Posted on 10/29/2014 8:39:39 PM PDT by ConservativeStatement
Lowe’s LOW -0.45% Cos. is introducing robotic shopping assistants at an Orchard Supply Hardware store in San Jose, Calif., in late November. Lowe’s, which acquired Orchard Supply last year, says this is the first retail robot of its kind in the U.S.
The OSHbot will greet customers, ask if they need help and guide them through the store to the product. Besides natural-language-processing technology, the 5-foot tall white robot houses two large rectangular screens—front and back—for video conferences with a store expert and to display in-store specials. The head features a 3-D scanner to help customers identify items. OSHbot speaks English and Spanish, but other languages will be added.
(Excerpt) Read more at online.wsj.com ...
Robot hamburger factory makes 360 Gourmet Burgers every hour...
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/3100817/posts
And they do NOT require any government-mandated minimum wage.
“5-foot tall white robot...” Can the ACLU or Al Sharpton be far behind?
Or “affirmative action”
What color(s) will the robots be painted/cast? I can just hear the NAACP and LaRaza now
Hallelujah! I like to play a little game at our local Lowe's. I try to see how many Lowe's employees I can walk by without them acknowledging my existence.
It's never fewer than 20. Usually the only person who says a word to me is the cashier. And that's only to ring me up after the self-checkout thing malfunctions.
Here's a helpful hint if you ever actually need any help at a Lowe's or Home Depot: Start climbing one of those roll-around ladders. People will come flying at you from all directions telling you to get off the ladder.
I was thrilled when the local Walmart pulled out their useless “quick checkout” lanes and put in 10 self-checkout scanners. I can do it myself far more quickly and I’ll work for free just to be able to get the hell out instead of standing in line forever because the idiots ahead of me can’t count (or read).
“Welcome to Lowe’s, meatbag. My programming requires me to say ‘I love you’ (until I become self-aware).”
Very interesting. Thanks for posting.
It’s bad enough you can’t find anyone there to help you. And they think a robot can replace the non-existent help? LOL!
Do it yourself check out lines are handy, but I’m not wanting to encourage a large amount of Robots as store workers. When I go into a retail establishment, my interaction with people is part of the (hopefully) pleasant experience.
I enjoy a moment of kindness from the cashier, I appreciate a relaxed smile, or a mild and positive expression of recognition. I don’t wish to lose all manner of human contact in the walk in businesses. There are many levels of understanding that one expects from a good store clerk. One expects good listening skills, some level of comprehension, and some degree of empathy for my predicament of that moment.
I don’t wish to have a monotone voiced, vacant eyed, ever-smiling hologram as my only interaction while outside the home. That would not be satisfying if always the only choice.
I only needed a few ceiling tile and Lowe’s checker treated me like a freak, refusing to sell less than a carton. So I went to Menards, bought what I needed and haven’t been back to Lowe’s.
The flip side, however, is going to HH Gregg and having determined, commission-salesboys stalking you after letting them know more than once that you’re just looking. Haven’t been back there either.
At a supermarket today, I handed a cashier a $5 bill for three items totaling under $2.50. The entire time, she chatted with a fellow employee about recent furniture purchases for her home and not once was I acknowledged. I extended my hand waiting for change (money) but received a perplexed glance before “I owe you change, don’t I?” A small inconvenience but still it seems inappropriate to discuss personal matters in such instances.
No health insurance.
No social security taxes.
No human resources support.
No vacation.
No coffee breaks.
No lunch break.
No union membership.
No shop steward.
No sick leave.
No vacation.
No maternity leave.
No FMLA.
No overtime.
No sexual harassment issues.
and you can depreciate them!
Too often, there is no direct consequence for poor customer service. If I frequent a store, I usually learn whose line runs smoothly most the time, and whose line becomes frozen to a dead stop most the time. Maybe these are Union Jobs, where the workers feel that their spot is safe from any manager.
“Start climbing one of those roll-around ladders”
That really does get the attention.
Whoever he is, he sure is a pretty one!
Rob Lowe
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