Posted on 06/02/2023 5:57:34 PM PDT by Libloather
A Chicago branch of Walgreens has been redesigned with just two aisles where customers may shop for themselves, the rest must be done via a kiosk.
The new 'anti-theft' store at at 2 East Roosevelt in downtown Chicago will trust shoppers to pick up 'essentials' for themselves in the two free aisles, but everything else must be ordered and picked up via a counter.
The store, which took weeks to construct, opened to mixed reviews on Tuesday.
One shopper told WBBM Newsradio their experience was positive: 'It is nice that, for the essentials, you no longer have to call security to get them to open the glass case.'
Another, however, felt that the lack of trust was disappointing: 'We should be able to be trusted to go in without having to have cameras and people watching us and all that stuff.'
'I'm not a huge fan of kiosk ordering. It's not going to make me come more often,' another man added.
A spokesperson for Walgreens told CWB Chicago the company is 'testing a new experience at this store with new concepts, technologies, and practices to enhance the experiences of our customers and team members.'
'It will continue to offer retail products and pharmacy services, just with a new look and feel that focuses on shopping digitally for convenience.
'Inside the store, customers will find an area where they can pick-up orders, digital kiosks for placing an order, as well as an area to shop for essential items.'
The move comes after Walgreens chief financial officer told investors on an earnings call earlier this year that executives may have overstated the effects of organized shoplifting.
'Maybe we cried too much last year,' James Kehoe said.
(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...
Here’s my prediction. And I’d put money on it.
Some sleazy civil rights lawyer is going to sue Walgreens. And that’s because in some neighborhoods Walgreens uses product cages. And in some neighborhoods they don’t. It’s discrimination, I tell ya.
Walgreens will lose that lawsuit. They’ll pay out, then close every store in those “discriminated” neighborhoods. Everyone loses. Except the lawyers, of course.
The future model would be a bunker/pillbox surrounded by a clear fire zone surrounded by a righteous fence.
The peeps can order by phone app and the order will be delivered to a soft landing zone outside the fence by an air cannon.
WHAT A BUMMER!!!!!!!!!!!
Cash and carry
*sardonic chuckle*
This is what a collapsed society looks like.
the self shopping really boomed in WW2 when the stores lost
60% of their staff. Men to the military and women to the war industries.
That’s still 2 aisles full of stuff that you can pile up as much of you want for free!!
You know those air cannon guys gotta love their jobs.
Air cannons are the classic choice for standoff delivery but I do wonder if drones might be the future for urban drop zones.
One word: Amazon
The truly classic choice would be the trebuchet. "Here's your order, ma'am!" Whoosh, snap.....crash.
Just like Service Merchanoise from the ‘80s.
“That’s still 2 aisles full of stuff that you can pile up as much of you want for free!!”
I’m guessing those two aisles have things like work boots, work gloves, prophylactics and suntan lotion.
Merchandise.
Like the Baltimore bodago in “The Wire” where Omar got his.
The building that housed the local Service Merchandise back in the day [and then got repurposed a few times since was razed this year.
I need my hair weave now!
Years ago we visited family in Russia — St. Petersburg. We took the kids to the local candy shop. You pick out your item from assortment behind counter and under glass, tell the clerk what you want, they weigh it out, make a ticket then you and the clerk both walk up to the front and you get your stuff after it’s paid for.
Other shops and restaurants had armed security.
I can’t believe a store in the US is set up like one in Russia.
Haven’t shopped there since they stopped taking Tricare Life.
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