Can we just talk about those self serve checkout counters? They are popping up everywhere, even in Costco! I refuse to use them and here's why.
First, that piece of machinery probably took someone's job. A person, you know, who given even the slightest bit of personality is better than listening to someone tell me "please scan your next item or please insert payment now" in their syrupy robot voice. It is so insincere! I'll wait in line, thank you very much, if it means a person gets a paycheck. And please, don't give me the spin that the checkers were all moved to the floor to provide customer service. I have not seen this at all. In fact, I engage employees all the time about their work environment when I am shopping. The true facts are these companies that taut their respect and love for their employees, their best asset, are usually knee deep in you know what.
Second, I do not work for these establishments but they want me to do their work. No way. If you want me to check myself out than I want a paycheck. Would you like me to stock your shelves too while I am here? It was bad enough when we were all forced to pump our own gas and use ATM machines. I refuse to go any further than that. Why are we deleting the human factor?
I created a scene not too long ago when a store associate told me that I had to use the self serve checkout because no other registers were open. "Oh really", I said, "well get me a manager. I do not work here." She begrudgingly opened her register to check me out and a flock of self servers got behind me. I told her, "I know you might not be happy about this, but it ensures you take home a paycheck. One day you may thank me."
Third, the lines move very slow at these checkouts. Why? Well, for starters there seems to always be some malfunction going on with the apparatus. Robot voice: There has been an error. Please remove the item from the bag. Do not place items in bag that have not been scanned. Please contact an associate for assistance. These malfunctions are likely to happen when you are in a Home Depot and purchasing a toilet or a dozen 2x4s. The robot voice wants you to place your toilet in a bag. When you can't put your toilet in the plastic bag, you have to call for assistance. Also, people tend to get confused and frustrated with these machines. God forbid if you push the wrong button--productivity and performance are out the door.
No, I want service. I want someone to be engaging and may be ask me "how are you today?" If I am having a bad day and don't want to engage, well that's okay too. I am the customer and the customer is always right. Sorry, but that is how I feel. As far as the cost savings rhetoric...has anyone seen prices going down lately? Oh, it keeps prices from going up. I see. Well, that's not happening either -- prices are still rising.
I see no advantage to these cockamamie machines at all. With everyone going self check, warehouse style, and Chinese manufactured while maintaining about the same prices, I ask...where is your point of differentiation? Why should I shop in your store?
Call me old school, call me old fashion, but I prefer unique over mundane. My life is filled with enough machines and contraptions. I still enjoy having people around me, the kind that breathe air, have more than twenty words in their vocabulary and earn a living.
Warning: The below video of a self checkout experience is extremely graphic and not suitable for children.
Comments