We all know the feeling: you’re standing in the checkout line, quietly hoping the cashier doesn’t judge your choices. Maybe you’ve got frozen pizza, ice cream, and a single bottle of wine. You tell yourself they’ve seen it all, but grocery cashiers notice patterns, and some items raise red flags more than others. Not in…
It starts as a simple grocery run until you reach the frozen aisle. Suddenly, everyone has an opinion. One person wants healthy frozen foods, the other craves comfort meals. The freezer doors slam, the temperature drops, and so does the mood. For reasons both practical and emotional, this section of the store seems to spark…
Have you ever answered the door for your grocery delivery to realize that your driver is someone you know? It can be a little awkward, but in the age of gig work, it is fairly common. You might open the door to see your neighbor, your child’s teacher, or even a former coworker. What happens…
The idea of racking up cashback, miles, or points every time you swipe your card is enticing, especially as the holiday season approaches. It sounds like easy money to most people, but you need to read the fine print before you sign on the dotted line. A lot of popular rewards cards will lure you…
Coupon hacking is slowly falling by the wayside, but there are still ways you can “hack” your savings at the store. However, some people go beyond what’s acceptable (especially when it comes to the cashiers). Every “stacked” coupon has a retailer quietly gritting their teeth behind it. Although they can’t technically stop you from using…
The online grocery platforms from Amazon, which include Amazon Fresh and Whole Foods, are powered by a very sophisticated artificial intelligence system. This AI is not just there to process your order. It is also constantly analyzing the contents of your cart to identify certain patterns and to send you targeted messages. In some cases,…
Retailers are now using a powerful and invisible form of in-store surveillance. They are using artificial intelligence (AI) to analyze the video feeds from their overhead security cameras. One of the key metrics that this AI is trained to track is your “dwell time.” This is the amount of time you spend paused in a…
The days leading up to Halloween are a whirlwind of last-minute preparations. This results in a frantic rush at the grocery store. While the candy aisle is the main event, a few other key items are in extremely high demand. These products are essential for classic Halloween traditions. They sell out with surprising speed. If…
You are cleaning out your wallet, and you find a great coupon that you forgot to use. The only problem is that it expired yesterday. Most people would throw that coupon in the trash, assuming that it is now a worthless piece of paper. However, in many cases, that is not true. A surprising number…