Soon We won't need humans and we will be a cashless society!! can't the robots who think this technology is a good thing see what large corporations are doing?? Lucky all the people who work in jobs that won't become extinct!!! Think of the consequences before BLINDLY embracing new technology, if not, it will ultimately be the downfall of man!!! meaning we will be replaced in the workplace by the very thing we are told we should be welcoming! I am not anti technology it has its place, but everything in moderation as the saying goes and for the betterment of humans not to REPLACE THEM!

So sterile - where's the entertainment component? I shop for fun, like most females. Where's the welcome? Where's the warmth? Where's the eye-candy? No wonder a male developed this. Males detest shopping and try not to hang around longer than they must. Females linger. Careful, boffins from male-dominated IT world ... there's a bigger, brighter, wilder world out there.

ShelfX should be definately banned as I am sick of all this companies out there telling consumers mummies and daddys it's better for them and the economy and time saving. What they don't tell you, They don't care about consumers just their pockets and who cares how many people they leave out of work.
The worst thing is the government telling people the economy is doing great, of course we employers are doing much better but Centrelink and banks only tell the Unemployment is how many people are actually registered with Centrelink, what they don't tell you is all those people who can not register with Centrelink because their spouses earn too much money per annum $60 or $70 thousand. and those who also can't get Centrelink because they just got retrenched with a big sum of money, So Centrelink refuses to give them any help. Leaving Thousands of People out of work who can not get Centrelink for stupid reasons. But the economy is great so lets put more people out of work. How pathetic.

Regarding the Masters comment, there are Cash Registers for people who don't like self service, so to Kym Phillips, Masters is the best thing ever brought to Australia, Masters puts Bunnings to shame. Every isle at Masters has a button for service, every body walks around with ear pieces like the FBI to communicate with other stuff members and store, there is always people around the store happy to help you carry your goods if too heavy, and they even take it to your car.
I am a Happy Customer and I have a few clients who also work for them, plus they get paid well and get great benefits.

Any company that is listed on the stock exchange has to ensure share price gains. This means cutting costs and lifting margins.... which translates to sackings and rip-off prices.
The brain-dead mums of Australia will ensure Coles and Woolies continue to rip 75cents in every dollar out of retail. Why ? Because they are lazy.... and buy something online from overseas while you're at it... just don't expect your children to ever have a job.

How does this system stop customers who do not pay? There are supermarkets that do not have checkout staff and customers have to scan the items on their own. It has been found that some customers do not scan all items in their shopping basket. As a result, they are paying less than what they actually take out of the supermarket.

A vending machine without a door..

very clinical toxic products...not for basic needs....supermarkets will go by way of 7/11 and a new generation "trully" local stores are sprouting....YEAY

“But in the same respect, we are taking the shopper back to a time when shopping was simple. The customer walked into a store, was greeted by name, told about the specials, paid without hassle and left."

It still is if you actually shopped at your local small business where the owner is the person behind the counter and if they run it right can offer you all that plus more.

So much for the big chains promoting new opportunities for employment like they keep sprouting about whenever they want to justify destroying a small town by dumping in a big supermarket.

Im with Bazza, up there with if it sounds too good be true, more than likely, it is.
I imagine there will be a lot of headaches, and frustration by customers. Will give a whole new meaning to "supermarket rage".
Jennifer.

What if I want to take my purchase back? will ShellX be kind enough to lend an ear on why it is being returned? How about the latest hitech fraudsters using stolen/fake credit cards...will ShellX be able to provide a verbal and signed statement for the police???...how about the security provided by cashiers...hmmm doubt ShellX will be able to beat the human interaction that is required here..jsut shop on line and lets continue having cashiers...to me thsi ShellX is a thin layer for Profit Margin increase rather than a real shopping experience

Bazza

good idea but it will lack of cheerful staffs' smile at the checkout counter.The shopping environment will become like a big box machine instead of having relax and cozy shopping moment.

Taiwan has been developing this technology about 3 years ago. Got a friend who work on an IR company before who market this thing. Nothing new...

Yep, I made the mistake of going to MASTERS - the Woolies competition to Bunnings - where there are no checkout staff. After trying to scan a plant and dropping soil all over the counter top, I gave up and walked out, never to return.

Memo to retailers: You want customers, provide service!

Yep I reckon only a bloke would think this is good.Go in pick it up, leave. I agree with the mayhem scenarios as above plus how strong would the LCD need to be? And if I want to pay cash (as I frequently do) who will give me change?

Woolies and Coles will love this, they've been trying to sack all their own staff for years. If you shop there, take a long, hard look at yourself.

Interesting article, and thoughtful exchange. Plus I thought that comment about "if you build an idiot-proof system, some fool builds a better idiot" was one of the funniest things I have read for a long time. And so true!!

how would a system like that deal with products such as fruit and vegies where the weight of the item determines the price and not the quantity?

This concept if tested in real store life situations and demonstrates it can function in the manner designed would if introduced compete more fairly with "On Line Buying" as prices will be reduced in line with savings in the disappearnce of check out staff, no waiting for the product to delivered on a date or time when you need to be there to collect along with a recorded history of the customer so extra discounts can be offered

well the Company will have more Profit the do not care so long there is more Money for them