Major grocer getting rid of self-checkout lanes

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/43687085/ns/business-consumer_news/ ^ | 7/8/2011 | Anika Anand

[Morgana]

One of the nation's major grocery store chains is eliminating self-checkout lanes in an effort to encourage more human contact with its customers.

Albertsons LLC, which operates 217 stores in seven Western and Southern states, will eliminate all self-checkout lanes in the 100 stores that have them and will replace them with standard or express lanes, according to published reports.

[Kevmo]

They’re getting ripped off, at least in some stores, so they’re taking them all out so they’re not accused of discrimination.

***Yikes, I never thought of that.

[cynwoody]

The CVS in a city near me with certain city-like characteristics had a little problem. Sometimes it sounded like this:"pardon us, we failed to deactivate the security tag..."

I have one of those in my wallet (cashier forgot to remove it; I forget where). I forgot I had it (I must not get out much). Then I happened to visit the Burlington Mall the other day. Beep at the mall entrance (Macy's). Beep at the exit from Macy's to the internal hallway. Off to shop at the Apple Store (no beeps there — they know their business!). Beep at the exit from the internal hallway to Macy's. Beep again at the exit from Macy's to the parking lot.

No one noticed a thing. Some loss prevention tactic!

Of course, it they had noticed, that might have caused a loss, cynwoody being litigious in such situations.

[GOP Poet]

but what if we don't want human contact? the less i hear from checkout people the better. when did it start anyway when checkout people and baggers felt it okay to comment on what one is buying.

i often stop myself from saying, "shut your trap and do your damn job. what and how many i buy of anything is none of your damn business and me deciding to use your bags instead of a recyclable one infested with bacteria is also my business."

Oh yeah. I do go ahead and just them just that these days. You'd be surprised at how often I have to say it. Do i care? hell no. If they can't be professional I tell 'em to stay out of my business or else I will happily take my business elsewhere.

part of it is the fascists kids/adult and society we live in. People think there are no longer personal boundaries or choices.

[cva66snipe]

Two less people WHO HANDLE MONEY touching your groceries!! Besides. It's not like they're obviously hired for their sparkling personalities. Grocery checkout people seem the equivalent of flight attendants. Droll robots whose position would have once been held by someone hired for their ability to be nice. Now an entitlement job, staffed by dour, union flunkies.

Not where I shop. I go to Ingles usally late at night. The clerks on night shift know us and once a month gladly and eagerly ring up our $350 - $400 worth of groceries. They even offer to help take them to the vehicle and load them.

[tal hajus]

Don’t enjoy grocery shopping but where I shop I get both and a smile. Pay a bit more but there I feel like a customer and not a number.

[cyclotic]

The other one that upsets me is “Can I help the next person in line?”

How about making actual eye contact and after looking at the customer saying “Can I help You?”

Did you eve notice that whenever there are two cashiers at the register, the entire conversation between them is about either when their next break is, when their last break was or when they are going home?

[USS Alaska]

They’re getting ripped off, at least in some stores, so they’re taking them all out so they’re not accused of discrimination.

CORRECT, DING, DING, DING, WE HAVE A WINNER.

A friend of mine is a manager at the local Walmart, where they recently removed the self checkout lanes and he told me it was because of thieves.

Even with all the video cams that they have, and everyone knows they are going on video, they still continue to steal.

[Huck]

I'm told that once upon a time you didn't walk around the store fetching items. You gave the grocer a list and he got your order for you. Then supermarkets came along, and customers started fetching their own orders. Now the customers are checking out the items. Next we'll be stocking the shelves and sweeping the floor. Mopping up in aisle 12.

Kidding aside, I almost always use self-checkout. Where I shop it does NOT call out the names of items. And I don't need interaction at the supermarket. Just convenience.

[bboop]

That’s it! You wait for assistance at those stupid things, either because the scanner doesn’t work right or the bananas are not tagged or there’s an idiot in front of you who cannot figure it out. One assistant for all 6 scanners!

[FreedomPoster]

Wal-Mart here yanked theirs. This in an upscale suburb.

[SunkenCiv]

Albertsons, thanks Morgana.

[SunkenCiv]

Whoops, thanks sickoflibs.

[Texas Eagle]

One of the nation's major grocery store chains is eliminating self-checkout lanes in an effort to encourage more human contact with its customers.

Sheeeyit. That's why I go through the self-checkout line in the first place.

The snot-nosed brats only talk to their fellow snot-nosed brat employees anyways. Usually it's too complain about their schedules or some idiot boyfriend or girlfriend. Spare me. I just want my groceries.

[Texas Eagle]

This should help unemployment...a little.

Unless you work for the manufacturer of the self-checkout machines.

[Texas Eagle]

I think Albertson's is a Union shop. That means their checkers are making 20 bucks an hour or more (including bennies).

The machines are probably a few thousand dollars each. That means the machines pay for themselves after a few weeks or months.

Just one more way Unions make things more expensive.

I wonder who pays for that.

[dervish]

I love them too. Fast, always know the price and no “tude’

[HIDEK6]

Like I said, it's not a budget busting item.

I don't think I've spent more than $5 on it since I started.

[Doe Eyes]

Until they teach their cashiers that “Have a nice day,” does NOT mean “Thank you,”...

And don't even get me started on "Happy Holidays".