Amazon Will Pay Shoppers $5 to Walk Out of Stores Empty-Handed

[Nikolay Angelov]

Interesting bit of news :

Amazon is offering consumers up to $5 off on purchases if they compare prices using the online giant’s mobile phone application in a store.

The promotion goes live Saturday and will serve as a way for Amazon to increase usage of its bar-code-scanning application, while also collecting intelligence on prices in the stores.

While the information empowers consumers, it terrifies retailers, who increasingly are feeling like showrooms — shoppers come to to check out the merchandise but ultimately decide to walk out and buy online instead.

http://allthingsd.com/20111206/amazo...-empty-handed/

[EyeCare Rich]

Scarry!!!!!!

[Johns]

Scary...not in the slightest.

Bar Code? Is that like a secret signal when the lab guys need a drink?

We have no bar codes, and if they want to price shop, they can price shop all they want...

"Here you go m'aam/ The price on that G987V097 is $109.00. Feel free to shop around!"