Price surge fears at Walmart after shoppers spot electronic tag change – and customers say manipulation ‘too easy’

CONSUMERS have expressed concerns over price-gouging as the retailer implements new electronic price tags.

Shoppers said the new tags at Walmart are just another way for retailers to scam consumers out of their money.

"You’re on the side of the faceless greed robot that just installed electronic price tags on water bottles so they can do price surges during heat waves," one consumer tweeted.

"Call this a conspiracy theory if you will - i actually think that long term they will manipulate prices with these apps," echoed another shopper.

"They track what you usually buy and the electronic price tags will adjust their prices accordingly when you come by, so you'll pay more for your usual purchase," they added.

The retailer announced the change in a statement in June.

Walmart hopes that the digital price tags will help employees update shelves using a mobile app, reducing the need to walk around the store to change paper tags by hand.

"Walmart stores have over 120,000 products on shelves, each with an individual price tag," their press statement read. "Every week our stores support thousands of pricing updates for new items, Rollbacks and markdowns."

The retailer said the digital shelf labels will give retail workers more time to support customers in the store.

According to the press statement, the electronic price tags have already helped increase productivity, reduce walking time, simplify stock replenishment, and fast-track order picking and fulfillment.

Shoppers said they are still concerned at how easily retailers can manipulate prices.

Some shoppers wondered if the price changes could eventually analyze spending habits.

For example, if the retailer's application knows that a consumer always buys snacks, suddenly those products are more expensive.

On the flip side, if the same consumer stopped buying their usual treats, those products would then be discounted.

Amidst concerns over price gouging, an ex-retail worker shared their thoughts on the new electronic price tags.

"As a former retail worker, I'd been hoping to see what Kohl's did, applied elsewhere," they tweeted. "Would've save many hours of weekly re-tagging and cut down on errors."

You’re on the side of the faceless greed robot that just installed electronic price tags on water bottles so they can do price surges during heat waves

The transition to digital shelf labels is a "game-changer" for the retailer and many others.

Walmart claimed that the new price tags not only improve efficiency and customer satisfaction but also integrate sustainability.

Walmart cited that the new price tags have helped to reduce operational waste.

And the retailer shows no signs of backing down.

"We are excited about the positive impact this innovation will have on our operations and the environment," they said.

Walmart plans to continue to digitalize stores and expand digital shelf labels to 2,300 stores by 2026.

Meanwhile, a Walmart customer was outraged over the store's self-checkout limit and the staff's behavior.

And Ikea’s $12 Halloween decoration is flying off shelves – it’s identical to Walmart but $5 cheaper.