This is pretty wild

[Nittany Lion]

New system lets Kroger shoppers pay with fingerprint

By DAVID KAPLAN
Copyright 2002 Houston Chronicle
COLLEGE STATION -- At Kroger stores here customers are getting their groceries without cash, check or credit card.

No, they're not using the five-finger discount. One finger will do.

They rely on a new little machine called SecureTouch-n-Pay which enables a finger to bring home the bacon and give cash back.

In the Bryan-College Station area, Kroger is trying out the new retail point-of-sale system in its three stores.

Shoppers who enroll free of charge to use the finger image machine -- officially known as a biometric electronic financial transaction processing system -- simply walk up to a cashier, say, "I'm going to pay with my fingerprint" and voil

[Don]

"It's all about convenience for the shopper," said Lorrie Griffith, associate editor of the Shelby Report, a trade journal specializing in the supermarket industry.

HORSE SCHIDT! What it is all about is another money saving technique for the stores. It allows them to operate with less help, which puts more money in the corporate pocket. I am not necessarily against this as it will also tend to hold prices down, but let's call it like it is instead of giving a "spin" to it!

Kroger customer Mary Smith

Now THAT is an original name. . .

It's funny, Smith said, "you'd think it would be the old fart who'd be afraid."

I RESEMBLE THAT REMARK!

Actually, I really can't see any valid points against the use of this system. It sounds like it could be a win/win for both the store AND the customer!

[Jim Burnes]

This is a communist plot intended to oppress our citizens once again! I won't have it, I won't stand for it!

Even as this is typed, the first store has been raided by my buddies and those evil Big Brother Machines dismantled...Why can't you people see the truth!

Mike Sullivan

(Thanks Jim, for lending your space for this warning, America needs more real American Indians like you, bro!)

[Mike Tx]

You're dead Jim.

[SGT Dave]

Okay-you two-THAT'S ENOUGH!

I won't tolerate your obvious hatred of each other-keep this up and I'll have to send in a team for both of you-
http://www.sportshooter.com/events/swedishbikinis.htm

[Mike Tx]

Nice Guns!

[SpecOpsWarrior]

Bet yall didn't know that I used to be the official suntan lotion applicator for the SBT! I eventually had to quit, I was to exhausted!

But back to the topic at hand. I dont like it. The reason is what I believe to be the real reason behind this. Information! I dont know about yall, but everytime I fill out an application to get one of those stupid discount cards just so I can buy stuff on sale, at the sale price, I lie about my name and personal information.

Most of the time I use the name Mike Sullivan. For an address I always list
Mike's Transmission Repair and Gay Porn Shop
Forth Worth TX.
69696

Now with this new finger print technology, I wont be able to do that. I intentionally lie because I dont want companies knowing my purchasing habits, and I dont want my name and information floating around any more mailing lists than it already is.

[ 05-15-2002: Message edited by: SpecOpsWarrior ]

[Mike Tx]

Typical cops. The gay porn connection. I'm very ****ed know, and I may just do something bad.

[Mike Tx]

On second thought, Spec, your face or mine?

[Jim Burnes]

SpecOpsWarrior,

Hey, for the right price, I'll peel off my fingerprint and fed-X it to you. As long as it makes it easier for all Texans to buy porn, which is our right (!) but which the *&^(^ ^()(&%$)_ government denies us, I'll gladly do it.

Be proud of porn! I am!

Mike Sullivan
A Real Non-Immigant, English only Speaking, PC hating, Equal Rights If I'm First American

[KenM]

I've been to the store in College Station and they have really been pushing this thing. Personally I think it's just as easy to swipe your credit card or write a check. There is no substantial time savings. The Bryan store hasn't had much publicity on this thing.

The College Station store is really neat. It "thunders" when the automatic sprinklers come on to water the produce, seashore sounds come out of the fish counter area, a cow moos when you open the cooler for milk and you hear chickens clucking when you open the cooler for eggs. They also provide free coffee and internet access for shoppers as well as a sitting area if your wife drags you along.

[klar]

Well I guess if they have gone to all that expense to place calming sounds in the various areas then they have to save some monies somewhere and that will be on the lines of this device to save monies from bad checks and court costs. SO I think it is a nice thing but I would probally still float a check out there myself.

Klar

[SGT Dave]

They also provide free coffee and internet access for shoppers as well as a sitting area if your wife drags you along

Which...I would humbly offer...would be as good a place as any to view gay porn under the login:

Mike Sullivan
FTW, TX

[Joseph]

Sounds great for the store. They don't have to worry about bounced checks, can follow your spending habits, decide when to put things on sale when you don't come into the store. That way they can run ads to get you back in when you wouldn't be shopping. They have all your personal information including your fingerprints than they can sell to another company. What you get out of the deal the option to save some ink in your pen and the cost of a check or slide your check card. What a deal. Sounds like a course in Marketing 101.

[Stone]

Hey SGT_Dave,

What crime do I have to commit for you to send those thugs of yours after me?




[ 05-16-2002: Message edited by: Stone ]