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Self-serve check out stands can keep you slim and richer
I like self-serve at the gasoline station, but not at the grocery or home improvement store.
And it turns out that self-serve at the grocery store is saving people money and calories. A story by Patti Bond of Cox News Service says, "Shoppers are flocking to self-checkout lanes like never before —and, apparently, zipping right past the candy rack. Last-minute buys such as magazines and snacks, a sweet spot as retail profits go, have dropped sharply with the growing popularity of scan-it-yourself registers, according to new research by IHL Consulting Group, a retail technology advisory firm." “Folks have more on their minds at the self-checkout,” said Jerry Sheldon,vice president of technology at Tennessee-based IHL. “The machine is barking orders at them, and people take it personally. They don’t want to make a mistake, especially in front of the other shoppers waiting in line.” This has prompted some retailers to rethink their merchandising strategies in self-checkout lanes. Home Depot, for one, recently started selling candy at checkouts, including at its self-scan areas. I say for those of you who want to do it yourself, congratulations on resisting candy and tabloids. That's a small price for retailers to pay to make your shopping experience less personal. Posted by Steve E. Swenson 18 comments from 12 users
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posted by
randomfactor
on Aug 14, 2006 at 02:22 PM
But how will we keep up with the latest on Tom and Katie and the Thetan Baby? I rely on my waiting-on-line time for NEWS.
posted by
tchudilowsky
on Aug 14, 2006 at 02:37 PM
Well, they are all over here at our Wal Mart and grocery stores. I tryed it a few times but it isn't always the fastest. There seems to be someone just about every time who just can't get it right and must call for help. I would rather skip it.
posted by
ProgressivePete2
on Aug 14, 2006 at 02:44 PM
My only problem with the self-checkout is that the system is too slow. It's like they put old recycled 486's in there. Maybe they're made by diebold, no wait, grocery stores aren't that dumb.My favorite part about the self-checkout: I don't have to talk to anyone. posted by
robbwillis
on Aug 14, 2006 at 03:36 PM
I like the way stores encourage you to use the self-checkout machines by cutting the number of checkout clerks in half. Let's see, will I wait in a long line for human service or take my chance with the automated system that fails and frustrates half the time? Of course I'm just remembering that from my Bakersfield days. They do things the old-fashioned way up here on the North Coast.. Are the grocery stores still breaking into their Muzak with in-store commercials down there? What chutzpah! posted by
anonymous
on Aug 14, 2006 at 04:01 PM
It's more fun to stand between two strangers in a normal check-out lane and cut a really brown, rotten-smelling one.
posted by
ProgressivePete2
on Aug 14, 2006 at 04:01 PM
No Robb, they've switched to televisions blaring commercials. I'd rather hear the Muzak (scary thought)
posted by
Hardliner4freedom
on Aug 14, 2006 at 04:11 PM
Do any places still play real Muzak?Or is it going the way of the FM "elevator music" stations of the 1970s? (Ahhhh, 101 Strings... the best (and probably the only) Elevator band.) (Giving away my age.) posted by
robbwillis
on Aug 14, 2006 at 04:23 PM
Hmmm, TV commercials before the movie in theatres and in grocery stores. Since you can fast-forward through them when you're watching TV now, I guess they have to drill them in somewhere. They should go after churches next.... "Let us all pray, but first, a message from our sponsor." . "If a relaxing moment turns into the right moment, will you be ready ..." . "Our Heavenly Father..." posted by
Hardliner4freedom
on Aug 14, 2006 at 04:31 PM
There was a little anecdote when I lived in Texas during the height of the CB radio craze:A CB radio in close proximity to a public address system could occasionally make itself heard. Such was, they say, the case in a church near Dallas: [Congregation, reciting the Lord's Prayer:] "Thy kingdom come; thy will be done." [Incursion from a passing CB'er:] "That's a big 10-4, good buddy!" posted by
CurtDalton
on Aug 14, 2006 at 06:41 PM
Back in the "Good Old Days" when I was a teenager, the local McDonalds would pipe in FM radio for the "enjoyment" of their customers. I was a young teenager with a proclivity for all things electronic and built a fairly powerful FM radio transmitter. I would sit in my car in the McDonalds parking lot and wait until the cashiers were really (really) busy. Then, in my best "radio announcer voice," I would announce a five-for-a-dollar-special on Big Macs over their very own PA system! It drove them a b s o l u t e l y CRAZY! I wouldn't do it very often ( I was afraid of getting caught) - maybe twice a month, but it sure drove them nuts trying to figure out who was announcing the "specials" on their PA system! They would probably have had me drawn and quartered had they found out, but they DID make good on the announced "special of the day!" I still smile whenever I think of it. & nbsp; &n bsp; :-) posted by
steveeswenson
on Aug 15, 2006 at 06:32 AM
Curt,My sources told me that's how you got on the FBI list. Robb, Did you move to the North Coast? When are you going to invite me to come up and play golf? posted by
robbwillis
on Aug 15, 2006 at 12:33 PM
Hey Steve,I'll let you know when the coast is clear for some golf up here, but have been swamped building a new garage. I've golfed four times since the first of the year - boo hoo! Not like the good ol' days in Bakersfield, haven't missed the heat. The local track, Beau Pre, has four reachable par 5s, but they'll all kick your butt if you miss. . Curt, I worked at Ole's Hardware in Covina 30 years ago. When they made their closing announcement at 8:50 PM, I had a doorbell button back in the electric department that would short-cicuit the speaker system. I'd press it for about five seconds and then let go. Then you'd hear the announcer saying things like "..something's the matter with it again" and "...when are they going to fix this thing?" Great fun and it made the $2.50 an hour job something to look forward to. posted by
steveeswenson
on Aug 15, 2006 at 01:21 PM
Robb,Four times since Jan. 1? I'll play four times this week. You have your mental health to think about. Please pay attention. posted by
MyLefteFoot
on Aug 15, 2006 at 02:18 PM
Confucuis say
"man who go through self serve line have fool for checker". posted by
tonyh
on Aug 15, 2006 at 07:23 PM
Confucious Say:Man who stand on toilet is high on pot........................ posted by
nancyg
on Aug 16, 2006 at 07:09 AM
When I worked at WM a kid who was fed up came in one evening and got on the PA. He Yelled "(Managers name), eff you and eff Walmart, I quit!" The store got quiet and one customer turned to me and asked "Did he just say what I thought he said?" I answered "yup, he just said what you thought he said." It was hilarious with all the stunned looks on customers faces.
posted by
taftrose
on Aug 21, 2006 at 08:01 AM
I have Not Used them around Bako but have in other places (the Wally mart In St Geroge Utah) I see Big Opening for Theft
with them infact did see it some gal geting Back to school supplys Had a Back pack she had filled with Note books and folders a Binder pins penclels and a bunch more she only took out One Pac of pens scaneed them them put the back pack in a bag with the rest of her items . Yes I reported her and thay did stop her before she got out but if she did it hoy many other times did she get away with it and how many others have . and then there is the items that dont scan at rigth price give me a Human then if somthing is not right you can complain and get it right posted by
anonymous
on Aug 21, 2006 at 08:31 AM
Taftrose
Guess who's going to pay for that theft? The store saves a buck or two on checks and the shoplifiting gets passed on to the consumer. It's a win/win for the store.
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