Free Republic

NEW YORK — Wal-Mart Stores Inc. is putting electronic identification tags on men's clothing like jeans starting Aug. 1 as the world's largest retailer tries to gain more control of its inventory. But the move is raising eyebrows among privacy experts. The individual garments, which also includes underwear and socks, will have removable smart tags that can be read from a distance by Wal-Mart workers with scanners. In seconds, the worker will be able to know what sizes are missing and will also be able tell what it has on hand in the stock room. Such instant knowledge will...

Walmart Means To Spy On Clothing Use July 23, 2010 by Douglas A. McIntyre Walmart (NYSE: WMT) plans to put radio chips into clothing including underwear. The big box retailer wants to know what and how much people buy so it can order enough inventory.Walmart will be, of course, accused of spying on its customers,but the question is whether there is any harm in it.The move should certainly improve the company’s supply chain management.The new system will allow Walmart to see right down to the size level which clothing in about to go out of stock. If  it is effective,  all the...