That seems really complicated. Given how much of a problem shoplifting is today, I can't imagine that any retailer would go for it, even with the anti-theft ideas.

But your idea gives me another one....

Attach an automated warehouse to a store full of display samples. Customers are given a wireless scanner, and can walk around the aisles poking at the merchandise, reading labels, etc., and when they decide they want something, the can scan it.

Behind the scenes, a robotic picker fills a box with the customer's items, and when the customer hits the "checkout" button, the box is conveyed to the front of the store for convenient loading after the customer pays (and possibly checks the order).

The benefit is no carts, far fewer cashiers, no waiting in line to check out, and your stuff is delivered right to the door to be loaded into your car. No shoplifting either.

But I don't know if this will fly. It makes the most sense for a grocery store, but grocery stores have their highest margins and most impulse purchases selling produce. Not being able to see and smell the luscious peaches may reduce impulse purchasing of those high-margin items. So much of shopping is experiential (that is, the stores intentionally create a product experience designed to make you want to buy) that a relatively sterile zap of the scanner might seriously erode sales.