More news on self checkouts

[atikovi]

Originally Posted by Benzadmiral
Originally Posted by atikovi
Originally Posted by Benzadmiral
That's exactly why I don't pay bills online. It's saving them money, but I'm not getting any of that savings.


Seriously? That 50 cent stamp you don't have to use on each bill isn't a savings for you? Not to mention the time savings. I can pay ten bills on my checking account billpay in 3 minutes vs. 30 minutes writing out checks. The $5 I save on postage is a nice bonus.

The companies are getting a lot more savings than I would be. I don't write that many bills and don't use that many stamps in a month -- maybe 7-8.

Let 'em do a little work for the money they're dragging out of me. It's my little protest and probably won't work for everybody.


I never understood why banks offer this for free. They're paying for postage, envelopes, printing, etc. from accounts thay may only have a few hundred dollars in them.

 

[Jarlaxle]

Originally Posted by opus1
Originally Posted by AZjeff
Originally Posted by thescreensavers
I have walked out of WM many times due to not wanting to wait on a 15min+ line for the two only open cashiers.


You've invested the time going to Walmart, spent more time doing your shopping, then walk away because the 2 cashiers were busy instead of using self-checkout?

Did you then go to a different store or come back to Walmart later? Trouble is some employee has to waste their time putting everything back from your cart but it keeps more people working at least.

I did that once while stopping at a Wal-Mart. I was at the self-checkout and the machine was not taking my gift card nor any of my credit cards. The two employees who were allegedly monitoring the lanes were busy chatting and I couldn't get their attention. Third employee walks up, sees me, and joins the chat instead of helping or sending one of the other two over.

At that point I left my stuff and walked out. Had they actually been doing their job, they wouldn't have had to put away the items I was trying to buy.

A friend of mine can do an absolutely ear-piercing whistle...it works quite well in a situation like that.

 

[ekpolk]

Originally Posted by Imp4
. . .
1. Your visual is immaterial. Ironically, many strung out gas huffers can run fast too. This does not implicate you as such, but it goes to point out that your visual really isn't a constructive contribution here.
But wait, you've contradicted yourself. You've just said the visual isn't a "constructive cotribution," but then also note that the attendant, "probably looked at you and quickly came to the conclusion that you weren't a high schooler." Whichever, the "visual" is very relevant to the possible application of a tad bit of common sense, concerning who needs to be questioned and who doesn't need to be. Should TSA ignore appearances and go with body cavity searches on every single person who wants to board an airplane? No, they use appearance evaluation carefully, logically and reasonably.

Originally Posted by Imp4
2.Who knows and who cares? Maybe she was wrong.
Obviously she was wrong, there was no legitimate basis to challenge my purchase of Sta-bil. And if it's just a "who cares" thing, why did you challenge me on it in the first place?

Originally Posted by Imp4
3.Nobody said it was a scene. Just using your own words and descriptions.
YOU said I slighted her, and perhaps I did, here. Perhaps I shouldn't have, here or there; but since you suggested it in the first place, it should be put in proper context (and location).
EDIT: nah, no perhaps, I did slight her, but here only. It was mean-spirited of me to mention her weight, THAT was irrelevant, and I shouldn't have mentioned it at all.

Originally Posted by Imp4
4. It all comes down to 'Show me your papers'. No matter your education, haircut, ability to run fast, etc....
And as I noted and asked before, exactly what "papers" do you show to buy Sta-bil? There's no official age required, nor any other legal requirement. Ironically, like the original Nazis we're poking fun at with the "show me your papers" statement, Walmart has it's employees questioning customers, solely at their discretion. Exactly what "papers" do you propose I should show them? How do you respond when you don't know the standard that will satisfy them?

Originally Posted by Imp4
Why is this any deal at all?!?
Because: 1. I'm a law abiding citizen for whom there is no reason, outwardly, inwardly, legally or otherwise, why I shouldn't be able to buy a fuel preservative. 2. You challenged me for my describing irritation at how the local Walmart handles this "issue" at their self-checkout. If this sort of thing doesn't bother you, that's your choice.

Originally Posted by Imp4
Have a nice day!

You too, seriously.

 

[Imp4]

Originally Posted by ekpolk
Originally Posted by Imp4
Why is this any deal at all?!?
Because: 1. I'm a law abiding citizen for whom there is no reason, outwardly, inwardly, legally or otherwise, why I shouldn't be able to buy a fuel preservative. 2. You challenged me for my describing irritation at how the local Walmart handles this "issue" at their self-checkout. If this sort of thing doesn't bother you, that's your choice.

Well we both know it's an age based requirement, so it's just not a big deal to show your papers. Everybody has to do it.

Nobody said you can't buy it. I advocate for you to be able to do so.
Just show you papers to prove your age first.

 

[aquariuscsm]

Originally Posted by atikovi
Originally Posted by Benzadmiral
Originally Posted by atikovi
Originally Posted by Benzadmiral
That's exactly why I don't pay bills online. It's saving them money, but I'm not getting any of that savings.


Seriously? That 50 cent stamp you don't have to use on each bill isn't a savings for you? Not to mention the time savings. I can pay ten bills on my checking account billpay in 3 minutes vs. 30 minutes writing out checks. The $5 I save on postage is a nice bonus.

The companies are getting a lot more savings than I would be. I don't write that many bills and don't use that many stamps in a month -- maybe 7-8.

Let 'em do a little work for the money they're dragging out of me. It's my little protest and probably won't work for everybody.


I never understood why banks offer this for free. They're paying for postage, envelopes, printing, etc. from accounts thay may only have a few hundred dollars in them.


Most banks now charge you a monthly fee if you don't go "paperless".

 

[ekpolk]

Originally Posted by Imp4
. . .
Well we both know it's an age based requirement, so it's just not a big deal to show your papers. Everybody has to do it.

Nobody said you can't buy it. I advocate for you to be able to do so.
Just show you papers to prove your age first.

But the really crazy thing about it is -- she never even actually asked my age! Maybe she assumed it, and was just making conversation from there. . . I am really good looking too, after all. . .

And yes, I can laugh at myself -- if not, I'd have lost my mind long, long ago!

 

[Imp4]

Originally Posted by ekpolk
But the really crazy thing about it is -- she never even actually asked my age! Maybe she assumed it, and was just making conversation from there. . . I am really good looking too, after all. . .

And yes, I can laugh at myself -- if not, I'd have lost my mind long, long ago!


Congratulations, you're good looking enough to not get carded for Stabil...

 

[PimTac]

Originally Posted by ekpolk
Originally Posted by Imp4
. . .
Well we both know it's an age based requirement, so it's just not a big deal to show your papers. Everybody has to do it.

Nobody said you can't buy it. I advocate for you to be able to do so.
Just show you papers to prove your age first.

But the really crazy thing about it is -- she never even actually asked my age! Maybe she assumed it, and was just making conversation from there. . . I am really good looking too, after all. . .

And yes, I can laugh at myself -- if not, I'd have lost my mind long, long ago!




It's all policy and procedure with the store. The system flags the transaction and tells the employee to ask for age verification. In many cases the employee can look and tell the person is well beyond 18 or whatever the age is. I would get carded in taverns and such until I was around 30 something, then it stopped for the most part.

If you are 50 or older and the employee is carding you, they may have been told to for whatever reason.

 

[DejaVue]

Originally Posted by 02SE
Eventuuuuaaaally she came over and said I needed to be 18 to purchase the item. I asked her, how old do you think I am? She asks me what year was I born, so I tell her, and she can't do the math in her head (good thing she handles money transactions for a living)

That reminds me of the scene from LOST when a guy asks Hurley age-related questions to see if he's from the future.

 

[Garak]

I was thrilled the Shoppers has added them. I regularly go to a Shoppers late at night. More than half the time, I'm waiting up front twiddling my thumbs because they have two people working, neither of which know I'm at the till ready to pay. And Wolf359 is right. The cost of handling cash is growing. Up here, some banks charge more to handle cash, believe it or not, than they do for credit or debit transactions, on business accounts.

 

[quint]

If you guys dont like self checkouts at stores then you're really going to hate self service gas stations when they finally get big. I hear three guys in orange and white striped overalls and bright white ball caps wont even come prancing out to clean your windshield, check your oil, and air up your tires for you anymore. Man its going be bad, really really bad.

Oh sure, they are making promises, like staying open after hours. But since no one will be there, we will have to pay by credit card. That you will have to put into the machine all by yourself! Not only that, but you will have to type in your zip code, to prove its your card. Unbelievable! Who do they think other than me would have my credit card? Its all about tracking us man, and getting our credit card number. Thats all they care about.

Forget it. When this happens, if there isnt even going to be an attendant there to hand me a carbon copy receipt like a proper gas station should, I'll take my business elsewhere.

 

[john_pifer]

Originally Posted by AZjeff
You geezers would hate our local grocery store. They have hand scanners you take with you and scan your stuff as you put it in your reusable bags. Love them. You see the price of every item as you scan and you handle your items 2 times not 3. People will stand 4 deep to go to a cashier instead of self check out or use the hand scanners. Crazy.


This is the first I've heard of the hand scanners. That sounds like a great idea and I would use that in a heartbeat.

What I won't do, is ring myself up and bag my groceries when I have a large basket of items and the self-checkout kiosk only has 2 bag dispenser racks. There is no place to set my groceries, and no place to set the bags once filled. That's how my local grocery (Walmart) is. That is ridiculous.

If I could carry a scanner with me and hit each item as I put it in the basket, then, at the front of the store, they'd give me a good space to bag my own groceries, I would definitely do that, because most of the time I don't like how the cashier bags my stuff anyway. Many times they'll give me way too many bags, often only putting one item per bag. Annoying.

 

[Garak]

Originally Posted by quint
If you guys dont like self checkouts at stores then you're really going to hate self service gas stations when they finally get big. I hear three guys in orange and white striped overalls and bright white ball caps wont even come prancing out to clean your windshield, check your oil, and air up your tires for you anymore. Man its going be bad, really really bad.

All those guys with the rags in their back pockets will be unemployed.

Some complain about pay at the pump, but considering the stupid hours I usually fill up at, I've been paying before filling (or using pay at the pump) for over 20 years.

john_pifer: The funny thing here is that most Loblaw's owned outlets here don't back your groceries for you in any event and haven't for years. They got rid of the bagger over 30 years ago, and yes, people had the same complaints.

 

[aquariuscsm]

Originally Posted by quint
If you guys dont like self checkouts at stores then you're really going to hate self service gas stations when they finally get big. I hear three guys in orange and white striped overalls and bright white ball caps wont even come prancing out to clean your windshield, check your oil, and air up your tires for you anymore. Man its going be bad, really really bad.

Oh sure, they are making promises, like staying open after hours. But since no one will be there, we will have to pay by credit card. That you will have to put into the machine all by yourself! Not only that, but you will have to type in your zip code, to prove its your card. Unbelievable! Who do they think other than me would have my credit card? Its all about tracking us man, and getting our credit card number. Thats all they care about.

Forget it. When this happens, if there isnt even going to be an attendant there to hand me a carbon copy receipt like a proper gas station should, I'll take my business elsewhere.


I remember full service gas stations still being around in the 1980s. When you used self service pumps,you got a substantial discount,maybe by 10 cents a gallon.

 

[4wd]

I learned plenty working at an Exxon station as a teen … the owner was a decent mechanic … good with AC systems etc … we did fleet services for 3 companies (lubes, tires, clean, repair) … glad I did …

 

[Dallas69]

While you're at it ,go ahead and unload the truck and stock the shelves too.

 

[Skippy722]

Tried out Meijer's "Shop & Scan" tonight. Super easy and I totally recommend it! Didn't even have to pull my wallet out, paid with my phone!

 

[Snagglefoot]

I tried the Shoppers Drug Mart system. They don't weigh the item, like at our Walmart. They are totally relying on the honesty of the shopper. No comment.

 

[DBMaster]

Some of you must still live in areas where full service was a thing. Texas gas stations have been self service for my entire life. Things got a LOT better when pay at the pump made its debut in the early 90s. Very convenient.

As far as relying on the shopper's honesty goes, I'm sure that potential pilferage was factored into the equation. With the number of self-checkouts at your average Walmart there would have to be a lot of it going on to come close to the wages of that number of cashiers.

 

[Garak]

Originally Posted by Snagglefoot
I tried the Shoppers Drug Mart system. They don't weigh the item, like at our Walmart. They are totally relying on the honesty of the shopper. No comment.

That's peculiar, particularly with Superstore weighing everything and it all being the same company.

DBMaster: The Co-ops here still have full service. A couple independents have done it as well. The last others I can think of were an Esso and a Mohawk, both probably close to 20 years ago. I don't know if there ever was a full service Petro-Canada. The full services Shells, if I recall correctly, disappeared with the service bays, and that has been a long while back.

With respect to wages of baggers and cashiers, back when I was in high school, getting a job bagging or doing cashier work at a certain grocery chain here was very coveted work, considering it paid almost three times the minimum wage. People may argue they don't want to see cashier jobs disappear, which is fair enough, but I similarly don't want my purchases going to pay an entry level job at three times the minimum wage.