Frazzled checkers at Wall Mart

[Lakewood90712]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Texas Proud I am surprised they do not have this option at the produce section... where we shop there are a number of scales.... you put the produce on the scale and input the 4 digit number of the item... then hit print and you have your scan code... does not slow down at the registers...

Great idea. None of the retailers with self checkout I have seen do that, except the service deli counter at one store. The produce look-up at the self check-out is a real time consuming p.i.t.a. IMO.

Maybe the retailers should have folks or bots surfing the internet to read our forum posts , for true customer feedback.

[John Galt III]

I notice at the self-checkout, there is much less of the "clerk stares into computer screen waiting for something, for one or two minutes" syndrome. That's why I use the self-checkout line.

[Theseus]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Texas Proud In a way it is a lot farther along than most people will agree.... Most of us know back when you drove into a gas station and someone came out and filled up your tank... there was a good possibility they would clean your windows.... and if you asked they would check your oil level...

And if Dad had left you in the car for a minute to go do something... and you cranked the steering wheel side to side (before the days of those 'anti-theft' steering locks of course) while they were checking the air in the tires - WOW did the attendant get ticked off!

Reading this post prompted a flashback and made me laugh at the remembrance.

And, well I avoid the self check-out registers, I'd rather wait in line and people watch at Wally World, it's cheap entertainment.

[ChiliPepr]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ERTX However, if you received a discount for using the self checkers, I would be all over it. So yes I am a hypocrite.

Pretty soon you will be paying extra to NOT use the self checkouts.

Remember the day when ATMs came out? Some banks now charge you extra to use a teller.

[rbmrtn]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Texas Proud I am surprised they do not have this option at the produce section... where we shop there are a number of scales.... you put the produce on the scale and input the 4 digit number of the item... then hit print and you have your scan code... does not slow down at the registers...

I've used those also. I typically buy the same produce most of the time so I remember the PLU code, for bananas it's 4011. Just put it on the scale/scanner, punch it the PLU and it rings it up. Most of the fresh produce has a little PLU sticker on it.

[ERTX]

Great and lively discussion. It is a double edge sword. The last jobs of the jobs that can't be outsourced are being automatized. Next will be robots doing fast food jobs and you using a touch screen to place your order. I own IRBT, ROK, CSCO and INTC to at least profit from this trend. Just bought more INTC.

[audreyh1]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Midpack +1. Given the choice, I'll use self-checkout every time. Our local grocery store has instituted a 25 item max for self-checkout, I can live with that. At stores that offer self-checkout, maybe people who insist on using (higher cost) clerk assisted checkout should pay a checkout fee? Wonder if that's gonna come next?

Our main grocery store has 20 item limit, and we rarely have more than that, so it works well for us. We get through very quickly.

For a while they took it down to 15 items, and that made it a little tougher on us. But after a few months they took it back up to 20. We were very happy.

We notice most carts going through manned checkout lanes are really full. And the "fast" manned checkout lanes have really low limits, like 10 items or less, but self-checkout is still faster. There is rarely any wait at all at the self checkout which has four stations.

[ExFlyBoy5]

This reminds me of a trip to Home Depot not too long ago. Over the self-checkout area there was a HUGE sign that said something along the lines of, "WE LOVE OUR CASHIERS!!!". I thought it was a bit ironic.

[ERTX]

There was interest in the Robinhood account. I used these account to purchase INTC today. If the money is in the account the order will post on that day's batch. You can invest as little as $10 or as much as $10K per stock, per trading day with no fees.


https://www.loyal3.com/stocks

[ERTX]

Quote:

Originally Posted by FlyBoy5 This reminds me of a trip to Home Depot not too long ago. Over the self-checkout area there was a HUGE sign that said something along the lines of, "WE LOVE OUR CASHIERS!!!". I thought it was a bit ironic.

Walmart's slogan starting out was "American Made Matters" - try finding something made in America today that is sold there.

[ExFlyBoy5]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ERTX Walmart's slogan starting out was "American Made Matters" - try finding something made in America today that is sold there.

That's a good point. I had Cracker Barrel the other day for lunch and while waiting to be seated, checked out the gift shop. It was very difficult to find ANYTHING that was made in America. Even the Americana stuff was made in China.

[ERTX]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ERTX There was interest in the Robinhood account. I used these account to purchase INTC today. If the money is in the account the order will post on that day's batch. You can invest as little as $10 or as much as $10K per stock, per trading day with no fees. https://www.loyal3.com/stocks

People say using batch you get a bad price, I all ways get a decent to great price.

Low of the day (so far) was $32.48 and I received $32.51.

03/09/2015 Intel one time buy order 215.3184 $32.51 ($7,000.00)

[Bestwifeever]

One of the big Chicago grocery chains pulled its self checkout machines a couple of years ago. Sometimes these incredible ideas aren't always cost-effective (machines have to be maintained, security has to be increased to watch the double secret surveillance videos, not to mention are they really going to risk apprehending the shoplifters and endangering the staff and other shoppers vs paying a couple more part time checkout people for the busy hours?).

Quote:

A company spokeswoman said loss prevention and a desire to improve customer service were factors in the decision. Source: Jewel-Osco Ditches Self-Checkout in Some Stores | NBC Chicago

I will use a self checkout if no one else is using it in front of me, but a clerk would have my complete order rung up before I can scan my first item.

[Midpack]

Most people here will remember many people were thrown when confronted with pumping their own gas. But that quickly changed, and now I suspect most drivers would be put off if they could NOT pump their own gas vs paying a higher price and waiting for an attendant (yep, looking at you New Jersey & Oregon - like the other 48 states are wrong ).

Self-serve checkout/kiosks will grow to a critical mass too...

[Lakewood90712]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Midpack You were never frazzled on the job? Unfortunately we all see frazzled people/workers everywhere from time to time. It's not about Wall Mart WalMart or "checkers." One data point...

The last year on the job , I think I was worse than Frazzled.

[harley]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ERTX Great and lively discussion. It is a double edge sword. The last jobs of the jobs that can't be outsourced are being automatized. Next will be robots doing fast food jobs and you using a touch screen to place your order.

The newer Paneras down here in SWFL have Express Lane Kiosks where you can punch in your order on a touch screen and pay, then you take an electronic tracker to your table and they deliver the food to you. It works pretty well. You can personalize the order (no onions on the salad or whatever). When the regular lines are busy I'll use the kiosk, but otherwise I go to the cashier. I've noticed you can also place your order online and it will be ready when you get there, both for carry out and eating in.

[MikeD]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Texas Proud I am surprised they do not have this option at the produce section... where we shop there are a number of scales.... you put the produce on the scale and input the 4 digit number of the item... then hit print and you have your scan code... does not slow down at the registers...

Some of the stores around here do that. The only one I can remember for sure is the Wegman's.

[freebird5825]

I do not shop. I delegated that 100% to Mr B because he despises doing house cleaning.
I keep the house clean. Pretty slick huh ?

I boycott WallyWorld because a) they do not treat their employees well, and b) have way too much NOT MADE IN AMERICA junk. Add to that the noise from screaming kids...

I've convinced Mr B to also boycott WallyWorld. He goes to a local NY supermarket chain and Aldi's. Lots of Made In America stuff at both. Employees seem reasonably happy at both.

He actually enjoys shopping now, minus the WM nonsense. He's excellent at finding the best prices. "Hunter-gatherer" is my nickname for him when he goes shopping.

[GreenER]

Quote:

Originally Posted by audreyh1 Maybe, but I notice that in most of the Walmarts I've been in, the self checkout aisles are usually quite empty.

That's because it takes effort to check yourself out and it's hard to do from a rascal scooter! But seriously, I don't shop at Walmart and I don't support their business practices. I have entered one only once and that was under duress as we needed something for camping in an out of the way place and there was no alternative. I can afford to vote with my feet and believe in helping to create the type of world you want to live in. Especially if you have the funds to do so! I do shop at Costco and believe their priorities are closer to mine and they still offer cost savings.

[imoldernu]

In a changing world, keeping perspective is the best way of coping with change.

As we look around our own little circle of awareness, it's hard to project where we might be a few years from now. Here's a great overview of the retailing world. What companies are growing, or declining, and lest we become too enamored of the US being the center of the universe... a comparison to the rest of the worlds' retail industry.
https://nrf.com/news/top-100-retailers

Going down the charts should evidence the direction of business overall, and produce a clear image of what we can expect in the future... how we shop, where we shop and which businesses will provide the right mix of quality and value.
Most busineses that were on the cutting edge 10 or 20 years ago, have become top heavy in size, management and concentration on the bottom line, without seeing the direction towards efficiency. Making major moves in big box operations is extremely costly. The economies of scale are under the microscope today, as flexibility is the new key to growth and profitability.

In the food business, if it were a publicly owned company, my money would be on Aldi. Smart people who are doing things right, and light years ahead of any other company.

Self checkouts are only a small part of the change. Aside the online businesses, watch for smaller stores, tighter inventories, and possibly a return of the "Service Merchandise" model that some of you may remember.

Prognostication - courtesy an old retail guy.