Do you want to know something that bugs the crap out of me? Self check out lines at grocery stores. Why does it bug me? I'll tell you...which is why I'm here... You DON'T get any incentive (other than possibly getting out of the store sooner) for using them! Do you want me to use them? Then give me a discount for doing YOUR work! Otherwise, I'll just go to where some poor person is making as close to minimum wage as they can muster. I feel better helping someone earn a meager living!
There are also two thoughts that seem to be prevalent with stores. You have the store that's busy as can be, they have several lanes open, including an "Express Lane" which isn't always express since 99% of the time if I DO have "15 items or less" there's a little old lady that has to write a check, and waits until they are all finished and giving a total to even put the date, the name of the store and sign it. (although I guess that's a little better than the little old ladies who "have the penny" and need to go through six different change purses to find it... I used to keep a pocket full of pennies when I worked at a G.C.Murphy's back in the early 80's and when they'd go "Oh wait, I have the penny!" I'd say "so do I!" and get them out...mostly during the Christmas holidaze when the line was half way back through the store) Anyway...the busy store has several lanes open, and they have a self check lane, with a single attendant standing there making sure that the people using it aren't tossing every other item into their bag, and you have the store that I usually use (since it's closer to my house) that has ONE human check out lane, usually manned by a new person (because they can't seem to keep people) and several self check lanes, with one person who is apparently the "attendant" another person standing which appears to have the "over-ride key" when something happens at a register, and someone else who I have no clue why they are standing there.
So after my trip to the store yesterday, where they actually had TWO people working the check outs (and another three at the self checks) and waiting in line for several minutes while someone had some issue with the price that rang up, and didn't get the concept that all discounts are listed on the receipt, and don't come off on the screen as they ring things up. (the other open lane was the express, and I had maybe 18 items) I decided to send the market in question a comment about their store, and how things always seem to be. (and suggest that they make it worth my while to use a self check) I got the standard "we received your comments, and will get back to you if necessary" email, then this morning I got from corporate that "We're sorry! we're looking into the matter, and will pass your comments along to the proper manager" I'll get some sort of stock answer and things won't change much because they can't keep people there...and what's also weird is that when they DO get someone that knows how to run a check out, they "promote" them to be the self check attendant! Go figure!
What I was really hoping was that they would address the "incentive" for using the self checks and say that they'll take into consideration that if you use your "bonus/preferred shopper/loyalty" card, you'll get X% off of your order! I'm hoping for the impossible...I'm sure!
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