Self-service virtual store system

[0016]Many store customers prefer to shop online. Online customers enjoy a customized and expedient shopping experience that is typically not offered at a brick-and-mortar store. For example, online customers can order items online at any time, thereby avoiding the time-consuming effort of being physically present at the store to select items of interest from shelves and waiting in line at the store checkout to purchase the items especially at peak times. Also, online customers typically have immediate access to their purchase history, and can receive a display of recommended items for purchase based on shopping patterns or other purchase history information.

[0017]Brick-and-mortar stores provide customers the ability to walk about the store, perusing items of interest, touching items for purchase, smelling items, listening to items, trying on items determining spacial qualities of the items, etc. It provides a “hands on” shopping experience that is not available to currently existing o