1606 replies to this topic

[nagel]

ATMs are considerably faster than standing in line to make a basic cash withdrawal or simple deposit. I have yet to witness a significant time savings in using self-checkouts.

Really? If you have 5 items or so and none of them are fruit or veg it is significantly faster because there’s hardly ever a lineup.

It’s not faster if you’re buying 12 different vegetables.

[Jackerbie]

ATMs are considerably faster than standing in line to make a basic cash withdrawal or simple deposit. I have yet to witness a significant time savings in using self-checkouts.

 

Self checkouts can be considerably faster to make a basic cashless purchase when line-ups are long.  I've noticed that several grocers have replaced the "Express" checkout with "Self Serve" checkout. So my choice depends on how long the lines are, how many items I have, etc.  If I have a bunch of produce or bulk goods that require me to look up and enter codes then I'm probably not hitting the self checkout. If all I need to do is scan a barcode on a carton of milk then I'm less likely to wait in line.

 

Same principle with all other self serve options these days. I'll use the new McDs kiosk if I think it'll be faster than waiting for a cashier. I'll use the Starbucks app to order if the line is long. If I want to make anything more than a simple withdrawal or deposit then I'll speak with a teller. Options are good.

[Nparker]

Self checkouts can be considerably faster to make a basic cashless purchase when line-ups are long...

That has not been what I have witnessed. As I said, I won't use them on principle, unless I am offered a financial incentive. If self-checkouts are cheaper for the retailer they need to pass that savings onto me.

[tjv]

I get the impression the supermarkets near UVic and Camosun don't suffer the same staffing shortages.

 

But yeah, I think Victoria is at full employment. Any motivated person can find work. Us oldsters recall when that was not the case.

Motivated? all you need is a pulse right now and you get a job.  You don't need a resume and can ignore the specific job ad and just reply "yeah, I can do it".  I'm pay $20 to start for no skills and that's how the slack jaw yokels reply to me.   %$#$%%$#

 

The people I know who run retail spots in this town say finding reliable staff who have any sort of work ethic and aren't morons/stoners/stinky/weird is very difficult. 

I don't like the message its sending to the younger generation that they have right to mouth off to their employer and think they can quit and get a job in 5 minutes.  I've literally heard workers say to employers "be quiet, you are lucky I showed up today".  As a business owner I am not sure how much longer I can take it

 

self checkouts are the best when you have to buy that product that is sort of embarrassing.  genital ointments, tampons for the wife, condoms, etc.  No more price checks on aisle 5.

Over the loud speaker "Price check on 100 count Viagra, Aisle 5, price check"  haha

Edited by tjv, 25 January 2019 - 07:30 PM.

[kenmuir]

Welcome, please scan your first item.  Five-ninety-five.  Unexpected item in bagging area.  Five-ninety-five.  Four-seventy-nine.  Unexpected item in bagging area.  Place scanned items in bagging area.  Unexpected item in bagging area.  Have you scanned your loyalty card?   Please wait for assistance.

 

No thanks, unless they implement a mute button.  Besides, going to a cashier is faster when you've got stuff (i.e. produce) without a barcode or multiples.

[Mike K.]

Superstore has this figured out. They guarantee all tills will be open during peak periods and what a difference that makes.

[mbjj]

Welcome, please scan your first item.  Five-ninety-five.  Unexpected item in bagging area.  Five-ninety-five.  Four-seventy-nine.  Unexpected item in bagging area.  Place scanned items in bagging area.  Unexpected item in bagging area.  Have you scanned your loyalty card?   Please wait for assistance.

 

No thanks, unless they implement a mute button.  Besides, going to a cashier is faster when you've got stuff (i.e. produce) without a barcode or multiples.

When we were in the UK in 2017 we had to use self check-out quite a lot as that's all there was. We and others always seemed to have a problem. Anytime there was a live cashier, we went to them.

 

Also in most French grocery stores, you have to weigh and label your own produce. They have a thingy with pictures, you put your item on the scales and press the appropriate picture and it spits out a label for your bag so the cashier can just scan the code.

[Matt R.]

Bought a box of some Daiya brand cheese sauce a few weeks ago to try out, opened it a few days later to find a bunch of dead moths and one live one .. inside the sealed box.

Messaged the grocery store, reply was quick - call me on Monday, we’ll get you a refund and I’d like to talk about it more! she said.

Called on Monday, Tuesday and later in the week, this person was always out on lunch and didn’t return any voicemails or subsequent messages to their Facebook page.

Daiya responded quickly to their online contact form, and sent me a whole bunch of coupons in the mail. We will likely use the coupons, just not for the cheese sauce. It was in foil packages in the moth eaten box so I tried it anyways. Just terrible.

Matt.

[Matt R.]

Also in most French grocery stores, you have to weigh and label your own produce. They have a thingy with pictures, you put your item on the scales and press the appropriate picture and it spits out a label for your bag so the cashier can just scan the code.

And such great produce everywhere you go!

But what’s up with the rest of the world not refrigerating eggs?

Matt.

[Victoria Watcher]

how’s the one surviving moth doing? it’s easy to start a gofundme.

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 26 January 2019 - 12:23 PM.

[Nparker]

how’s the one surviving moth doing?...

Sadly, I understand it died as a result of an encounter with a tiny, off-leash kitten.

#savethemoths

[Matt R.]

I don’t know, I set it free. However, the two cats in the house don’t let many insects (or rodents) live very long.

Matt

[PraiseKek]

Welcome, please scan your first item.  Five-ninety-five.  Unexpected item in bagging area.  Five-ninety-five.  Four-seventy-nine.  Unexpected item in bagging area.  Place scanned items in bagging area.  Unexpected item in bagging area.  Have you scanned your loyalty card?   Please wait for assistance.

 

No thanks, unless they implement a mute button.  Besides, going to a cashier is faster when you've got stuff (i.e. produce) without a barcode or multiples.

The superstore ones don't say anything anymore and don't even bother with the weight sensors on the bagging platform either. It's a super fast way to get out if you only have a few things.

[sdwright.vic]

But what’s up with the rest of the world not refrigerating eggs?

Matt.

We refrigerate lots of things that don't need to be.

Think about it, the egg came out of a chicken, in a shell designed to keep the contents on the inside safe and secure for the 21 days it takes it to hatch.

[Szeven]

And such great produce everywhere you go!

But what’s up with the rest of the world not refrigerating eggs?

Matt.

Rest of the world do not wash the eggs before sale. North America does which removes a natural protective coating. I believe Europe also vaccinates for salmonella and North America does not.

Edited by Szeven, 26 January 2019 - 02:57 PM.

[mbjj]

Rest of the world do not wash the eggs before sale. North America does which removes a natural protective coating. I believe Europe also vaccinates for salmonella and North America does not.

Yes that's it exactly. After many trips to Europe I looked into this as I was curious. Apparently our chickens are kept in such poor conditions that washing off of the poop is necessary. I've never found eggs in a cooler in Europe. Have no idea about the vaccination though.

[Rob Randall]

Someone from Vancouver was telling me today about how he got off from work one evening and went to Safeway to get a tub of house-made ready-to-eat soup. Usually he does the self-checkout but this time he went through the till and the clerk ringing through his soup looked at it and said, "We learned in our cancer class that that soup is very salty and is terrible for you".

[Victoria Watcher]

cancer class?!???!

[RFS]

Someone from Vancouver was telling me today about how he got off from work one evening and went to Safeway to get a tub of house-made ready-to-eat soup. Usually he does the self-checkout but this time he went through the till and the clerk ringing through his soup looked at it and said, "We learned in our cancer class that that soup is very salty and is terrible for you".

I’ve had a similar experience when buying bud light at a liquor store in Victoria

[LJ]

I’ve had a similar experience when buying bud light at a liquor store in Victoria

I first started ordering Bud Lite at our club thinking it would be 2% alcohol or so but it is actually 4.2%, and Bud Lite Platinum is 6.5%. I don't know what the lite part is, non lite beer is around 5%.