Say you browsed your favorite store’s website and added a few items to your online shopping cart but didn’t purchase them.  The next time you go into the brick and mortar store, the sales clerk will know what items you looked at online, your clothing sizes and how much you spent the last time you shopped at the store.  Is she psychic? NOPE… You have technology to thank for what most should see as an invasion of privacy.

The government has been using technological advances for over 2 decades to watch, monitor, track and surveil citizens. Now that they have found a way to potentially monetize some of this technology, it is being put to use by high-end retailers in an effort to court and seduce customers into spending their money. The whole idea is that when you walk in the store the sales clerk can come over to you with that little black dress you had in your shopping cart over the weekend in just your size and you will be so impressed, you will buy it.

Elastic Path’s has developed technology that works with store loyalty apps and small sensors inside the stores that “talk” to the app on a customer’s phone. From there, information is beamed to a salesperson within the store. I don’t know about you, but I don’t think the sales girl needs to know I was looking at La Perla bras and panties. The whole thing is just creepy. This doesn’t add to my customer service experience and won’t encourage me to spend more money. It may encourage me to stay home or shop elsewhere.

Macy’s, Michael Kors and Lord and Taylors will be using the technology nationwide.

 

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