Self-checkout lanes = evil

[funeralcrasher]

Here's a really neat idea from slashdot today:

http://slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=06/07/25/0157202 by lar3ry (10905)

Here's a suggestion. Scan a dozen items, and then walk away, throwingup your hands in frustration, saying "I can't believe this store wantsme to do their job for them!"

Don't pay, don't try to take your"purchases" with you. If a manager sees you do this, tell them flat outthat their "self checkout" sucks, and you will not waste another secondin this store that has no concept of "customer service" and that youare taking your business elsewhere.

You have every right to decide at the last minute that you don't want to make the sale.

Younow have a self-checkout lane that is effectively blocked until a reallive human clears out the items from the machine and from the computertally. That human will probably also have to restock the items,although those items may simply go into a queue area for people whosejob is to restock. Either way, it allows you to vent your frustrationand make a point. AND... since a real employee has to get involved, itmakes the machine slightly less able to become a cost saver.

Heck,have a group of friends "slam" all the self-checkouts this way as aform of organized protest. Include people from a variety ofbackgrounds, ages, etc. Do it a few times to a store before themanagement refuses to let you enter the store, and then go on to thenext store. Or... do it to a bunch of stores, round-robin, returning toa store a week and a half later when some other manager is on duty.Lather... rinse... repeat. If possible, tell the local news stationwhat you are doing, and see if you can get other people similarlyfrustrated to join your cause. (The more people doing this, the better!)

It's called "customer feedback."

Comments

[pkbarbiedoll.livejournal.com]

I'm not suggesting anyone follow through with that, but supporting self-checkout lanes is voting for staff reduction with no benefit to the consumer, other than the illusion of faster checkout times.

[ericdabear.livejournal.com]

But is it really all that much of a staff reduction?

For example.. the Kroger near my old place had, let's say.. 12 registers and 4 checkout lanes. Before the self-checkout lanes, they had on average 3 registers staffed and open. After the self-checkout lanes they had... .3 registers staffed and open AND an attendant for the self-checkout lanes. I can definitely understand your complaint if self-checkout lanes cause manned register lines to disappear though, maybe they just haven't happened at the stores I frequent in particular.

I would say with 100% gusto that they have decreased my wait times significantly though. (except, as someone pointed out, at Wal-Mart where the average shopper's I.Q. rivals that of the automated check-out machines such that they have a spectacular battle of will every time they come in contact with eachother.

Are you off today? I think you are. You weren't over there before and I haven't been over there much to bug anyone today. I hope you're having a good day off! (you're on messenger though.. hmm. I'm being completely scatterbrained today) So if you're not off and I just haven't seen you .. um.. you're welcome for not bothering you much today! :D

[pkbarbiedoll.livejournal.com]

I'm here, though I came in a little late today. :)