides stores with an additional revenue stream and a way to
| modernize the shopping experience.
|
| I really hate the trend of putting "smart" screens and networked
| ads everywhere. Those startup bros can go jump off a cliff with
| their trash ideas.
|
| Is it really so hard for retailers to stick to their core
| competencies and keep the transaction simple between us? I give
| them money, they give me goods/services. No need to get random
| middlemen involved.
| qbasic_forever wrote:
| I've been at a store that used this technology and it was
| obnoxious. I really don't see how it will catch on or survive in
| the real world. The cost to run these screens 24/7 is enormous,
| especially in a world where energy costs are increasing. I doubt
| the ad revenue they make will come anywhere near recouping the
| costs after the honeymoon period and investor cash runs out.
| confident_inept wrote:
| Besides the annoying reality of not being able to see stock
| levels on product, when the screens go out (they do), you can't
| see what's in the cooler without opening the door.
|
| A solution looking for a problem for sure. Maybe next they'll try
| one of those fancy transparent OLED panels and run ads on it!
| userbinator wrote:
| _The tech provides stores with an additional revenue stream and a
| way to modernize the shopping experience._
|
| Another example of why the word "modernize" has gained a very
| negative connotation for me.
|
| _The freezers have front-facing sensors used to anonymously
| track shoppers interacting with the platform_
|
| That is truly disturbing.
|
| No doubt they're going to say these screens save cooling costs as
| part of promoting the green-globalist agenda...
| Ekaros wrote:
| Now I wonder will the cooling cost offset the life cycle cost
| of massive screens, or their electricity demand.
|
| And just funny question, does the light go off inside those
| when door is closed?
| ryandrake wrote:
| If only you could make the door out of a cheap, hard-surface
| material, made from abundant raw materials, one that is also
| transparent, allowing you to see what is inside in real time,
| with pretty much zero power usage.
| samtho wrote:
| I saw this company (Cooler Screens) pop up on a job board and I
| really really did not get it. What problem is being solved by
| replacing a clear panel with a tv screen only to have to track
| inventory using shoddy computer vision? Are they trying to save
| energy by preventing excess opens/closes? Customers already do
| not trust the "In Stock" status on stores' websites, if they see
| an item out of stock on the screen, they will open it to see for
| themselves and there will be instances where the customer was
| right to look, further reinforcing this behavior.
|
| This entire product seems like a thinly veiled effort to push
| more unwanted and intrusive ads. The technologist in me wants to
| believe there is more to the so I would be happy to be proven
| wrong, if anyone else has some insight.
| automatoney wrote:
| I view advertisements as the second hand smoke of the modern age.
| In theory ads are only placed by the consent of the space owner,
| but in practice they serve to pollute our environments in
| psychologically harmful ways, in the same way second hand smoke
| pollutes our physical environment.
| ec109685 wrote:
| An article with a picture or two:
| https://www.cnn.com/2022/03/12/business/walgreens-freezer-sc...
| nacs wrote:
| There's a video in that article too and it shows the stupidity
| of this design better..
|
| So the transparent doors are now giant screens that show video
| ads all over them until you're in front of it.
|
| When you're in front of it, it shows all the stuff it may have
| inside.
|
| The "may" is where the really stupid part of this tech comes
| into play -- the screen shows what is available on a fully
| stocked shelf but when you open it to look inside, you can see
| there may be entire rows/products that aren't in stock (as seen
| in some customer videos in the article).
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(page generated 2022-03-12 23:00 UTC)