No queues, no cashiers, no cash – an electronics shop has opened in Austria where you can pay via an app directly at the shelf, and then simply leave with your purchase in hand.Saturn Express, a smaller version of the popular European electronics store, opened in the city of Innsbruck on March 8.The move is an attempt to push the boundaries between brick-and-mortar retail trade and digital shopping, the company said.After the product has been scanned by the customer and payment has been made through an online payment method such as PayPal, the product's theft alarm is automatically deactivated.According to the Cologne-based retail research institute EHI, the Saturn Express store is the first store without cashiers and cash in Europe.The store remains an experimental venture for the time being. There are about 900 items available at the moment – a much smaller selection than in regular Saturn shops. In the next three months, the range will be reviewed and adjusted.According to the company, the new payment method will not mean a cutback of staff. Instead of sitting at the tills, Saturn employees will apparently now have more time to devote to helping customers find the right products for their needs.The move is a response to stiff competition from online giants such as Amazon.

Source: The Star March 11, 2018 03:56 UTC