Posted on 07/28/2019 6:10:45 AM PDT by Daffynition
Beneath the bland veneer of supermarket automation lurks an ugly truth: There’s a lot of shoplifting going on in the self-scanning checkout lane. But don’t call it shoplifting. The guys in loss prevention prefer “external shrinkage.”
Self-checkout theft has become so widespread that a whole lingo has sprung up to describe its tactics. Ringing up a T-bone ($13.99/lb) with a code for a cheap ($0.49/lb) variety of produce is “the banana trick.” If a can of Illy espresso leaves the conveyor belt without being scanned, that’s called “the pass around.” “The switcheroo” is more labor-intensive: Peel the sticker off something inexpensive and place it over the bar code of something pricey. Just make sure both items are about the same weight, to avoid triggering that pesky “unexpected item” alert in the bagging area.
(Excerpt) Read more at getpocket.com ...
Conversely, when the beancountersbuild a cushion into their prices to cover shrinkage and thievery is less than expected; think how robustly the bottom line glows then.
Pretty much defines a successful or failed nation.
Walmart’s inventory system is on remote servers. If they’re off line, the stores can’t check inventory. It makes sense other functions are centralized.
Home Depot recently upgraded their self check-out kiosks and they, too, turned off the horribly annoying “Unexpected Item” feature. I would trigger that several times on each check out. HD also implemented hand-held scanners which previously only the clerks had. It’s a great feature because I can quickly scan items in the cart without removing them. With a big pile of stuff, it’s easy to double-scan or miss an item, so I have to be extra careful.
I haven’t seen any cameras at HD, though. Maybe they are up on the ceiling.
If the shrinkage is tax deductible, can be expensed, covered by insurance, is still cheaper that hiring warm bodies, the only folks getting screwed are consumers.
Let’s hear it for the minimum wage, biz that refuse to prosecute, and DAs who think five-fingered discounting is a victimless crime.
It’s faster for you. But whenever I’ve had to use a self-checkout I am inevitably behind folks who are slower than molasses in January. I’m speedy, but I’ve worked retail. Self-checkouts are a teeth-grinding experience for me.
A local woman (40) got caught shoplifting via a self checkout. They had video evidence of her on thirteen occasions. She got charged with one count and got probation even though she had stolen enough to be a felony after that much merchandise. The one charge was over $200. Walmart doesn’t actively prosecute. It’s all talk. She also handles money for the local fire dept. Walmart doesn’t ban repeat offenders either. People I know that worked in loss prevention gave it up out of frustration.
I guess I’m a moron then, because not only do I pay for everything in my cart, but I even declare the correct number of grocery bags (I live in Cali where we must pay for bags).
I really miss the old days 40 or more years ago when “service” was real, not just a buzzword. I remember the service station attendants jumping to fill your car with gas, clean your windshield, check your oil and tires. You always got a helpful human on any service phone call you made. And the supermarket checkout person emptied your basket for you, rang up all the items and you paid.
I HATE having to do the jobs that stores once did for you.
My very first experience with DIY retail was at the “U-Pump Ethyl” gasoline station in Columbia, Missouri around 1970. That double-entendre always cracked me up (and still does). Nobody could get away with such a company name these “woke” days.
For you youngsters on FR, “Ethyl” was short for tetraethyl lead, a gasoline additive that boosted octane and allowed engine compression to be raised substantially. It was first mixed with gasoline in the 1920s. That is the lead that is no longer in “unleaded” gasoline. The meaning of “U-Pump” should be obvious.
The Christian admonition to “don’t lie” is not avoid offending others or being a good citizen. its not about making you meek and mild. In fact, its the opposite.
lying to oneself about reality is the direct path to your own self-destruction and misery.
when you have freedom of will and freedom of choice, as supermarket shoppers do, and you steal - you are a thief. Justifying your own failings is merely lying to oneself.
I refuse to “self-checkout” - no discount for doing their job! And, it IS their job!
“I love self checkout - think about how many people it puts out of work and on welfare”.
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Yes that and when I can’t ‘figure out’ where to put my card and the clerk gives one the ‘look’ just say to them
“I never worked retail because I don’t like handling others cash and credit cards etc BUT you should keep track of everytime you ‘help’ someone so when they come up to you one morning and say ‘This scanner just put YOU out of a job’, you can (truthfully) say - WHO is going to help all these dummies that can’t figure it out out?
I stopped for a cup of coffee/gas and when got out of vehicle picked up ‘stuff’ in my cab and put it in the trash bin.
A ‘parking lot attendant’ (with broom, dust pan and bag) thanked me.
I promptly pointed out that if everyone were like me he would soon be out of a ‘job’ so he should really welcome the slobs.
He agreed and I threw ‘something’ on the ground so he could pick it up. <: <: <:
Self checkout is a scam. If they want us to do their work, they should give us a discount on the price.
If you have Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=2895883030453634&id=105437439498221
Please explain why you don’t like them.
Honest people will end up paying more. T he inventor of the self checkout counter should be burned at the stake. Not only do they encourage crime, they starlings from honest, working employees. Any store that has more self checkouts that cashiers should be boycotted. Hear that Home Depot and Wal-Mart?
[ Liars and thieves.... I can tolerate nether. ]
When you tolerate a little, you get poisoned before you know it...
I generally grocery-shop with my mother. She will never go near a self-check machine without me. Even at the manned checkout, she tends to have weird things happen. Machine malfunctions like you wouldn’t believe. It’s her only superstition. At least with a clerk there, or a line, she gets in some chat time.
Pump her own gas? NEVER. Never did, never will. I don’t like it either and will go out of my way to reach the full service station.
These things were a terrible idea in the first place and companies that implement them deserve to lose money.
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I would bet the cost of labor saved by these machines far outweighs the loss from stealing.
This self-checkout is the direct result of government believing they know and should determine the cost of labor
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