Electro-Shop

TECHNO THRILLS                       World's First Virtual Store Opens in Korea “   A major South Korean retailer has opened what it appears to be the world's first virtual store geared to smartphone users, with shoppers scanning barcodes of products displayed in a Seoul subway station. Homeplus, the nation’s second largest discount chain, is offering 500 items including food, electronics, office supplies and toiletries at its "store" at Seolleung station in the south of the city of 10 million. Seven pillars and six platform screen doors have been plastered with images of life-size store shelves filled with goods -- such as milk, apples, a bag of rice or school backpacks -- which each carry a small barcode. Shoppers download a related application on their smartphone and make purchases by taking photos of the barcodes. [FULL] In this model the items are home delivered.  I looked into doing this ten years ago with local businesses.  My plan was to photograph the entire store, mapping images with price and item info,  which allowed peeps to shop on line.  I would charge the store for the service and monthly maintenance .  Where the plan went awry was the execution.  I didn't.  But there was a reason.  It was an overwhelming task, and one that had to be updated quite regularly.  Yes, I could have mortgaged the house, sold a few of the kids and hired people, but I couldn't be bothered.  I'm an idea man, not a long term worker bee. Anyway, this is an idea that is here to stay.  The local Giant Food stores toyed with some deal where the shopper carried around a device that recorded items as they were carted.  The checkout (but not the bagging) was instantaneous.  As much as I like gadgets, I never tried it, nor did I ever see anyone else using the little price gun thing, but they will not stop trying. This looks like it would work for them nicely in some areas.  The biggest boon, I think, is for the small business entrepreneur.  With no need for brick and mortar (rent), almost anyone can sell anything they have in stock and can deliver- even pizza.  All this of course would require giving government the right to access everything about your every electronic transaction so they can tax it.  Wait.  Obama is already doing that. ”