And next week someone vibe codes an app that automatically registers all prices on the electronic labels as they walk around with their phone in hand and tells the customers in real time what is overpriced and much cheaper in nearby stores. Store owners will be outraged and demand the app to be taken down. The next day there are five apps doing something similar.
We’ve had that tech for 16 years, but it’s implemented differently — and costs a lot more now.
OurGroceries is one of the first apps I’ve downloaded in 2010. It was $5 to remove the banner ad. We paid $15 for it. $5 for me on Android in 2010. $5 for my wife on Android in 2010. And $5 for me on iOS in 2016. They since made it so where if one person buys it, everyone who shares the lists with each other gets to use it for free. Only, now it’s $20.
So here’s how it works. It’s synced grocery lists. You can totally do this with Google Keep or any other shared note system — Apple Notes does it, too. But we did this in 2010 when we didn’t have access to those (iPhones did not even come to our area until 2014!). So my wife and I would make a list. She’d drop me off at one store and then go to another. We’d put Bluetooth earbuds in our ears and go shopping together, but at different stores. We’d go down the list and call out the price. Whoever could get it cheaper would put it in their cart. We’d both check out, and then she’d swing by and pick me up.
Not illegal. No stores have kicked us out for doing it. Now imagine if you have 3+ roommates and you’re on a party line.
And next week someone vibe codes an app that automatically registers all prices on the electronic labels as they walk around with their phone in hand and tells the customers in real time what is overpriced and much cheaper in nearby stores. Store owners will be outraged and demand the app to be taken down. The next day there are five apps doing something similar.
We’ve had that tech for 16 years, but it’s implemented differently — and costs a lot more now.
OurGroceries is one of the first apps I’ve downloaded in 2010. It was $5 to remove the banner ad. We paid $15 for it. $5 for me on Android in 2010. $5 for my wife on Android in 2010. And $5 for me on iOS in 2016. They since made it so where if one person buys it, everyone who shares the lists with each other gets to use it for free. Only, now it’s $20.
So here’s how it works. It’s synced grocery lists. You can totally do this with Google Keep or any other shared note system — Apple Notes does it, too. But we did this in 2010 when we didn’t have access to those (iPhones did not even come to our area until 2014!). So my wife and I would make a list. She’d drop me off at one store and then go to another. We’d put Bluetooth earbuds in our ears and go shopping together, but at different stores. We’d go down the list and call out the price. Whoever could get it cheaper would put it in their cart. We’d both check out, and then she’d swing by and pick me up.
Not illegal. No stores have kicked us out for doing it. Now imagine if you have 3+ roommates and you’re on a party line.