I liked this idea, not sure why it didn't make the list. Soon after I sent this, saw they did something like it - had a basket comparison of carts full of items from different stores (I am not taking credit for anything they did, other than when I worked for them in China). Someone is doing something like this, but not sure it is a receipt scan. Muse and those guys had something a little like this with ShopSavvy. With standard product names and UPCs this would be easy. Really curious as to the product price variation across same stores in different neighborhoods. Just went to Walmart Neighborhood Market tonight, usually much cheaper than others, but many times at Kroger and Tom Thumb they'll have deals that are even better.

1. November 2002
met and spoke with him on 11/16/02, he
worked for safeway and albertsons and
heb. said they don't have an external
email, but he'll pass it to the pricing
people in bentonville. said they will
probably call me.
----------------------------------------
Glenn Johnson, 7-5PM
Store Manager,
South Irving
(972)-313-0707
Dear Glenn,
Instead of playing phone tag, which I find to
be annoying, I was on my way to lunch down
this way and figured I'd drop this off. See below.
Jay Martin
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Objective
Create a draw for first time shoppers to
emphasize the difference in prices between
stores for the exact same items. Wal-Mart is in
a unique position because the value of a first
time visitor to its grocery section has the
additional value of having its extra merchandise
on which to spread out any cost of acquisition.
So the question becomes, what new ways can we
draw in people. How to attract them and get them
to swtich - better selection, higher quality,
lower prices (this is it), more convenient....
My idea focuses on the price contrast for like
merchandise versus conventional grocery stores.
The Idea
Created a machine which can 'read' receipts from
competitors, analyze the products purchased (either
from the SKU number or even product description)
and the price, then pass this information to
a processing unit which can them perform a number
of functions:
Create a new receipt showing total cost at WalMart
Emphasizing the difference in cost of the total purchase
Breaking down item by item dollar & percentage difference
Allow shopper to enter in more information to determine
what their weekly, monthly or yearly savings are
How to Get People in to Use It
To provide incentive for people to bring their receipts
in, you could have a variety of promotions, like 10
dollars off per household or better, we will give you
the difference between our and their prices for first
time only (that way only people with competitors receipts
would be able to take advantage of this, and there would
be little or no 'gaming' of the system. AND, you would
be able to build a nice customer data base with preferences,
like the people with reward cards do)

2. To be Created
Machine to 'read' image of competitors receipts
Programming to
Analyze image to identify text
Compare text to SKU inventory data
Prepare analysis of comparison
Create printed or on screen reports
(the beauty of this machine is that you could
make one, then take it around to different stores
as a promotional and analyze its performance to see
if it justifies mass production. Thought this is
guerilla marketing, you could put a Wal-Mart truck
or kiosk temporarily near competitors and get them
as they are leaving their grocery stores. I'd expect
your Counsel would need to think about this one)
Challenges
Develop/refine the marketing spin (easy)
Machine to read receipts
Image reading software
Program to create the 'new' receipt
Interface to print it out
Tie-in to local prices at store
I had some more thoughts, and also other ideas
along these lines. No use writing them all
up, I am very busy (doing follow-up work on
my second patent, I am a poor inventor/former
Strategy Consultancy veteran). Additional ideas
and benefits include getting a huge influx of
competitors price data courtesy of customers
from all over the country, potential to have
an 'input' via email of prices, images or
even a fax where you can then send people
a report and coupons. Tons of things that
could be done.
Also, I will 'give' any and all rights of this
idea to Wal-Mart if they decide to proceed or
even investiage. Just stipulate that they formally
request a forfeiture from me, which I will be
happy to sign (I still would like 'credit' from
this, but don't expect to be paid, just want to
see them do it). Also, as I said, I am poor
and unemployed, if they want to do it and want
a consultant to help, I am available.
Thank and hope to get to speak with you.
Jay Martin
------------------------------------------------------
First, I had not been in a Wal Mart for about 10 years, and just recently been
going
to the one by my home. Except for speciality stuff, I never expect to return to
my
local grocery stores. Your prices are beyond good, but that is not why I am
writing.

3. My idea is for you to create a system which could take someone's receipt from
another grocery store and use some sort of visual text identification to pick
off the bar codes of the items, then plug in what they bought at your
competitors
and print out 'your receipt at Wal Mart would have been $Y, which is $X less
than
you paid' then also extrapolate for a family of Z what they'd save per month or
year.
Use this to drive first time traffic and lure people like myself over to your
store to check
it out. Like I said, I'll never go back. I have some more details on this idea
in case
anyone wants to talk to me about it. Thanks and also thanks for saving me a ton
of cash!
Jay Martin
----------------------------------------
Could expand this to mail in or fax
or email in. Also, could have SKUs on
your site to enter in themsevles, then
get out a printed report and store
locations. Need to think on the draw
end, and also make sure there are no
legal hassles