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Minority Report dystopian future of never ending ads is now one step closer
Posted on 3/12/22 at 8:41 am
Posted on 3/12/22 at 8:41 am
Companies are beginning to force you to watch an ad before you can see what is behind the door of coolers at grocery and convenience stores.
LINK
quote:
Walgreens and other retailers have swapped out the clear fridge and freezer doors at thousands of stores, instead adding opaque doors with iPad-like screens showing what's inside. Some customers really, really aren't into it.
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.
But for customers who just want to peek into the freezer and grab their ice cream, Walgreens (WBA) risks angering them by solving a problem that shoppers didn't know existed.
The company wants to engage more people with advertising, but the reaction, so far, is annoyance and confusion.
"Why would Walgreens do this?" one befuddled shopper who encountered the screens posted on TikTok. "Who on God's green earth thought this was a good idea?"
"The digital cooler screens at Walgreens made me watch an ad before it allowed me to know which door held the frozen pizzas," said someone on Twitter.
Another echoed: "@Walgreens NOBODY needs TV screen replacing doors in your cooler aisles.... Stop."
Retailers are eager to add new experiences to their physical stores. But many consumers aren't eager to change their habits — and they certainly aren't used to watching freezer-display ads.
"People really appreciate their routines. They're not always seeking excitement," said Julio Sevilla, an associate professor of marketing at the University of Georgia who studies consumer behavior.
quote:
Cooler Screens says 90% of consumers it has surveyed prefer its digital screens to traditional fridges, and that the displays provide sales lifts for stores. (Walgreens did not comment on that.)
But beyond the confused social media posts, the tech has also attracted misinformation and conspiracy theories. Politifact last month debunked a viral Facebook video that claimed "Walgreens refrigerators are scanning shoppers' hands and foreheads for 'the mark of the beast.'"
Avakian insists the tech is "identity-blind" and protects consumers' privacy. The freezers have front-facing sensors used to anonymously track shoppers interacting with the platform, while internally facing cameras track product inventory.
Some customers have expressed frustration with the experience. People aren't sure whether to tap the screens or talk to them. The items on display don't always match up with what's inside because products are out of stock.
Henry Brewer, who recently encountered one of the digital screens at a Walgreens in Chicago, said the technology felt "very in-your-face" and "intrusive."
"We see advertisements literally everywhere and now I have to go see it on the cooler?" he said. "It doesn't just seem necessary, and I think it's a turnoff to the consumer when this wasn't a problem."
LINK
This post was edited on 3/12/22 at 8:43 am
Posted on 3/12/22 at 8:42 am to Dr RC
Ads on grocery freezers are a dystopian future?
What kind of pussy wrote that?
What kind of pussy wrote that?
Posted on 3/12/22 at 8:43 am to Dr RC
I have to agree, shite is dumb and annoying.
I just want my sugar free Red Bull dammit.
I just want my sugar free Red Bull dammit.
Posted on 3/12/22 at 8:44 am to Dr RC
quote:
Cooler Screens says 90% of consumers it has surveyed prefer its digital screens to traditional fridges,
I'll take Obvious bullshite for $600, Alex.
Posted on 3/12/22 at 8:44 am to Dr RC
Just don't buy the stuff.
Probably 1 weirdo bot on twitter but yea let's include this in the article like it's a relevant amount lol
quote:
But beyond the confused social media posts, the tech has also attracted misinformation and conspiracy theories. Politifact last month debunked a viral Facebook video that claimed "Walgreens refrigerators are scanning shoppers' hands and foreheads for 'the mark of the beast.'"
Probably 1 weirdo bot on twitter but yea let's include this in the article like it's a relevant amount lol
Posted on 3/12/22 at 8:45 am to Dr RC
quote:
Cooler Screens says 90% of consumers it has surveyed prefer its digital screens to traditional fridges
What kind of chump prefers watching a commercial instead instantly finding what they’re looking for?
Posted on 3/12/22 at 8:48 am to Dr RC
Retailer gets extra revenue from vendors.
Smart concept albeit annoying for the consumer.
Smart concept albeit annoying for the consumer.
Posted on 3/12/22 at 8:49 am to Dr RC
Just gonna open that bitch and look. frick that add shite.
Posted on 3/12/22 at 8:59 am to Dr RC
Might be on to something. MLB’s new CBA approved ads on uniforms.
Posted on 3/12/22 at 9:03 am to Dr RC
quote:
Cooler Screens says 90% of consumers it has surveyed prefer its digital screens to traditional fridges
They either surveyed morons or they skewed the numbers. Don’t forget, surveys are the lowest form of science and provide nearly nothing of value. Surveys are littered with tons of bias and easily swayed by asking questions certain ways, plus most survey results are nullified by sample size error
Posted on 3/12/22 at 9:06 am to Dr RC
This is over a year old.
We had them in Dallas at all the Walgreens and CVS.
We had them in Dallas at all the Walgreens and CVS.
Posted on 3/12/22 at 9:12 am to Dr RC
The trend of maximizing profit in the short term only to not give a frick about the long term has hit its peak. I see the next set of successful companies working the long game again.
Posted on 3/12/22 at 9:20 am to Dr RC
If we got rid of all marketing people on earth, the world would be a better place.
Posted on 3/12/22 at 9:37 am to Dr RC
Radio is unbearable now thanks to endless ads
Posted on 3/12/22 at 9:45 am to Dr RC
quote:
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 —
Maybe it’s NOLA going to NOLA, but I’ve seen this at 2 different Walgreens and both of them had different items in the display than what was actually behind the door. They also both showed fully stocked items, but when you opened the doors they were damn near empty.
Posted on 3/12/22 at 10:15 am to Dr RC
A step closer? We’re there. They’re just having courtesy at this point to “ask” if we mind sharing our data when they already do it.
Posted on 3/12/22 at 10:32 am to Dr RC
quote:
"People really appreciate their routines. They're not always seeking excitement,"
I don’t hit up a convenience store cooler to seek excitement.
This post was edited on 3/12/22 at 10:33 am
Posted on 3/12/22 at 10:53 am to Dr RC
That’s highly energy inefficient. You would think the environmentalist crowd would be throwing a hissy fit; However, they get their marching orders on what they are vocally disdainful from their leaders taking bribes from corporate cronies.
Posted on 3/12/22 at 11:24 am to Dr RC
Isn’t there a theory similar to the kardashev scale based on the amount of available surfaces on earth that are covered in advertising? Or did I dream that?
Posted on 3/12/22 at 11:46 am to Dr RC
So how do we know what is behind each door? My grocery store might have a sign over 10 doors that say "frozen vegetables"... how am I supposed to know where the limas are.
Ill just open every single door and prop them open so everyone can see what they are looking for.
Ill just open every single door and prop them open so everyone can see what they are looking for.
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