JC Penney to phase out traditional checkouts

FT.com states.

Inspired by Apple's retail stores, the plan comes as retailers try to redesign bricks-and-mortar shopping by eliminating irritants - such as checkout queues - that have driven consumers to do more of their buying online.

Time Money Land says JC Penney will get rid of cashiers, cash registers, and checkout counters, the staples near the exits of virtually every store, as soon as 2014.

“Think of a physical store without a cash rep,” Ron Johnson, CEO JC Penney says. “About 10% of all the money we spend, half a billion dollars a year, goes to transactions. Well that could be done through technology. The money saved could then be used to help bolster customer service.”

Johnson explains that physical retailers should be able to do everything an online-only retailer like Amazon does and more - including face-to-face customer service and options such as in-store pickup.