SPRINGFIELD (WGGB) — Out with the old and in with the new. Those individual price stickers we’re used to seeing at the grocery store are on their way out, as electronic price scanners are on the way in.
Since New Year’s day… grocery stores are no longer required to put the price on each item.
At the Big Y World Class Market on Cooley Street in Springfield the items are still individually marked.
But those who are for the new law, like Rich Fontaine of Springfield, say you don’t need the stickers since prices are clearly labeled on the shelves. “I rely on the stickers they got on the side. I use that. Actually I like it better cause you can break it down like how much it is per pound. It breaks it down what it is you’re buying. Sometimes you can get your savings better this way.”
Not everyone is so sure about the new system, however. Big Y shopper, Ann Stebbins, thinks it will be harder to figure out exactly what an item costs. “I don’t like that because a lot of times if I see something without a price in the grocery or Walmart or something I won’t buy it cause I don’t have time to go up and say ‘how much is this?’”
That’s why, according to the new state law, grocery stores must install stationary self scanners. Fairly simple to use, the scanners read the bar code on each item and bring the price up on the screen.
Right now, Big Y is in the process of putting the scanners into each of its 30 Massachusetts locations. Already, the store on Cooley has 6 installed and more on the way. Additionally, each scanner will be clearly marked with a large sign above it. The grocery store chain hopes to have the new system in place by February.
“Well I won’t like it but I’ll have no choice,” said Stebbins. “So I’ll take it.”
Eliminating price stickers is nothing new around the country. Massachusetts is in fact the last state to officially get rid of them.
There are requirements for a store to go without price stickers. It must place a stationary self-scanner every 5-thousand square feet of store space.
For retailers with hand-held scanners like Stop & Shop, the requirement is every 10-thousand square feet.
Been that way for years! Probably since Dave Scott anchored the news. Or Jim Contoleone editorialized. HA! I’m old!
No scanners in site! No “price stickers” either. Even when the markers with the price are below the item, you need a large powerful magnifying glass to read them. Changes do not benefit the consumer.
I believe it used to also be Massachusetts law that you couldn’t force someone to sign up / join a club in order to get special savings, like being forced to sign up for a Big Y card in order to get a sale price. it used to be the state required stores to provide a store card. Is this still true?
The law requires them to install scanners… Plus most people have a smartphone and they can just check the price with their phone.
It’s insane just went to the store today, shelves aren’t marked, no scanners available – I’m (like many) on a very tight budget, I need to know what things cost!! This new change does not benefit the consumer at all
Big y has scanners I seen them Install them!!!! And no it’s not against the law for a store to make u join to get sale prices!!! Don’t like it then go to save a lot or price right!!!!
i liked the price stickers because if they screwed you could get the item free ugh no more of that i guess
dumb
Really how hard is it to match the product with the unit tag on the shelf. If its not in plain English everyone’s lost. Amazing people can find there way home.
What people forget is that not every person is healthy enough to look up, down and all around for stickers when they are beset with arthritis or in a wheelchair, etc. I’ve tried getting ready for this and for this arthritic and tri-focoled person – this new way will be difficult, at best.