I think drugstores and grocery stores should let me, the customer, benefit from those frequent shoppers cards they use to learn all about me. Here's how it would work.
They already keep track of everything I buy, right? I want to log into a website where I can manage that list. In particular, I would check off items that I want to purchase the next time I'm at the store. When I get to the store, near the door where I pick up my cart or basket, there is a little scanner/printer. I wave my card under the scanner and it prints my shopping list for me. Arranged by aisle according to the layout of that particular store. I get a couple of coupons at the end, based on what I'm buying. Once I go through the checkout line, my "selected items" list gets zeroed out, ready for next time.
It might even print the whole list, showing x's or quantities next to the items I indicated I wanted to buy, and blanks next to the other stuff. This would serve as a reminder of all the stuff I normally get, in case I've forgotten that I need something. If I haven't selected anything to purchase, then it definitely prints the whole list.
One key is that this list needs to be legible, but not too long. Some of the grocery receipts today are just ridiculous--miles of paper touting all sorts of stupid savers programs that I'm not interested in. The shopping list needs to be fairly succint. And there should be a trash can at the checkout so I can throw it away. Or shred it! (Way more fun.)
I'm sure I'm not the only person who habitually forgets to bring my shopping list to the store....
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