Is this 'more surveillance'? Shoppers raise concerns after peculiar sightings at their local supermarket
- Replies 15
As we stroll through supermarket aisles, shoppers often notice the little changes that pop up from time to time.
Recently, eagle-eyed customers spotted something that's caused quite a stir.
This discovery led to a flurry of speculation and concern among shoppers across the country.
A Sydney shopper took their curiosity to social media after encountering a notice in their local store.
The notice read, 'We're trialling new camera technology in this store to improve product availability.'
'Any customer imagery captured will be silhouetted out.'
The shopper then noticed new cameras mounted beneath the supermarket's shelves.
This sighting led to several questions and speculations online.
'More surveillance at Woolies?' a concerned shopper asked.
'Woolies in Kellyville has now put cameras on a lot of their aisles,' another shopper shared.
'This store is one of the more digitally "advanced" ones with digital price tags and those self-checkout tablets.'
Others pondered if these cameras were meant to monitor shopping habits and optimise store layouts.
Amid the speculation, Woolworths has stepped forward and clarified the situation.
These mysterious cameras were not meant for surveillance.
Instead, they are a tool to help staff keep the shelves well-stocked and the products flowing.
These cameras snap images of the shelves hourly, allowing team members to quickly identify which items need replenishing without manually checking aisles.
'We've been trialling the use of on-shelf cameras to help improve product availability in less than 15 supermarkets since June 2023,' a Woolworths spokesperson stated.
The trial for these cameras began in a Woolworths store in Wetherill Park, New South Wales.
'The cameras, which alert our team members when shelves or products need to be restocked, means more of what our customers want is more readily available,' the spokesperson added.
The cameras are discreetly placed near the digital price tags, surveying everything from fresh produce to frozen goods.
However, several customers also shared their thoughts about the new technology.
'Wouldn't the logical conclusion be to automatically detect when stock is low and restock?' one person asked.
'Can't they monitor stock by how much they sell via the checkout registers?' another pointed out.
It also raised concerns about customers' privacy.
However, Woolworths reassured customers that the cameras would solely focus on the stock levels.
'We'll continue assessing the benefits of this technology as we proceed with the trial,' the spokesperson concluded.
So, next time you're navigating the aisles of Woolworths, take a moment to look around.
You might spot one of these new cameras hard at work.
We would love to hear your thoughts on this new development. Are you comfortable with the idea of cameras monitoring stocks, or does it raise concerns for you? Share your opinions about this technology in the comments section below!
Recently, eagle-eyed customers spotted something that's caused quite a stir.
This discovery led to a flurry of speculation and concern among shoppers across the country.
A Sydney shopper took their curiosity to social media after encountering a notice in their local store.
The notice read, 'We're trialling new camera technology in this store to improve product availability.'
'Any customer imagery captured will be silhouetted out.'
The shopper then noticed new cameras mounted beneath the supermarket's shelves.
A Woolworths store in Sydney had the notice displayed on their shelves. Image Credits: Reddit/Woolworths
This sighting led to several questions and speculations online.
'More surveillance at Woolies?' a concerned shopper asked.
'Woolies in Kellyville has now put cameras on a lot of their aisles,' another shopper shared.
'This store is one of the more digitally "advanced" ones with digital price tags and those self-checkout tablets.'
Others pondered if these cameras were meant to monitor shopping habits and optimise store layouts.
Amid the speculation, Woolworths has stepped forward and clarified the situation.
These mysterious cameras were not meant for surveillance.
Instead, they are a tool to help staff keep the shelves well-stocked and the products flowing.
These cameras snap images of the shelves hourly, allowing team members to quickly identify which items need replenishing without manually checking aisles.
'We've been trialling the use of on-shelf cameras to help improve product availability in less than 15 supermarkets since June 2023,' a Woolworths spokesperson stated.
The trial for these cameras began in a Woolworths store in Wetherill Park, New South Wales.
'The cameras, which alert our team members when shelves or products need to be restocked, means more of what our customers want is more readily available,' the spokesperson added.
The cameras are discreetly placed near the digital price tags, surveying everything from fresh produce to frozen goods.
However, several customers also shared their thoughts about the new technology.
'Wouldn't the logical conclusion be to automatically detect when stock is low and restock?' one person asked.
'Can't they monitor stock by how much they sell via the checkout registers?' another pointed out.
It also raised concerns about customers' privacy.
However, Woolworths reassured customers that the cameras would solely focus on the stock levels.
'We'll continue assessing the benefits of this technology as we proceed with the trial,' the spokesperson concluded.
So, next time you're navigating the aisles of Woolworths, take a moment to look around.
You might spot one of these new cameras hard at work.
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