Comments on: No Self-service Without Remuneration http://www.errantdreams.com/thraveon/2008/01/16/no-self-service-without-renumeration/ An initial foray into the nexus between the many worlds that reside in my imagination. Comments on daily life in the multiverse. Occasional wisdom. Candid observations. Popcorn. Sun, 23 Nov 2008 12:11:37 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.1 By: jervis http://www.errantdreams.com/thraveon/2008/01/16/no-self-service-without-renumeration/#comment-232 jervis Wed, 30 Jan 2008 01:33:14 +0000 http://www.errantdreams.com/thraveon/2008/01/16/no-self-service-without-renumeration/#comment-232 This is where we differ. I'd rather go through the checkout and have the young decent looking girl at the register say, "Uhm...why are you buying those tampons?" So I can say something like, "Oh my God! These are tampons? Gee, don't you hate it when you come into the store for one thing and end up picking up things you don't really need?" I mean, unless I was picking them up for a friend who was afraid to go through the register line...I wouldn't need them. In any case, I stand by my original post, I prefer humans. Of course, to each his own. :-) This is where we differ. I’d rather go through the checkout and have the young decent looking girl at the register say, “Uhm…why are you buying those tampons?” So I can say something like, “Oh my God! These are tampons? Gee, don’t you hate it when you come into the store for one thing and end up picking up things you don’t really need?” I mean, unless I was picking them up for a friend who was afraid to go through the register line…I wouldn’t need them. In any case, I stand by my original post, I prefer humans. Of course, to each his own. :-)

]]> By: Kai/Liedy/Shizi http://www.errantdreams.com/thraveon/2008/01/16/no-self-service-without-renumeration/#comment-216 Kai/Liedy/Shizi Fri, 25 Jan 2008 05:36:47 +0000 http://www.errantdreams.com/thraveon/2008/01/16/no-self-service-without-renumeration/#comment-216 Okay so I got into this rant a bit late but hey man, there are days when you really want that self-service check out. Like when you're checking out at the Trader Joe's with literally just one box of tampons, and every single cashier is a young decent looking guy who looks alert enough to chit chat with his customers. Yeah, that makes me feel comfortable. Oh well, I found out a lot of my staples are cheaper there while circling the store and eyeballing the registers, hoping that some chick would relieve her coworker at a register... That being said, Safeway. I don't know what their training program involves (probably starts off one hot summer day where someone says they're showing a free movie, you go in for the AC and come out a scientologist or something) but I've never seen such friendly cashiers in a supermarket - they even check your receipts as you go and will tell you "Have a great day Ms. Sugermeyer". Oh and we at Pier 1 (Springfield) are pretty rockin when it comes to customer service if I do say so myself... We'll help you carry your stuff out to the car, hell I've even picked 2 dozen trays out of a five foot stack making sure they were all nice and free of splinters and such while a customer wandered around for other things. Gotta give the little shout out, can't help it! Okay so I got into this rant a bit late but hey man, there are days when you really want that self-service check out. Like when you’re checking out at the Trader Joe’s with literally just one box of tampons, and every single cashier is a young decent looking guy who looks alert enough to chit chat with his customers. Yeah, that makes me feel comfortable. Oh well, I found out a lot of my staples are cheaper there while circling the store and eyeballing the registers, hoping that some chick would relieve her coworker at a register…

That being said, Safeway. I don’t know what their training program involves (probably starts off one hot summer day where someone says they’re showing a free movie, you go in for the AC and come out a scientologist or something) but I’ve never seen such friendly cashiers in a supermarket - they even check your receipts as you go and will tell you “Have a great day Ms. Sugermeyer”.

Oh and we at Pier 1 (Springfield) are pretty rockin when it comes to customer service if I do say so myself… We’ll help you carry your stuff out to the car, hell I’ve even picked 2 dozen trays out of a five foot stack making sure they were all nice and free of splinters and such while a customer wandered around for other things. Gotta give the little shout out, can’t help it!

]]> By: Lord Michael of the Beltpouch http://www.errantdreams.com/thraveon/2008/01/16/no-self-service-without-renumeration/#comment-192 Lord Michael of the Beltpouch Mon, 21 Jan 2008 16:56:43 +0000 http://www.errantdreams.com/thraveon/2008/01/16/no-self-service-without-renumeration/#comment-192 <i>You can’t flirt with a computer. (well, you might Michael, but…if you do, people will look at you funny)</i> I've got issues, but I'm not that off the deep end. Yet. You can’t flirt with a computer. (well, you might Michael, but…if you do, people will look at you funny)

I’ve got issues, but I’m not that off the deep end. Yet.

]]> By: jervis http://www.errantdreams.com/thraveon/2008/01/16/no-self-service-without-renumeration/#comment-164 jervis Fri, 18 Jan 2008 22:55:13 +0000 http://www.errantdreams.com/thraveon/2008/01/16/no-self-service-without-renumeration/#comment-164 More reasons to choose a human cashier over self serve check-outs. - You can't flirt with a computer. (well, you might Michael, but...if you do, people will look at you funny) - The computer won't offer up store coupons you might not have known about, friendly cashiers do. - You can't ask the computer for a military discount (you could I suppose, but see bullet one above). - The computer won't be interested in seeing pictures of your ____________ (fill in the blank appropriately here: children, grandchildren, cats, boat, new car, new helm, new computer...etc.) More reasons to choose a human cashier over self serve check-outs.

- You can’t flirt with a computer. (well, you might Michael, but…if you do, people will look at you funny)

- The computer won’t offer up store coupons you might not have known about, friendly cashiers do.

- You can’t ask the computer for a military discount (you could I suppose, but see bullet one above).

- The computer won’t be interested in seeing pictures of your ____________ (fill in the blank appropriately here: children, grandchildren, cats, boat, new car, new helm, new computer…etc.)

]]> By: Marcharit. http://www.errantdreams.com/thraveon/2008/01/16/no-self-service-without-renumeration/#comment-163 Marcharit. Fri, 18 Jan 2008 14:38:18 +0000 http://www.errantdreams.com/thraveon/2008/01/16/no-self-service-without-renumeration/#comment-163 I also agreee ,whenever possible i will chose a person over the self serve check outs. This supports Jobs for people and also lets the stores knows what your prefrence is. Thank Goodness we can choose to help out other people. I also agreee ,whenever possible i will chose a person over the self serve check outs. This supports Jobs for people and also lets the stores knows what your prefrence is. Thank Goodness we can choose to help out other people.

]]> By: Caitriona http://www.errantdreams.com/thraveon/2008/01/16/no-self-service-without-renumeration/#comment-162 Caitriona Fri, 18 Jan 2008 07:44:45 +0000 http://www.errantdreams.com/thraveon/2008/01/16/no-self-service-without-renumeration/#comment-162 So far, the only place here in Seattle with self serve check out are Fred Meyer (a grocery & department store combined) and the home stores (Home Depot, Lowes). They don't work if you have a large order as everything has to fit on the scale at once. So far, there is still plenty of human operated check stands. I've used the self serve a few times and at least 50% of the time they (NOT ME) screw up and a human has to intervene. My theory on the reason....cost cutting due to competition from the evil empire (Wal-Mart). So far, the only place here in Seattle with self serve check out are Fred Meyer (a grocery & department store combined) and the home stores (Home Depot, Lowes). They don’t work if you have a large order as everything has to fit on the scale at once. So far, there is still plenty of human operated check stands. I’ve used the self serve a few times and at least 50% of the time they (NOT ME) screw up and a human has to intervene.

My theory on the reason….cost cutting due to competition from the evil empire (Wal-Mart).

]]> By: Why My Life Sucks » A reply. http://www.errantdreams.com/thraveon/2008/01/16/no-self-service-without-renumeration/#comment-160 Why My Life Sucks » A reply. Fri, 18 Jan 2008 03:41:36 +0000 http://www.errantdreams.com/thraveon/2008/01/16/no-self-service-without-renumeration/#comment-160 [...] In this post, “jervis” makes a strong argument, a very good argument against self check out in stores. [...] [...] In this post, “jervis” makes a strong argument, a very good argument against self check out in stores. [...]

]]> By: Lord Michael of the Beltpouch http://www.errantdreams.com/thraveon/2008/01/16/no-self-service-without-renumeration/#comment-159 Lord Michael of the Beltpouch Fri, 18 Jan 2008 03:08:56 +0000 http://www.errantdreams.com/thraveon/2008/01/16/no-self-service-without-renumeration/#comment-159 Like I said, I use self serve a lot. Mainly if I have less than 5 items OR my agoraphobia is kicking in hard. In my case the literal meaning of "a fear of the marketplace" is the correct effect. I have no fear of say, going out to a movie or concert. Sending me to WalMart on a bad day is asking for a meltdown and a freak out. I think I'll post a reply to this explaining why I use them on my blog. Like I said, I use self serve a lot. Mainly if I have less than 5 items OR my agoraphobia is kicking in hard. In my case the literal meaning of “a fear of the marketplace” is the correct effect. I have no fear of say, going out to a movie or concert. Sending me to WalMart on a bad day is asking for a meltdown and a freak out.

I think I’ll post a reply to this explaining why I use them on my blog.

]]> By: jervis http://www.errantdreams.com/thraveon/2008/01/16/no-self-service-without-renumeration/#comment-154 jervis Fri, 18 Jan 2008 01:38:53 +0000 http://www.errantdreams.com/thraveon/2008/01/16/no-self-service-without-renumeration/#comment-154 Scott, Don't feel guilty....just refuse to be used. :-) Oh certainly Mr. Store manager sir, as soon as I'm done checking myself out, bringing my own bag, bagging my own groceries, and carrying them to the car (since you've begun to downsize shopping carts), I'd be happy to mop up the spill on aisle seven...as soon as I go home and get my own mop. Resist!! Scott,

Don’t feel guilty….just refuse to be used. :-) Oh certainly Mr. Store manager sir, as soon as I’m done checking myself out, bringing my own bag, bagging my own groceries, and carrying them to the car (since you’ve begun to downsize shopping carts), I’d be happy to mop up the spill on aisle seven…as soon as I go home and get my own mop. Resist!!

]]> By: ScottM http://www.errantdreams.com/thraveon/2008/01/16/no-self-service-without-renumeration/#comment-153 ScottM Fri, 18 Jan 2008 01:27:32 +0000 http://www.errantdreams.com/thraveon/2008/01/16/no-self-service-without-renumeration/#comment-153 I agree-- I'm also not a fan of self-service in the way it's commonly implemented. I don't mind it as much at, say, Foodmax, where you're checked out but bag your own groceries. I typically do see a better price on items, though I do have to assuage some guilt for eliminating another person's job. I agree– I’m also not a fan of self-service in the way it’s commonly implemented. I don’t mind it as much at, say, Foodmax, where you’re checked out but bag your own groceries. I typically do see a better price on items, though I do have to assuage some guilt for eliminating another person’s job.

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