In-store automatic self-checkout

An automatic in-store self-checkout system, the system comprising:

• a plurality of products arranged in a store, the plurality of products associated with a plurality of active radio frequency identification (RFID) tags, wherein each active RFID tag is configured to be activated by movement and comprises a battery configured to power the active RFID tag;
• a shopping cart comprising:
• a computer readable identifier identifying the shopping cart and configured to be read by a customer's portable electronic device;
• a magnetic element;
• and
• a shopping cart RFID reader configured to detect products being added to and removed from the shopping cart based on each product's associated active RFID tag;
• a plurality of store RFID readers positioned about the store, wherein the plurality of store RFID readers are configured to receive signals from the plurality of active RFID tags associated with the plurality of products;
• a plurality of store RFID emitters positioned about the store;
• a checkout RFID emitter positioned in a checkout zone near an exit of the store;
• and
• a control circuit communicatively coupled to the shopping cart RFID reader, the plurality of store RFID readers, the control circuit configured to:
• electronically link the shopping cart to an online cart associated with the customer when the computer readable identifier is read by the customer's portable electronic device;
• receive, from the shopping cart RFID reader, a signal indicating that a selected product has been placed in the shopping cart;
• electronically add the selected product to the customer's online cart;
• receive, from the shopping cart RFID reader, a signal transmitted from the checkout RFID emitter indicating that the shopping cart has entered the checkout zone;
• and
• facilitate an automatic electronic payment transaction.