Posted on 06/20/2017 5:58:45 AM PDT by C19fan
Amazon is looking to reduce costs at Whole Foods with a new automated checkout system that would render thousands of cashiers redundant, it has been reported. Carmen Clark, 37, an employee at the Mount Pleasant Whole Foods, said, 'Everybody's been kind of joking that it's going to be robots and drones,' after the Amazon bought the grocery chain for $13.7 billion. It turns out Clark wasn't that far off, since Amazon is trying to reduce prices by replacing cashiers with a new mobile payment system, according to a person familiar with the company's plans who spoke to Bloomberg. But Amazon refuted the reports and denied that there were any job cuts in the works.
(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...
If you look down the road in ten years, I don’t think the bulk of cashiers working at operations like Wal-Mart or grocery-stores...will still be around. It simply makes sense to cut some people each year and introduce scanners into the mix. Last month, I went through a grocery where one clerk stands there around 8 scanner stations and you would scan your own items.
Automation is good for corporate AMERICA, but bad for the unskilled and seniors trying to make ends meet.
And here some lib was telling me that Amazon’s takeover of Whole Foods wouldn’t change a thing.
Article I saw yesterday said staffing was going to be cut and cheaper substitute products would replace current inventory.
The ‘Amazon Go’ system uses your smartphone to scan items as they are picked up. Putting them back on the shelf removes them from the list (RFID). Walk through the door and your smartphone transfers money from your bank account.
The current cashier’s need to start making mistakes such as all merchandise 10 cents.
Then they’ve got to fix these automated check-out machines. At Walmart, I’ve never gotten out without a cashier coming over and fixing the snafu. And it happens at ShopRite and other stores.
I don’t like “scan your own”. Beer purchases bring that to a halt as a nanny has to see your ID to permit the sale to complete.
I don’t get paid or see a discount for doing their work for them. When are they going to have me stock shelves?
Take the human interaction out of the equation and it’s just another monopolistic corporate box.
Hope Amazoners love paying sales tax on their purchases in any state that has Whole Foods stores.
The union successfully got the self-scanners pulled from our Safeway. Now, the “express” line is like going to the DMV.
My nearest Costco removed its self-service registers about a year ago. It’s all human cashiers and packers, and much more efficient (from the customer POV).
Whole Foods was anti-union. It was run by a conservative.
I refuse to use self checkout lanes. If I walk into a store and that’s the only option, I turn around and leave. There’s a Wal Mart here that went all in with them about 4 years ago. Enough people refused to use them that they cut back on the automatic aisles and brought back a bunch of cashiers. Home Depot did the same thing. The only manned checkout was the one for contractors. They’re now back to cashiers.
At our local home improvement centers I use self checkout almost exclusively. Way faster. I notice at the walmart I use the self checkouts are always busy, so much they probably need 5-6 more of ‘em.
Exactly. I don't work at the grocery store so why should I scan and bag my own groceries? I don't.
Whole Foods employees had some latitude to offer reduced price or comped merchandise.
I’ve seen it happen in the hot food area (comped slices near the end of day) as well as in the meat market (have a complimentary or price reduced link of a new seasoned sausage). In neither instance was the discount requested or expected, the items were ordered and the staff took it upon themselves to make pen notations on the pricing sticker.
Scan stations for use by shoppers are increasing. I was in a Walmart a couple days ago
that used to have one section for customer use scanners. Now they have installed
another section of customer use scanners on the opposite side of the store and
reduced the number of individual cashiers. They had three cashiers working with
lines waiting. The scan stations take only cash/cards but no checks.
I like the automated check-outs. At my local Wal-Mart there are never more than 4 or 5 of the 30 check out lines open and each has long, long lines. I’m all for anything that can get me out quicker.
I’m okay with bagging my own groceries (in paper bags) because of “efficiency” (denser packing than they will do) and “sorting” (these items go in the fridge, and these in the pantry...). I generally send things down the line that way anyhow (heavier items up first). The baggers I’ve seen wait until 50% of my purchase has cleared the cashier and it’s just jumbled.
I don’t understand the cheaper strategy. There are enough less expensive organic or psuedo organic products at conventional grocery stores, which is why WF is hurting in the first place.
I don’t like “scan your own”. Beer purchases bring that to a halt as a nanny has to see your ID to permit the sale to complete.
I don’t get paid or see a discount for doing their work for them. When are they going to have me stock shelves?
Take the human interaction out of the equation and it’s just another monopolistic corporate box.
Hope Amazoners love paying sales tax on their purchases in any state that has Whole Foods stores.
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You’re not forced to use self check-out, are you?
I personally love it. I don’t have to talk to anyone, I can pack my bags the way I want, and if I need help, someone is there.
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