Why Can't People Stand in Line Like Civilized Humans? (business, quiet)

[EscapeCalifornia]

Originally Posted by katenik

while we're on the subject of check-out lines, does anyone have thoughts the automated check-out system that is appearing in some stores? i used it at ralph's when i had only a handful of items, and it sure beats being the 12th person in the express line. you can even sell yourself alcohol, which i didn't expect to be able to do.

Did you have to scan your license or otherwise prove your age?

I'm mixed on the self checkouts. Yeah it can be convenient when its not busy but it sucks when granny can't figure out the machine and winds up taking 5x as long to scan everything as an experienced clerk would have. But I believe they're the future. The unions did a real good job at pricing themselves out of a job. It'll be real nice when everything has an RFID tag and you can just walk past a scanner and it'll total up your whole basket in one step.

[citybilly]

hey, lay off of granny. You will be old and in the way someday. Unless you die young, that is. Typical OC attitude.

[katenik]

Originally Posted by EscapeCalifornia

Did you have to scan your license or otherwise prove your age?

I'm mixed on the self checkouts. Yeah it can be convenient when its not busy but it sucks when granny can't figure out the machine and winds up taking 5x as long to scan everything as an experienced clerk would have. But I believe they're the future. The unions did a real good job at pricing themselves out of a job. It'll be real nice when everything has an RFID tag and you can just walk past a scanner and it'll total up your whole basket in one step.

there was a single clerk monitoring the area. i was prompted to show i.d. to that person, but i had to turn around and beckon him to come over. all he did was glance at my i.d., so i could have easily completed the transaction without him. wait 'til the kids find out!

i wouldn't want to use the self checkout if i had large purchase, but i live alone and buy a full cart of groceries only for thanksgiving, so it could work for me. once upon a time, i would have bemoaned the absence of human contact in the transaction, but the social intimacy derived from frequenting the same store for years disappeared long ago. i realized i was being served by machines the day that cashiers started calling me by name because the cash register read it from my bank card, rather than because they actually knew me. the latest technology just makes it official.

[cre8]

Originally Posted by katenik

i realized i was being served by machines the day that cashiers started calling me by name because the cash register read it from my bank card, rather than because they actually knew me.

Lol! Welcome to McWorld!

[katenik]

Originally Posted by cre8

Lol! Welcome to McWorld!

...or something even more sinister!

[greggd]

Originally Posted by cre8

I'll second Lovehound and say: some people are crazy and it's probably not worth it to engage them over the idiotic things they do. As to the cashier, we can only imagine the sh1t s/he sees on an hourly basis from behind the checkout counter by the register. The cashier is probably numb to rude behavior, or more importantly, considers anything short of an armed robbery a minor affair not worth getting exited about. Were I a cashier, my attitude would be to let the jerk pay and move along as quickly as possible. Rest assured there'll be plenty more like him/her before the shift is out. And I sure as heck would NOT get involved with incursions between customers. Let 'em take it to the parking lot....

Totally agree when your out on the street etc.. Best bet would to notify the bartender or manager and let him deal with it. Its his business thats getting hosed down. But, I think there is a responsibility of the business including the employees to provide a pleasant shopping experience for the patrons. The verbal assault to ITchick is way over the line. The cashier not stepping in on a one sided male to female attack is wrong.

I have only been in a walmart once and it was down in long beach. The level of customer in that store was suprisingly neandrathal. I walked out after standing in line for a few minutes and pretty much wrote the entire chain off at that point and tossed in costco as well.. I'd rather pay more for a humane experience.

[Lionhearted]

If you want people to stand in line, go to England - they queue up for anything.

[Lovehound]

Originally Posted by katenik

while we're on the subject of check-out lines, does anyone have thoughts the automated check-out system that is appearing in some stores? i used it at ralph's when i had only a handful of items, and it sure beats being the 12th person in the express line. you can even sell yourself alcohol, which i didn't expect to be able to do.

I've been using the automated checkout at Ralphs about 95 percent of the time since they started it. You hardly ever have to wait in line, and I can check most of my items almost as fast as in the regular lines (except when I have to look up items). So for me the automated checkout is a big time saver. I like it!

Originally Posted by EscapeCalifornia

Did you have to scan your license or otherwise prove your age?

I'm mixed on the self checkouts. Yeah it can be convenient when its not busy but it sucks when granny can't figure out the machine and winds up taking 5x as long to scan everything as an experienced clerk would have. But I believe they're the future. The unions did a real good job at pricing themselves out of a job. It'll be real nice when everything has an RFID tag and you can just walk past a scanner and it'll total up your whole basket in one step.

At my local Ralphs a clerk supervises the four checkout machines. He or she has to approve any liquor sales before they can be added. Anybody who may not be obviously an adult has to show drivers license.

There's four machines so we don't care if granny takes 5x the time.

Originally Posted by katenik

there was a single clerk monitoring the area. i was prompted to show i.d. to that person, but i had to turn around and beckon him to come over. all he did was glance at my i.d., so i could have easily completed the transaction without him. wait 'til the kids find out!

i wouldn't want to use the self checkout if i had large purchase, but i live alone and buy a full cart of groceries only for thanksgiving, so it could work for me. once upon a time, i would have bemoaned the absence of human contact in the transaction, but the social intimacy derived from frequenting the same store for years disappeared long ago. i realized i was being served by machines the day that cashiers started calling me by name because the cash register read it from my bank card, rather than because they actually knew me. the latest technology just makes it official.

The machine locks up after scanning liquor, and you can't proceed to paying until the OK button has been pressed by the clerk.

Yeah, you know they really blow it when you walk into a store, perhaps traveling on vacation, and they call you by name the first time you ever walked into that store. How personal. (Not.)

I'm reminded of a comedy sketch where a robot asks the guy his name and he replies, "Ah... Clem." And then after that the robot keeps addressing him as "Ah... Clem." ... ... ... (That was "We're All Bozos on this Bus" by the Credibility Gap, if my memory is working.)

[ITChick]

Originally Posted by greggd

Totally agree when your out on the street etc.. Best bet would to notify the bartender or manager and let him deal with it. Its his business thats getting hosed down. But, I think there is a responsibility of the business including the employees to provide a pleasant shopping experience for the patrons. The verbal assault to ITchick is way over the line. The cashier not stepping in on a one sided male to female attack is wrong.

Thanks. I have to agree with Lovehound that it's not worth it to retaliate even with a glance as it is hard to know what people are using or thinking. Lovehound gave a great example of that.

I have only been in a walmart once and it was down in long beach. The level of customer in that store was suprisingly neandrathal. I walked out after standing in line for a few minutes and pretty much wrote the entire chain off at that point and tossed in costco as well.. I'd rather pay more for a humane experience.

I do have to agree that there seems to be a level of unrefinement for a large group of Walmart customers, but I'm assuming it's the low prices that attract that, as well as anyone else looking to pay less (myself included). I agree with Cre8 that the cashier that ignored my situation probably has seen enough in her time working there to know that it is better to look the other way. Like I mentioned earlier, I think I got off easy as it could've escalated to something worse.

To katenik: I think self-checkouts are great and it does seem like it will be the future of store shopping as EscapeCalifornia mentioned.

[greggd]

Originally Posted by ITChick

I do have to agree that there seems to be a level of unrefinement for a large group of Walmart customers, but I'm assuming it's the low prices that attract that, as well as anyone else looking to pay less (myself included). I agree with Cre8 that the cashier that ignored my situation probably has seen enough in her time working there to know that it is better to look the other way. Like I mentioned earlier, I think I got off easy as it could've escalated to something worse.

Nobody wants to overpay but you need to ask yourself if the savings are worth the anxiety and frustration. There is no incentive for the store to provide better security and public relations if you don't complain to them or stop patronizing their business all together. Personally, I dont think the few dollars savings is worth it.