Walmart tracking your underwear?

The tags can be disabled when you exit the store, not sure if walmart is doing that. Generally speaking though technology like this will save consumers billions (trillions even?) over the long haul. There's always a conspiracy theory or two but those are really pretty over blown. (Remember the outcry over bar code scanners in the 80s?)

Supply chain management sounds kinda boring, but it's really quite cutting edge for companies like WM and major drug companies. It can keep shelves stocked, produce fresh, drugs authentic, and it will simplify our lives and save us money. (Granted, there's always the chance it can be abused as well.)

Disclaimer: I've done some software work in this area, the technology is pretty darn cool. So I might be biased.

Boy, won't they be surprised!?!

Hmmm...so with the right technology I will be able to tell exactly what kind and what color of underwear any woman is wearing? Sweeeeeeet! ;-)

No more underwear or white pants for me.

The tags can be disabled when you exit the store, not sure if walmart is doing that. Generally speaking though technology like this will save consumers billions (trillions even?) over the long haul. There's always a conspiracy theory or two but those are really pretty over blown. (Remember the outcry over bar code scanners in the 80s?)

Supply chain management sounds kinda boring, but it's really quite cutting edge for companies like WM and major drug companies. It can keep shelves stocked, produce fresh, drugs authentic, and it will simplify our lives and save us money. (Granted, there's always the chance it can be abused as well.)

Disclaimer: I've done some software work in this area, the technology is pretty darn cool. So I might be biased.

What I'll do is I'll remove the tags, bring them back into walmart, and put them in different places. They'll go crazy wondering why there's a bunch of underwear next to the Castrol GTX.

Will their be a toll free number to call to locate them when I can't find them, in the laundry.

None of this bothers me, I figure they already know more than I am aware and I know we have bar codes in our state license plates now that the officers can read your registration info, outstanding warrants, etc before leaving the car.

After two officers in West Memphis, being gunned down during a routine traffic stop I have no problem with it.

The only people who have something to fear are the anti-Wal-Mart hippies fixing to be busted with their Wal-Mart acquired goods.

RFIDs are everywhere -- your credit cards, college IDs that track which buildings you enter and allow you to enter only certain buildings, just as two examples. One of my students got an M.D. to implant an RFID into his forearm so he could enter his dorm and dorm room without having to bother with getting out a card.

In case some of you are behind the times, Walmarts have numerous cameras outside and inside their stores, and they can track your every move. This marketing idea sounds more like a way to easily computerize customers patterns and to track how they shop as they go through a store. Grocery stores have done this for years, but with low tech, human observations. Grocery stores also make money from product displays. Different shelves get different amounts of attention.

There are numerous ways to track many people as they go about their day. Facebook, Twitter, GPS coordinates from your cell phone, credit card/debit card charges, highway cameras tracking your car, security cameras at various stores, IP address, etc. People just don't realize that they are already being followed.

In case some of you are behind the times, Walmarts have numerous cameras outside and inside their stores, and they can track your every move. This marketing idea sounds more like a way to easily computerize customers patterns and to track how they shop as they go through a store. Grocery stores have done this for years, but with low tech, human observations. Grocery stores also make money from product displays. Different shelves get different amounts of attention.

There are numerous ways to track many people as they go about their day. Facebook, Twitter, GPS coordinates from your cell phone, credit card/debit card charges, highway cameras tracking your car, security cameras at various stores, IP address, etc. People just don't realize that they are already being followed.

Will my skidmarks intefer with this technology? What if I'm lost, say, in a snowstorm and they can't find me?

Will my skidmarks intefer with this technology? What if I'm lost, say, in a snowstorm and they can't find me?

If this were true, Dwight, many men will be lost.

What I'll do is I'll remove the tags, bring them back into walmart, and put them in different places. They'll go crazy wondering why there's a bunch of underwear next to the Castrol GTX.

Brilliant! I was thinking of just carrying some scissors with me whenever making purchases, detaching the locators, and dropping them off at Customer Service on my way out, but your idea sounds much better; may as well make use of their technology and have fun with it. I ask the proponents of this tracking device: Should we, the customer, be allowed to do some little scheme like this? If we are truly buying ownership of the merchandise and not some license to use or rent it, I think so.

30AShopper, I'm a conservative, pro-business capitalist like yourself, but prefer to provide information on a need-to-know basis and I prefer to control the distribution of such information. Not really a conspiracy theory, but I do think the potential for mis-use is too great. If these locators are truly capable of what they're claiming to be, are the authorities able to use them to locate missing kids, stolen goods, etc.? I have no problem with law enforecement using such technology in license plates, driver's licenses, etc., but retailers, maybe that's a different story; we are not supposed to be subservient to other civilians or private entities, are we?

I would just add that the tags have limited range, they don't have batteries, you have to be in the store and in range of a scanner to have them read. So it's not like once you walk out of the store WalMart will be watching (not yet anyway).

If this were true, Dwight, many men will be lost.

I'm going to go buy a second pair right now. When I get back, I'll wash the ones I'm wearing. Rather be safe than sorry.

Reason 467 not to shop at Wal-mart!

If a store wants to tag items INSIDE their store and then remove/deactivate it or have customers remove them after purchase that is fine with me.

But this is just too Orwellian for me (even if it wasn't being implemented by my nemesis).

I would just add that the tags have limited range, they don't have batteries, you have to be in the store and in range of a scanner to have them read. So it's not like once you walk out of the store WalMart will be watching (not yet anyway).

Point taken, and position revised. After going back and reading the blog more closely, I now undertand that the only "tracking" this technology handles is in-store merchandise. It's mot like they can go to some computer and enter a zip code and see who's wearing their underpants, and it they're still wearing them beyond the manufacturer's suggested product lifetime, they can say "OK, send that household a 'Buy 3, Get 1 for 10% Off' coupon.' This is merely for keeping track of inventory in the store. No problem there.

But I do recall an article a couple of years ago about Wal-Mart and manufacturers putting such a technology in other products, maybe Gilette Mach 3 razors or similar products, that could track how long consumers use them. That's a bit creepy.

And I'm not an anti-Wal-Mart hippie, as I went there twice this week for food items (which would be unsanitary to track) and AC filters, which I'll go ahead and tell Wal-Mart & 3M: I took them home and put them in the exchange slots and will replace them on or around Hallo'ween. Put that in your pie charts and marketing data.

Will my skidmarks intefer with this technology? What if I'm lost, say, in a snowstorm and they can't find me?

Maybe, nobody wants to find you (just kidding)

My underwear has been sending out signals for years!

Say NO to restrictive measures! Let the boys be FREE!

If this were true, Dwight, many men will be lost.

Love this Alicia, the stories I could tell about my Jasper and his drawers! God Bless his soul!

This spells certain doom for Garanimals! I thought they were for making sure your skivvies matched your clothes!

I figured it was the bar code in the bottom of my skivvies. Guess not.

I noticed last night that a local Wal-Mart is now selling the "Shake-Weight." I wonder if Wal-Mart and the manufacturer will be tracking consumers' usage of that item.

In case some of you are behind the times, Walmarts have numerous cameras outside and inside their stores, and they can track your every move. This marketing idea sounds more like a way to easily computerize customers patterns and to track how they shop as they go through a store. Grocery stores have done this for years, but with low tech, human observations. Grocery stores also make money from product displays. Different shelves get different amounts of attention.

There are numerous ways to track many people as they go about their day. Facebook, Twitter, GPS coordinates from your cell phone, credit card/debit card charges, highway cameras tracking your car, security cameras at various stores, IP address, etc. People just don't realize that they are already being followed.

I am awaiting a smart cart that keeps a running total of everything I put in it, and all I have to do is swipe my card and leave, no more cashiers looking at all the sudafed I buy.