For Your Shopping Pleasure—

Stop And Shop With A ‘Buddy’

By Kendra Bobowick

A fusion of electronic gadgetry and digital innovation that can literally bounce off satellites will soon be smoothing your trip down the isles at one of Newtown’s local grocery stores. The Stop & Shop Supermarket Companies has introduced the “Shopping Buddy,” which awaits store patrons at other stores in the chain, including Shelton.

According to the company, the innovative “Buddy” will be ready to accompany Stop & Shop patrons here in Newtown as early as July.

Newtown Store Manager Jerry Salvatore said, “They have put a lot of thought into it, and it’s supposed to be a convenience to get you in and out.”

The company website explains that the time-saving device is a small tablet that can be activated with a Stop & Shop card. Once activated, the Shopping Buddy displays personal savings coupons and shopping history.

Shelton Stop & Shop Assistant Customer Service Manager Craig Pressley explains, “It clips onto a cart and has a hand scanner with a touch-screen monitor. You scan your [Stop & Shop] card and then scan the item.”

He also indicated that those using the buddy could receive additional discounts. In his observation, there are still shoppers who prefer the old-fashioned methods.

“Some still like people-to-people shopping, but others like their independence,” he said.

The buddy’s features allow shoppers to keep a running total of the day’s purchases, order from the deli without waiting in line, and scan and bag items “as you shop” for quick checkout, the website indicates.

Mr Salvatore said that as people shop, “You can scan your order and [at check-out] it only has to be cash tendered.” He anticipates the buddy’s arrival in town this summer. Although the website indicates July may be the month Newtown welcomes its buddies, Director of Marketing Peg Merzbacher feels the deadline may be moved.

Offering some good news, she discussed the feedback she has received about the buddy.

“It helps you keep within a budget because you can keep track of the total as you shop,” she said. People explain that they feel as thought they have more control over their shopping, she said.

“They know what they are spending and what’s on sale,” Ms Merzbacher said. Based on what she has heard, the buddy “works best for big orders.”

For those concerned about beer or cigarette sales, Mr Pressley said, “You have to have an employee for that.”

Shoppers can bag as they go and simply “finish and pay” by pressing the corresponding button on the buddy.

“You give the cashier the Stop & Shop card and the order is processed in about 20 seconds,” Mr Pressley said. “You can pay as usual but it eliminates the wait.”

Shoppers can also have their items bagged at check out rather than bagging as they go. Self checkout is also still an option.

The Shopping Buddy adds another layer of convenience to grocery shopping and also saves time, but will not replace cashiers. Checkout personnel still must process the final transactions.

Mr Salvatore said, “The cashiers are not going to lose their jobs.”

Shopping Buddies are racked near the shopping carts and hand baskets.