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Thread Number: 71236
/ Tag: Other Home Products or Autos
Are self checkout lanes rare? |
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Post# 942838 , Reply# 2 6/10/2017 at 08:44 (2,503 days old) by joeekaitis  (Rialto, California, USA) |
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Here in Sunny SoCal . . .
Still going strong at Home Depot and Lowe's where a dedicated helper is at the podium overseeing things and ready to assist the slightly tech-challenged.
The local Walmart Neighborhood Market has a 20-item limit on theirs and the continually distracted Customer Service person is one's only help when an item triggers an alert (they card you when you scan alcohol-containing non-beverages like Lectric-Shave and Skin Bracer). Also, they're in a security lockdown group that shuts them all down when questionable activity like a suspect credit/debit card occurs at one. It's a rare day when they're all working.
None of the local full-service and bag-your-own grocers have them. The dear departed Fresh & Easy was the only grocer that was exclusively self-service at the checkout. | ||
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Post# 942840 , Reply# 3 6/10/2017 at 09:01 (2,503 days old) by Gyrafoam (Wytheville, VA) |
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All the big box stores around Roanoke have the. So do the grocery stores. Just more "dumbing-down" of the public. They raise prices, lower quantities and then take away customer service. I don't care how long I wait for a human. I never use those self-service kiosks. | ||
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Post# 942842 , Reply# 4 6/10/2017 at 09:03 (2,503 days old) by panthera (Rocky Mountains) |
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All our grocery stores except one has them And they range from just barely OK (when they're running) at Walmart to brand new and still totally awful at Safeway. Worse than awful. The ones at The Homeless Despot are constantly in a bad mood, I don't go to Lowes because of their anti-gay policies. Menards doesn't use them and King Soopers makes you enter a PIN even for a credit card transaction...you can imagine how well that goes over. They're basically a disaster. We need more cashiers. | ||
| Post# 942845 , Reply# 6 6/10/2017 at 09:43 (2,503 days old) by brucelucenta () | ||
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Actually I rather like the self check out lane myself. I use it at Sam's Club, Lowes, Walmart, Reasor's grocery store, Home Depot and anywhere else I see one. I seldom have any problems with them. I didn't know Lowes has an anti gay policy. | ||
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Post# 942848 , Reply# 7 6/10/2017 at 09:56 (2,503 days old) by ea56 (Cotati, Calif.) |
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Every big store has them where I live, Safeway, Target, Walmart, Home Depot and Lowes. The very worst ones area at Target and Safeway, especially Target, they never seem to work properly. And at Safeway and Target they usually now only have one or two regular checkout counters open, they want people to do their own checkout. The best self checkout is at Walmart. Their scanners work flawlessly and I don't mind doing my own checkout it they work like they should, but if I have to wait for a clerk to fix a problem, where is the time savings? Lowe's are pretty good too. I also wasn't aware of any anti-gay ploicy at Lowe's, I'm very sorry to here about this.
I think the big retailers want to phase out clerks entirely if they can any way manage to make this happen. Make America Great Again, not so much. Eddie This post was last edited 06/10/2017 at 11:40 | ||
| Post# 942853 , Reply# 8 6/10/2017 at 11:14 (2,503 days old) by Maytagbear (N.E. Ohio) | ||
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Simply put : I hate them, do not use them, and yes, they are an attempt to slash staff. Lawrence/Maytagbear | ||
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Post# 942856 , Reply# 9 6/10/2017 at 11:47 (2,503 days old) by pulltostart (Mobile, AL) |
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Here on the Gulf Coast | ||
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Post# 942859 , Reply# 10 6/10/2017 at 12:18 (2,503 days old) by appnut (TX) |
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| Post# 942860 , Reply# 11 6/10/2017 at 12:26 (2,503 days old) by LordKenmore (The Laundry Room) | ||
 Around here, the Kroger grocery stores have self checkout at all the stores I've been in. The last store (an aging store due for replacement) got them maybe 2 years ago. (They were obviously used, but, again, the store is slated to be replaced. The only reason they did any work on the store then was an influx of business.) Safeway/Albertsons, however, seem to have gotten away from self checkout. At least at the 2 stores I've been. (I seldom shop either.)
The library I use also has self checkout. I remember the line that it wouldn't cost jobs--they had so much work for the staff. But when a budget crisis hit, the former clerk position was totally eliminated. At the branch I used, pretty much everyone in that position decided it was time to retire. (There was talk about letting them stay as shelvers, but few wanted to do that job. Or do it again.)
I have mixed feelings about self checkout. Part of me is disturbed by the fact that it could cost jobs. But I also like the fact that in strange stores I'm not faced with a clerk dripping with fake friendliness. Plus I suppose it can save embarrassment if one were buying some embarrassing product. With self checkout, there isn't a clerk grabbing and seeing each item. Of course, whoever monitors the security cameras might see one buying that embarrassing product... | ||
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Post# 942881 , Reply# 12 6/10/2017 at 14:48 (2,503 days old) by Launderess (Quiet Please, There´s a Lady on Stage) |
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Just off the top of one's head
Home Depot, CVS and a few other places at least here in Manhattan, NYC have self-checkout.
Personally love the things as can be in and out rather quickly. With so many places slashing cashiers/staff anyway often you have only one or two persons working the entire store (and one of them can be a manager), so lines are often backed up quite severely. Then you have the "how much is this?" group who query every single item in their rather large basket full of goods. Or, "is this one on sale"? Which prompts a whole back and forth as to what a circular actually states is on sale versus what the person has in hand. Then you have those who are still flummoxed by using their credit or debit cards to complete the transaction. Many supermarkets and convenience stores here are union, thus inroads with self-checkout has been limited. But with a new mandatory $15/hr. minimum wage along with overtime, PTO and other laws that will increase employee costs, am willing to bet the scheme will expand. You are already seeing banks almost devoid of tellers and or they are rolling out all sorts of ways one can complete transactions without having to bother. | ||
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Post# 942884 , Reply# 13 6/10/2017 at 15:08 (2,503 days old) by Supersuds (Knoxville, Tenn.) |
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Post# 942898 , Reply# 14 6/10/2017 at 16:28 (2,503 days old) by wiskybill (Canton, Ohio) |
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The only way... that I will consider using the self checkout is the day that I get a discount for doing it all myself. Bill | ||
| Post# 942909 , Reply# 15 6/10/2017 at 18:32 (2,503 days old) by cadman (Cedar Falls, IA) | ||
What's interesting is that we got self-checkouts in this area 5 or more years ago at the big box stores, Walmart and grocery chains. I actually liked using them as they were faster than standing in line. The odd thing is that most have since been removed and replaced with (understaffed) manual checkouts.
The places I shop most anyhow never went in for them, so no huge loss I suppose. | ||
| Post# 942911 , Reply# 16 6/10/2017 at 18:43 (2,503 days old) by Xraytech (Rural southwest Pennsylvania ) | ||
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Post# 942934 , Reply# 17 6/10/2017 at 20:11 (2,503 days old) by DaveAMKrayoGuy (Oak Park, MI) |
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Self-Check, U-Scan--and ONLY S-C & U-Scan!!!! Simply put: No-one will be the check-out guy that I am--I only go to them myself...
I never win on telling the "real person" an "actual price" on a mis-priced item (that is made-up) and somehow the "____ sells it for $____" is eliminated, as had from "NOT needing to the ad", to "NO price-matching without"--and ME not being allowed to, though I'd been the one bending over backwards for everyone else in every case, so here is my kiss-off...
-- Dave | ||
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Post# 942990 , Reply# 20 6/11/2017 at 08:26 (2,502 days old) by kimball455 (Cape May, NJ) |
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Post# 942995 , Reply# 21 6/11/2017 at 09:13 (2,502 days old) by petek (Ontari ari ari O ) |
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| Post# 943000 , Reply# 22 6/11/2017 at 09:44 (2,502 days old) by perc-o-prince (Southboro, Mass) | ||
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In addition to the above, Price Chopper and Hannaford supermarkets here. Like Matt said, I prefer to bag my own and don't like waiting for the dolt at the end of the runner to hand me a bag once he's decided he has enough in his bag. Chuck | ||
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Post# 943016 , Reply# 23 6/11/2017 at 12:06 (2,502 days old) by DADoES (TX, U.S. of A.) |
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 There are no "big-box" stores here ... Lowe's, Home Depot, etc. The regional grocery chain doesn't have them. WM does, which I used a few times but *always* had some issue or other. The final straw was when I used one that would take only credit or debit card, no cash, and there was NO notification of the restriction until a little on-screen blurb at end of the transaction. I didn't fully register the meaning upon glancing at it so I'm standing there like an idiot repeatedly putting my cash into the slot and having it repeatedly spit back out, wondering WTF is the problem, until the attendant comes over to investigate. I shot off a gnasty email to WM. A local manager of some level called me the next day. All sorts of excuses why they couldn't place a large sign on the units that don't take cash so customers know in advance which to use or not. I refuse to use the crazy things there any further. I used one at Home Depot (in another town) several weeks ago. Had the usual fussing from it about "unexpected item in bagging area, please remove item." Just, no. | ||
| Post# 943024 , Reply# 26 6/11/2017 at 13:23 (2,502 days old) by jmirawm (Barling Arkansas) | ||
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Discount.... I have been meaning to go to the Customer service desk and ask how to key in my employee discount at the self checkout. Because for that brief moment I am working for Wal Mart. HA | ||
| Post# 943042 , Reply# 28 6/11/2017 at 16:25 (2,502 days old) by norgeway (mocksville n c ) | ||
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I wish They were outlawed!! I HATE them. | ||
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Post# 943045 , Reply# 29 6/11/2017 at 16:38 (2,502 days old) by Launderess (Quiet Please, There´s a Lady on Stage) |
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With the push to raise MW to $15/hr.
Am thinking self-checkout will spread more and more. McDonald's is already introducing/expanding self ordering/checkout in the USA.
Quite honestly in many retail businesses staffing is already so low that self-checkout might be welcomed. There are times at local chain convenience stores where you have only one cashier at the registers with a line that stretches deep. The other problem is from banks on down many places are having problems finding persons who not only possess the necessary skills (math and so forth) to be trained and work cash registers, but can also pass required background checks. | ||
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Post# 943053 , Reply# 31 6/11/2017 at 17:09 (2,502 days old) by ea56 (Cotati, Calif.) |
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I do everything I can electronically and online. In the past 3 years I've only been into my Credit Union 3 times, once to access our safe deposit box and twice to have documents notorized. I deposit checks on my ipad and get e statements, rather than paper statements so I have less paper to shred down the line. When I retired 12 years ago a ordered a box of 200 checks as I was out of them. I'm on the second book of checks and have only used 5 checks for that book, so thats 30 checks written in 12 years. All the bills,including the property tax are paid online.
But I only like to use self checkout for a few items, and only in stores where the damn things work properly. And I agree with the others that have stated, there should be some sort of discount for using self checkout, because after all it is saving the retailer from having to pay a checker. And I would be perfectly OK with no self checkout at all, provided there were adequete checkers on duty all the time so I didn't have to wait for 15 mins to checkout $35.00 of groceries. And really, to protect the jobs of people that need them there should also not be self checkout. Before we know it there will be no work for human beings at all. Unions should be fighting this trend. Eddie | ||
| Post# 943055 , Reply# 33 6/11/2017 at 17:18 (2,502 days old) by LordKenmore (The Laundry Room) | ||
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Unions should be fighting this trend. I don't know the exact position unions have, but I do know someone who is very active with the grocery checker union (even to the level of involvement with contract negotiation) who despises those self checkouts. She always--always--uses a regular line, even though the grocery store apparently prefers the employees to use self checkout. Her husband refuses to shop at Home Depot at certain hours, since that location apparently has times when it's self checkout only. | ||
| Post# 943056 , Reply# 34 6/11/2017 at 17:21 (2,502 days old) by LordKenmore (The Laundry Room) | ||
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i HATE is the voice I hate the voice, too. I suspect most people do. I've asked the clerks in charge of self checkouts how they stand it having that voice screeching away all day long. One told me he just got to the point of tuning it out.
One cashier commented about the voice, and the crankiness of the machine in general, and referred to the "princess in a box." | ||
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Post# 943202 , Reply# 35 6/12/2017 at 15:58 (2,501 days old) by Launderess (Quiet Please, There´s a Lady on Stage) |
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It is almost enivitable
That as labor and other costs rise for retail, and margins get tighter something is going to have to give; and that is likely more self-service in various forms.
As it is for many even large department/retail stores you have to hunt to find an open cash register. Recall years ago stores like Macy's would have an open cashier in almost every department. Now it is often more like one per floor. *LOL* Supermarkets here run the gamut; some have several cashier bays but only ever two at the most are staffed. Others seem to manage staffing to coincide with peak customer demand. Largest issue one hears from managers is finding people with the maths skills who want to do the job, and take it seriously. You cannot have a cashier whose drawer is frequently short. Nor understands how and can properly closeout/balance their drawer at end of shift. | ||
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Post# 943209 , Reply# 36 6/12/2017 at 16:45 (2,501 days old) by Supersuds (Knoxville, Tenn.) |
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Trader Joe's is very good about keeping all their lanes open. Although they're usually very busy since they were allowed to start selling wine, there's hardly ever more than one person waiting in line.
A local supermarket nearby seems to employ mostly teenagers in the cashier positions (at least on weekends). Probably a first job for most of them, and it would be a shame if automation robbed them of the experience. | ||
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Post# 943274 , Reply# 37 6/13/2017 at 09:27 (2,500 days old) by DaveAMKrayoGuy (Oak Park, MI) |
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It's a B*#@$%! running 'em/working at 'em too!!!!
Too many people who don't know how to use 'em reason with 'em when a move IS their fault, and not in any derogatory sense... Just move the stuff into your EMPTY cart when the bagging area is FULL! (And let the machine see you move the basket in FRONT of you--not BEHIND you...) The screen gets too BLINDING to have to go into & do the price adjustments that the custom needs to go to a real person register to go to... The weight/bagging problem to relieve the customers from... Last of all are the people who want to get out of using them altogether coming to my podium that has the real register used to transfer orders to that sometimes have to be paid at if there is a problem w/ cash/card functions/paying by checks or using split payment functions (though I dislike having to do WIC--and just direct customers to regular registers for that & tax-exempt, as well as (when we had that program) price matching (especially in excessive)... Also, It doesn't help that that register doesn't have a sort of bull-pen, hence folks especially in a hurry try to do their business BESIDE me, or in FRONT of me, or go behind it, instead of in FRONT of it... And that's not even counting the "free stuff" I'd seen/heard of people make off with when their payment in the card reader doesn't work, or just taking off when no one is looking, from one thing , to a few things, to entire orders, we can't seem to stop, when really it's "when no one's watching", while other customers (mostly those w/ "real (honest) problems" need help... -- Dave | ||
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Post# 943278 , Reply# 38 6/13/2017 at 10:34 (2,500 days old) by countryford (Austin, MN) |
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I've used them and continue to use them, when I only have a few items. The majority of the time there isn't any wait, whereas there is a wait at the manned register lines. I rarely have any problems. Usually it takes me a couple of minutes to ring everything up and pay for it. In and out fast.
Personally, if someone is continuously having issues at these, then the best thing would be, is to not use them. | ||
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Post# 943288 , Reply# 40 6/13/2017 at 12:44 (2,500 days old) by turquoisedude (.) |
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 Funny, but when I lived on the island of Montreal, I noticed a good number of self-checkout lanes in the newer and bigger grocery stores like IGA and Metro as well as most of the Walmarts. Since fleeing to "moo cow country" I tend to be shopping in the same stores, more or less, but I have yet to see any self-checkout lanes.
I'd have to guess the 'need' for self-checkouts is in part driven by store traffic. The IGA or the Walmart in the nearest town is probably nowhere near as "busy" as one in the burbs of Montreal. I also notice that the shoppers in this neck of the woods seem to be older than in the city (yes, I count myself as 'older' now, too...LOL)
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Post# 943400 , Reply# 41 6/14/2017 at 00:57 (2,500 days old) by tolivac (greenville nc) |
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No Home Depot near me now-the one here closed several years ago.No Menards in my area.Now-the only choice is TWO Lowes in Greenville! | ||
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Post# 958084 , Reply# 43 9/18/2017 at 23:53 (2,403 days old) by petek (Ontari ari ari O ) |
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Post# 958086 , Reply# 44 9/19/2017 at 00:38 (2,403 days old) by robbinsandmyers (Conn) |
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Post# 958105 , Reply# 46 9/19/2017 at 07:12 (2,402 days old) by Frigilux (The Minnesota Prairie) |
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I use self-checkout at Walmart and Sam's Club. Have noticed there is rarely a regular lane open at Walmart early in the morning (6:00-7:30), or one is open with no cashier in sight.
Dave-- The most common problem I have with Walmart self-checkout is the "Unexpected item in the bagging area" error, which requires a worker to reset something. Thanks for the tips on how to avoid that. Didn't realize one should be behind the empty cart and push, not pull, it past the machine. In fact, didn't know the machine could even sense cart movement. Good to know. | ||
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Post# 958112 , Reply# 47 9/19/2017 at 07:54 (2,402 days old) by Yogitunes (New Jersey) |
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I was a cashier while in high school, way before scanning registers were even thought of, back when you had to manually punch in all codes and prices.....
and I was sure as hell a lot faster than these lazy ass cashiers today!......not only can they not operate a register without looking at the keys, but they can't even make change without the help of a register.... I jump at self-check outs when available.....I can scan and bag a whole shopping cart faster than a 2 piece order through an Express Lane.... | ||
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Post# 958113 , Reply# 48 9/19/2017 at 07:57 (2,402 days old) by Yogitunes (New Jersey) |
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Post# 958123 , Reply# 52 9/19/2017 at 08:32 (2,402 days old) by DaveAMKrayoGuy (Oak Park, MI) |
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I've heard on a radio program ('the talk during the morning drive') that one new feature to bring security to self-check scanners one-step-further, is installing face-level cameras, as opposed to solely rely on over-head surveillance (which only recently have improved resolutions w/o the blur)...
If only some of these developments could have been invented and/or implemented sooner, as it would have saved a lot of losses due to theft... -- Dave | ||
| Post# 958126 , Reply# 53 9/19/2017 at 08:56 (2,402 days old) by mrb627 (Buford, GA) | ||
Whole Foods
Our WF took the self checkout away. Rumored to be a point of high shoplifting.
The worst stores for self checkout, Kroger. Constantly get the wait for cashier assistance nonsense. Additionally, they have two overhead monitors that are supposed to indicate the number of registers open, number of people in line, and average wait time. Worthless nonsense, IMO. Malcolm | ||
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Post# 958128 , Reply# 54 9/19/2017 at 09:20 (2,402 days old) by DaveAMKrayoGuy (Oak Park, MI) |
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Post# 958230 , Reply# 55 9/20/2017 at 02:47 (2,402 days old) by askolover (South of Nash Vegas, TN) |
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 Walmart, Kroger, and Home Depot here have them. At night the self check lanes are the ONLY lanes open at both Kroger stores in town and at Walmart! I was a cashier at Walmart when I was in college so I can get through pretty darn quick. Kroger annoys me because it won't allow a person to remove the full bags from the stand to place in the buggy without giving that annoying "Attendant has been notified to assist you" warning. It ticks me off! When the ones in Walmart start talking back at me I argue with them...makes people think I'm weird or something! Kind of like arguing with a GPS device in the car. | ||
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Post# 958465 , Reply# 57 9/21/2017 at 14:51 (2,400 days old) by RevvinKevin (Tinseltown - Shakey Town - La-La Land) |
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The now defunct "Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Markets"
In 2007 a "new" type of market started popping up in CA (AZ & NV too) called "Fresh & Easy". A European type store owned (at the time) by the UK supermarket giant, Tesco. In Nov, 2013 Fresh & Easy was purchased by an American private equity firm. They opened too many stores too fast and... unable to sustain, started closing stores and filed bankruptcy in 2015. My local "Neighborhood Market" a half mile away (photo below) is still sitting empty after 2 years. Another near by location and been reopened as a Filipino (Asian) market.
I liked the concept and they had some good products (pre-packaged meats, etc) but found myself going there mostly for "convenience items" as it was much faster getting in and out than the regular market around the corner.
Back to the subject at hand... the two interesting things about Fresh & Easy were, #1 all the checkout lanes were 100% self checkout. Some with the "bagging area" next to it, the rest with automated conveyors and a much larger bagging area, like in a regular market. Their system worked well and I rarely had issues scanning anything. Interesting thing #2: yes while it was all self checkout, there were always from 1 to 4 employees near the check out lanes to assist if needed and THEY (quite often) bagged your groceries for you!
As for other stores with self checkout, my local Home Depot has 4, one grocery store I go to has 4 or 6, but 2 other markets don't have any and my local Costco does not have self checkout.
On a side note, when I was looking for photos to post, I came across this article from last year saying "Self checkout makes shoplifting easier" See the link below.
Kevin CLICK HERE TO GO TO RevvinKevin's LINK | ||
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Post# 958490 , Reply# 58 9/21/2017 at 16:23 (2,400 days old) by foraloysius (Leeuwarden, Friesland, the Netherlands) |
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