The ongoing retail payment system for goods or service, with regard to time, is invariably immediate or on-the-spot. Since the source of income does not necessarily cover the expenses in time of need, both the debit and especially the credit banking are in place for this purpose. Yet, much has remained unchanged in the retail sector in coping with absolute demand of consumers in deferred payment for their daily necessities or contingent service.

The idea of deferred payment is as old as the history of business transaction enforceable by the contract of whole sales. Besides, in terms of payment, practice of similar nature is seen in the lease of land, house and large equipment, such as ships, boilers, etc., where the tenant or transferee pays a small portion of the total price by instalments, known as rent or hire for the production as well as consumption items in immediate possession. Nonetheless, the concept is not exploited or even conceived in the retail business. There are two reasons: First, the financial instrument is readily available to compensate for the disparity between income and expense over time. Secondly, lack of trust between buyers and sellers in retail also counts, as the commodities are usually payable at "changing of hands," with the buyer's money or the banker's as in credit banking.

The theory of deferred payment is founded on the existing gap in retail payment, i.e. time payment, hence significant. One saying has it: "There is a need, there is a business." Same is with this innovative payment scheme. The consumers are best satisfied if they are able to shop, dine or travel free of charge for the time being, which option will in turn generate leads for the business, particularly the early starters. Shoppers will enjoy the benefit of making their own payment decisions in this system.

With the widely used POS and computers system in nowadays supermarkets, the adoption and integration are believed to be practical. As the POS system is capable of keeping track and record the goods sold. In addition, the computers and network will take care of inventory, commercial statistics, accounting, administration, banking, payroll, making customer registration viable that allows late payment.

However, there are several prerequisites or constraints before the whole idea works. First, constant patronage by a relatively fixed group of customers, as in a suburban supermarket. This scheme is meaningless for the casual and disloyal customers, thus, membership is preferred. Secondly, the working capital. In comparison with traditional retail business, subject to the customer base, the grace period and allowance amount, it takes much more money to keep the goods restocked on the shelves until later paid in the initial stage. Also, it takes much more time to recover the capital in the business cycle. E.g. given full allowance period is 3 times the shelf period of certain commodity, the initial working capital would triple that of a traditional business and obviously the investment returns 3 times as late as the traditional. Thirdly, the payment control mechanism. The articles checked-out on each purchase and payment situations relative to a customer shall be maintained and upgraded on database. When the payment is due, various payment options should be available to the customers, including online payment through home computer. Accordingly, the customers should be kept informed of the balance in the account as to how much and when the payment is due. The basis of deferred payment can be commodity specific, which requires the future settlement of the account as per purchase, or otherwise amount specific, regardless of the actual purchase, as in overdraw of credit banking. Fourthly, the risk control mechanism. It is likely though not problematic that a few customers would default the payment for any reason. Thus, adequate customer registration, purchase-record keeping and follow-ups are necessary. In this regard, the rules governing the credit banking apply here well. The underlying hypothesis for the confidence in the business is that few people would sacrifice trustworthiness and personal integrity for several hundred dollars of consumables.

Generally, we have reasons and proven experience in other sales sector to believe in the success of deferred payment system in retail business. The analogy is drawn to the credit banking, where bankers have the resources and confidence in rendering customers financial solutions, so what are expected out of the grocery dealers? Free Shopping in its maturity will not only facilitate the consumption hence the business, but promote trust among people in its liberal payment style.