this post was submitted on 16 Sep 2024
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I see it less as "being evil" and more about "being incompetent".
Changing shelf labels in a store the size of a Home Depot is incredibly manual, which is why WalMart moved to e-ink electronic shelf tags. That way, the same system that updates prices at the register updates the tags.
https://corporate.walmart.com/news/2024/06/06/new-tech-better-outcomes-digital-shelf-labels-are-a-win-for-customers-and-associates
Of course that also lets them do surge pricing instantly. "Oh, schools out? Increase prices +.04%!"
0.04%? More like 14%
Evil was a stretch, sure. Though while I appreciate the concept of not attributing malice to what incompetence explains, I think that needs to be couched by whether or not a profit is being turned by the action.
Maybe, if items are under-priced as often as over-priced.
In an inflationary environment, prices are only going one direction and the shelf tags are going to lag.