GERMANY: CUSTOMERS AT AN EDEKA SUPERMARKET STORE IN RUELZHEIM PAY FOR THEIR GROCERIES BY USING A FINGERPRINT SCANNER.

Record ID: 850508

  • Title: GERMANY: CUSTOMERS AT AN EDEKA SUPERMARKET STORE IN RUELZHEIM PAY FOR THEIR GROCERIES BY USING A FINGERPRINT SCANNER.
  • Date: 11th March 2005
  • Summary: RUELZHEIM, GERMANY (MARCH 11, 2005) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL) WS/EXTERIOR: OF THE FITTERER BRANCH OF THE EDEKA SUPERMARKET CHAIN IN RUELZHEIM. CU: SIGN FOR THE SUPERMARKET. TRAVEL: ENTRANCE TO THE SUPERMARKET, SEEN FROM THE INSIDE OF A SHOPPING TROLLEY. WS: CUSTOMERS SHOPPING INSIDE SUPERMARKET, / PAN: TO GOODS ON SHELVES WS: CUSTOMERS AT THE CHECKOUT AND / TILT DOWN: TO THE FINGERPRINT SCANNER. SCU: (SOUNDBITE) (German) STORE MANAGER ROLAND FITTERER, SAYING: "We promise that it will be successful with the customers, as it is easy to deal with. It is secure and allows the customers to shop without a wallet, credit card, PIN number, pen or signature." TRACK: CUSTOMER PUTTING GOODS INTO HER TROLLEY AND GOING TO THE CHECKOUT. WS: CUSTOMER PUTTING HER SHOPPING ON TO THE BELT AT THE CHECKOUT. CU: OF SHOPPING IN TROLLEY AND / PAN: TO CUSTOMER PUTTING ITEMS ON TO BELT. CU: OF CASHIER'S HANDS SCANNING ITEMS AND / PAN: TO HER FACE. MV: CUSTOMER WAITING TO PAY. AS CHECKOUT GIRL ENTERS ITEMS. CU: OF THE TILL DISPLAY WITH THE PRICE AND THE REQUEST TO PUT A FINGER ON THE SCANNER. CU: OF FINGER BEING PUT ON THE FINGERPRINT SCANNER. CU: FINGER ON THE SCANNER AND / PAN: TO THE CUSTOMER'S FACE. SCU: CUSTOMER WAITING AT CHECKOUT. SCU: (SOUNDBITE) (German) HEAD OF MARKETING FOR EDEKA SOUTHWEST, GERT DUSCHAN, SAYING: "The customer just has to bring their identity card with them once and a bank statement to show that they have a bank account. Then they have to fill in an application form and they can start shopping straightaway." MV: CUSTOMERS AT CHECKOUT. SCU: (SOUNDBITE) (German) HEAD OF MARKETING FOR EDEKA SOUTHWEST, GERT DUSCHAN, SAYING: "It is one hundred percent guaranteed safe. There is someone responsible for data protection in store. He ensures that everything is legally secure and that there are no problems, and the data remains in the store." CU: OF CUSTOMER TAKING MONEY OUT OF THEIR WALLET. CU: OF MONEY BEING COUNTED OUT NEXT TO THE TILL AND / PAN: TO THE CASHIER'S FACE. SCU: CASHIER HOLDING UP VEGETABLES WHILE ON PHONE. WS: CASHIER SCANNING ITEMS THROUGH CHECKOUT. CU: OF FINGERPRINT SCANNER.
  • Embargoed: 26th March 2005 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: RUELZHEIM, GERMANY
  • City:
  • Country: Germany
  • Topics: Business,Industry,Quirky,Light / Amusing / Unusual / Quirky,Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVA4GS8YUJ11SCK9FUZQHPNVIV1W
  • Aspect Ratio:
  • Story Text: Customers at a German supermarket chain can soon pay for their groceries by using their fingerprint.
    Customers at a German supermarket chain can soon pay for their shopping by placing their finger on a scanner at the check-out, saving up to 40 seconds spent scrabbling for coins or cards, bosses say.
    An Edeka store in the southwest German town of Ruelzheim has piloted the technology since November and now the company plans to equip stores across the region. Store manager Roland Fitterer told Reuters TV that he was certain that the system would be a success with customers: "It is easy to deal with. It is secure and allows the customers to shop without a wallet, credit card, PIN number, pen or signature." Registering to use the system is simple and quick.
    "The customer just has to bring their identity card with them once and a bank statement to show that they have a bank account. Then they have to fill in an application form and they can start shopping straightaway," said Head of Marketing for Edeka Southwest Gert Duschan. The scanner compares the shopper's fingerprint with those stored in its data base alongside matching account details.
    Edeka bosses are confident the system could not be abused and the customers' personal details will be protected. Duschan told Reuters TV that there is an Edeka employee solely responsible for data protection and ensuring that the data remains in the store. The chances of two people having the same fingerprint is about one in 220 million.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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