Man walks into Walmart, then seeing the new price tags stops him short: ‘They can change at a moment’s notice’

A man walks down an aisle at Walmart and takes a closer look at the price tags. He realizes they’re actually digital and warns viewers that the retailer could be making “millions” off of them with this strategy.

In a video with over 33,000 likes, TikToker @supamerica2 shows one of the newly installed digital price tags. At first glance, the tag looks identical to the previous paper tags. Then, he lifts up the frame, showing that it’s actually an electronic device.

“Prices can change at a moment’s notice,” the TikToker warns. “And they do throughout the day.”

He suggests that Walmart may use the digital tags to implement “surge pricing,” which would bump up prices by a few cents when the store is busy.

“This is happening at every Walmart across the country and this will be happening at every grocery store at some point,” he predicts, saying the change of just a few cents could make the retailers millions.

He continues, “They’ll incrementally raise them so it’ll always be higher.”

At the end of the clip, the TikToker suggests that pricing technology may evolve to use shoppers’ phone data to adjust the price, too.

Does Walmart actually use surge pricing?

While shoppers suspect that the digital price tags could mean higher prices throughout the day, Walmart recently denied using surge pricing. According to USA Today, Walmart shares that the digital tags were installed to ensure accurate pricing and to save workers time.

Workers at other stores that implemented digital price tags suggest the same on the r/news subreddit.

“Yeah aldi has been doing this for years and never once have they pulled any shenanigans or dynamic pricing,” one writes. “This is primarily a cost saving measure.”

“They don’t want to have a customer pick something up and it’s costs something different by the time they get to the register. It angers customers and also already against the law,” another suggests.

A Walmart spokesperson tells The Mary Sue that digital price tags are a way to make workers’ jobs easier—and it shouldn’t impact prices throughout opening hours.

“Price updates are still people led and support Walmart’s Everyday Low Price (EDLP) promise,” they say. “Associates review and push approved changes through a secure system, typically outside of shopping hours, so prices remain stable and consistent during the day.”

Viewers react to the digital price tags

In the comments of the viral TikTok, viewers say their worries over surge pricing may change their shopping habits.

“Shop them Mom and Pop stores. They’re not equipped with equipment like that and your money stays local,” one suggests.

“I would say Walmart has given us more than a few reasons NOT to shop there anymore,” a second remarks.

“Then change where you get groceries, they’ll get it after awhile. If not, let them all close,” another writes.

However, others say they aren’t worried about the digital tags.

A commenter says, “Thats not what those labels do…..”

@supamerica2 Walmart Digital Price Tag #walmart #digital #technology #work #food ♬ original sound – Sup America!

“I work at a grocery store, and somebody has to sit in the room for eight hours and sort 8 to 10,000 paper tags every week,” another explains. “It is a terrible job and switching to digital tags is so much better.”

The Mary Sue reached out to Supamerica2 via TikTok direct message and comment.

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