Barcode Adoption Took 40 Years

When the barcode first appeared, shoppers did not embrace it, and some even spread conspiracies about hidden pricing schemes and control. The barcode industry hit back in the press and called critics Luddites who did not understand the technology. Even so, the scanners and systems were so expensive that it took about 40 years before even half of all registered grocery stores actually used barcodes.

Previous Fact Next Fact