Walmart Begins Rollout of RFID and EPC Tags

paroneayea writes "There's a lot about RFID tags in the news today. Wal-Mart is officially beginning to use RFID tags on its merchandise. We've heard about Wal-Mart's plans to introduce RFID tags in the past, but this is the first time that this is actually being put into use. To quote the article: 'Wal-Mart is billing this as a trial, but Simon Langford, Wal-Mart's manager of RFID strategies, told RFID Journal that this is the beginning of the company's planned roll-out of EPC (Electronic Product Code) technology.' Meanwhile, California does something right for a change and introduces a bill that will limit the use of RFID tags in stores and libraries to protect the privacy of customers. IBM, which plans to be a major manufacturer of RFID tags, bashes critics of RFID tags as 'anti-retail.'"

UPC

[Anonymous Coward]

If anyone can give RFID tags ubiquity, it's Wal-Mart. We have them to thank for UPC (for those from the Department of Redundancy Department: UPC codes).

OK, so now, what can we do.

[nurb432]

Since we cant stop the flood of the damned tags, and they are now on our doorstep, what can we do to at least safely destroy them after we get home.

And no, i dont want to stick my clothes in a microwave oven..

Its invasive and i refuse to walk around notifying my purchasing habits. ( yes, i do pay cash.. )

Re:RFID tags

[Neil Blender]

RFID tags: another reason to hate Wal-Mart.

What, the shitty merchandise, disgusting customers, dirty stores and appalling customer service isn't enough? Any one of those alone would stop me from shopping anywhere.

Go California.

[james_in_denver]

Seems like California is doing the right thing by limiting their use. It isn't anybody's business to know if I am wearing boxers, tighty whities, nothing at all, even even pink panties under my pants...

soon embedded in merchandise

[Prince Vegeta SSJ4]

Customer walks into wallmart

Automated Computer: Good morning shopper, I see the pack of ultra ribbed, extra small condoms in your pocket is about to expire, and you only have one left - you can find another on aisle 20.

Be sure to check out our special on superlube 4000 while your there

Wife: since when did you use a condom with me?

Re:OK, so now, what can we do.

[Kenja]

Be sure to destroy your money, credit cards, ID and everything else that can be used t otrack you. Get off the internet and pull your phone out of the wall. Then burn off your fingerprints and run naked through the streets screaming about how the technology is out to get you.

Re:OK, so now, what can we do.

[Anonymous Coward]

If you are buying clothes from Walmart, then you have a lot more to worry about than being tracked.

Re:OK, so now, what can we do.

[Planesdragon]

Its invasive and i refuse to walk around notifying my purchasing habits

So you walk around naked, in home-made clothes?

Or possibly this....

[i_want_you_to_throw_]

Automated Computer: Good morning shopper, I see the pack of ultra ribbed, extra small condoms in your pocket is still full and you bought them quite some time ago. Not getting any?

See our special on blow up dolls on aisle 21.

IBM good? Or Bad?

[Anonymous Coward]

I forgot.....is IBM the good guys this week or the bag guys?
This SCO-IBM thing has really thrown me off.

IBM

[bonch]

My question is, is IBM good or bad today?

Re:Burn-out device

[rupert2000]

I dunno.. You can walk into Walmart looking pretty big without standing out too bad.

Re:RFID tags are the least of my worries

[Wireless Joe]

I personally go to Walmart once a year and buy regular commodity crap like toiletries, household supplies, etc.

I go to Wal Mart once a year for my $2.97 gallon jar of pickles. [fastcompany.com]

Re:Isn't anyone concerned about this quote?

[b-baggins]

Up Marx, down Smith! Die capitalist pigs!

Re:Nothing to worry about

[nharmon]

What are you talking about? Don't you know that If it has to do with stripping rights away from Americans, than it is always the fault of the Republicans?