Wegmans smart shopping cart rollout has customers seriously worried, and not just about the beeping.
The popular grocery chain is launching a brand-new smart cart system at select New York locations, but shoppers aren’t convinced it’s a good thing. With the high-tech carts set to debut publicly on June 27, concerns over potential price increases and job cuts are already flooding social media.
These smart carts come equipped with touchscreens, barcode scanners, and green lights that beep once an item is approved and ready to bag, right there in the cart. Wegmans has labeled the new carts as an “early-stage technology” being tested as a future shopping alternative. The pilot will begin at four locations across the state: DeWitt, Perinton, Pittsford, and Alberta Drive in Buffalo. Employees are already testing the tech at the DeWitt store, and a select group of shoppers will try it out before the full rollout.
According to Wegmans spokesperson Evelyn Ingraham, the goal of the test run is to find out if this tech actually makes shopping easier for customers, and if it fits the unique setup of Wegmans stores. But customers aren’t exactly thrilled. Some have blasted the decision as a “terrible idea,” while others are calling it a waste of money that does nothing to fix the real issue, high grocery prices.
One Facebook user slammed the change, saying, “Can I just have customer service at a register where I get to talk to someone?” Another shopper added, “People want lower prices, not smart carts.” There’s even worry that the carts’ constant beeping will turn grocery trips into noisy nightmares.
Customers are also pointing out that adding smart carts might lead to fewer human cashiers, especially as the chain leans more into automation. Some shoppers questioned whether the move will actually result in cost savings, or if it’s just another way to cut jobs and increase profits. One comment read, “They won’t need as many cashiers in the future,” while another added, “Will this mean lower prices? Probably not.”
This isn’t Wegmans’ first flirtation with tech-based solutions. During the pandemic, the chain rolled out its SCAN app, which allowed customers to scan groceries with their phones. But by 2022, the company pulled the plug on the app due to theft. “Unfortunately, the losses we are experiencing from this program prevent us from continuing to make it available in its current state,” Wegmans said at the time.
Still, Wegmans insists it’s not giving up on innovation. They’ve said they’ll keep testing digital tools to make shopping easier, but right now, customers just aren’t sold. For many, the idea of smart shopping carts sounds more like a corporate gimmick than a game-changer, especially if it means job cuts, price hikes, and a chorus of annoying beeps echoing through the aisles.
Whether the Wegmans smart shopping cart becomes the future of grocery trips or fades away like the SCAN app remains to be seen. But one thing’s for sure, shoppers are watching closely, and they’ve got opinions.
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