Price Chopper customers are expressing frustration over the new Caper Carts, which have caused disruptions during their shopping trips.
The high-tech carts, introduced recently, are meant to enhance the grocery shopping experience but have led to mixed reactions among shoppers at Price Chopper stores.
Price Chopper Expands High-Tech Shopping Experience with Caper Carts
Supermarkets such as Price Chopper and McKeever's Market & Eatery are also adopting similar technology in Missouri this month.
According to a press release, Wakefern Food Corp., the largest retailer-owned cooperative in the U.S., is introducing more Caper Carts at its ShopRite stores in Philadelphia.
The AI-powered carts, already popular at locations like Hoboken, NJ, offer customers interactive screens and AI features for scanning items, managing budgets, and seamless checkouts.
These carts, equipped with advanced technology like sensors and computer vision, aim to enhance the shopping experience by integrating real-time savings and deals through ShopRite's Price Plus membership.
According to a statement, Grocery Drive reported that McKeever's Chief Technology Officer, Tim Cosens, emphasized the importance of adopting Instacart's AI-powered Caper Carts to modernize customer service.
Price Chopper, in partnership with Instacart since 2017, recently integrated the Instacart Storefront for its e-commerce site. With 52 stores in the Kansas City area, Price Chopper collaborates with McKeever's, which operates a second store in Lenexa, Kansas.
Instacart expanded its services by acquiring Caper AI for $350 million in 2021, adding smart carts to its offerings.
Also Read: Walmart Self-Checkout Issues Lead to Customer Frustration and Abandoned Carts
Customers can scan items throughout the store, allowing them to compile all purchases into a single barcode for checkout, streamlining the process. This approach mirrors Walmart and Sam's Club's Scan & Go feature, aiming to facilitate a quicker checkout experience.
Smart shopping carts are revolutionizing retail with features like on-the-go budgeting, reduced wait times, and seamless checkout. These carts enable shoppers to manage budgets in real time and scan items for a streamlined checkout process using a single barcode.
For retailers, they drive revenue, cut labor costs, and enhance customer retention through loyalty plans and discounts. The interactive nature of smart carts also boosts engagement between shoppers and stores, providing valuable insights into consumer behavior.
As these innovations gain traction, they promise to deliver a more efficient and satisfying shopping experience while optimizing operations in the retail sector.
Customer Backlash Over New Caper Carts at Price Chopper
While Caper Carts have not yet become widely available, customers have already expressed frustration upon encountering them in stores, as posted on The U.S. Sun.
Reports indicate that a recent Price Chopper customer was disappointed when unable to find a handheld basket instead of being required to use a Caper Cart during a recent shopping trip.
The shopper took to social media, questioning the removal of handheld baskets and stating that using a cart was "ruining their day."
The individual urged Price Chopper to address the issue promptly.
Customers have voiced similar sentiments at other retailers, such as ShopRite, and these advanced carts have been criticized criticism.
A ShopRite customer criticized the decision to replace traditional options with what they described as "cheap replacements" at New Jersey and Pennsylvania locations. "It's concerning," remarked another customer in a Facebook discussion about the changes.
Several other major retailers are adjusting their cart offerings in response to evolving shopping technologies.
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