Chinese e-tailer to launch brick and mortar supermarkets filled with only QR codes

The point of shopping online is because it is possibly cheaper and more convenient, which is why we have to wonder what is the point of launching actual physical retail stores without any products in them. This is what Chinese e-commerce company, Yihaodian, has decided to do when they revealed that they will be launching 1,000 supermarkets around China that do not actually stock any physical product, but rather show the images of the product along with a QR code that can be scanned and used to buy the items, which will then be delivered to homes.

We’re not sure if this will be useful or simply a novel concept, but it is not the first time it has come up. Yihaodian has already done something similar on a smaller scale by sticking up posters in subway and bus stations, while in South Korea, Tesco has launched something similar where customers can shop for groceries at the subway while waiting for their trains. Interesting concept what do you guys think? Does it make sense to go to a brick and mortal store to scan buy items and wait for them to be delivered, when you can do that and take them home with you straight away at a normal supermarket?

Tyler Lee
Categories: General
Tags: qr code