Supermarkets Help Consumers Score Deals

High-Tech Carts, Self-Check-Out And Value Tours Aim To Save You Time And Money

(CBS)  Stores are doing what they need to do to get your business in some unique ways.

As part of The Early Show's three-part series, "Supermarket Secrets," Early Show Consumer Correspondent Susan Koeppen shared the latest tricks to use when shopping at the supermarket.

Supermarkets have changed dramatically over the years. They've gone high tech and some even have walking tours - all in an effort to save you time and money.

At one Stop & Shop supermarket, getting groceries isn't what it used to be. Customers can grab a hand-held device, letting them scan their own groceries and bag them as they shop.

Koeppen decided to try out the device called "Scan It!" with the store's district manager, Bob Hempson.

All you do is point and shoot and the scanner rings up your items, and keeps a running tally of how much you're spending and saving.

"So far we've spent almost $20 and we have a savings of $6.41, which is great," Koeppen said.

It's not only easy to use, but "Scan It!" shoppers get special deals. Check out is simple -- just hand a cashier your scanner, pay and you're ready to roll.

Some supermarkets are rolling out a high-tech shopping cart called "concierge."

It keeps track of how much you're spending, has deals and even has recipes. You can use the computer screen to search for items in the store.

If you want a more personal shopping experience, check out Whole Foods.
The supermarket chain offers something called a value tour.

Whole Foods started its value tour to let shoppers know it has deals and discounts.

Mark Bremer, a tour guide at Whole Foods, pointed out some deals for Koeppen.

Bremer says that there are people who come and say "Here's $20, what can I make for dinner?"

Right off the bat, Koeppen learned about the Porterhouse on sale and how to make a meal out of it - grilled steak with an ancho avocado aioli.

Sounds fancy, but the total cost was $15 for two people; a brie and fig appetizer for a party was $13.

"So you can come and ask for this pasta dish, feeds about two people, for how much?" Koeppen asked.

"About 10 bucks," said a Whole Foods employee.

Bremer also showed Koeppen some frozen salmon.

"We stand behind this price, $7.99 is a great deal," Bremer said.

There are red dots and tags put up throughout the store to signal value items. "At Whole Foods, there is always something for a buck," he said.

The tour is free, you just have to call and set it up.
And the best part, says Koeppen, is you get to eat!

So whether you walk it, scan it or cart it, supermarkets are coming up with new and innovative ways to help consumers save time and money.

[AnahidMA]

I use Scan-It at our local NJ Stop & Shop. It's terrific - even my husband uses it now.

It's simple to use, saves me time and money, and fun (I like the ca-ching noise when I ring up stuff). Best of all... they have a special line I can go through to check out, so when there are five or six people in all the other lines, I basically zip through the special checkout lines, and I complete my checkout in one or two minutes.

Scan-it is terrific!