JC Penney says it will eliminate the checkout counter by 2014

In this June 8, 2012 photo, a green promotional pricing tag is part of a display of shirts for sale at a J.C. Penney store in New York. Six months after J.C. Penney got rid of the hundreds of sales it offers each year in favor of a three-tier pricing approach, the mid-priced department store chain is revamping its pricing strategy again. (AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews) ORG XMIT: NYBM204

J.C. Penney CEO Ron Johnson says he’s planning to use technology in stores to eliminate the checkout counter. He says he’ll use RFID technology, which is now used for inventory, at the checkout. So rather than scanning each item, a shoppers could just gather all their items and receive a total. Mobile technology will allow people to pay wherever, whenever. When I first read this, I thought it sounded crazy. But watching the interview, I get his vision and I’m intrigued with whether it will work. I can’t imagine my grandparents or shoppers of their generation catching on, but it could happen. Shoppers, what do you think?

Watch the interview here.