This reminds me of the current "give every child a trophy simply for participating" attitude which seems to be so prevalent these days.
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Self Checkouts
- Thread starter Herdfan
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If a hammer is of “excellent“ quality, it gets a 5 from me. Recently received some excellent kitchen scissors= 5. If I order a BluRay disk and it plays without a glitch, that is a 5, otherwise it would be a 1, I’m not giving it a 3, because a I don’t see a case which would warrant a 3. It either works or it does not. And I’m happy to agree to disagree.
Of note, I disagree with the idea of every child gets a trophy. Product quality is product quality, and that is based on individual perspective of just what excellent means, yes?
All this talk of reviews, ratings, and feedback scores means anybody here who has Netflix should watch this episode of Black Mirror:
;-)
;-)
I just don’t rate products. I have no interest in giving Amazon any marketing services for free. Especially seeing what they charge our company every month!
And it has moved beyond just star ratings. Now in addition to businesses wanting Tips for just about everything, Tipflation has gotten out of hand. Growing up, 15% was standard for good service. Then somehow they became 20% which had been previously reserved for Great Service. Now they offer 30% as a check box amount. Nope.
30% as a tip ("tipflation" is a good expression) sounds absolutely ludicrous.
Actually, for that matter, (to a European) so is 20%.
5% or no tip sounds about right to me.
My local megamart has scanner guns that you can get at the door; I use those and then scan and bag as I go, so that when I check out at the self checkout I only have to scan the bar code and then pay. I'm unconvinced that it is actually faster, but I much prefer shopping this way as I am (unsurprisingly) picky about how my bags get packed, and I can typically pack more efficiently space wise than a checkout person.
I actually prefer self checkout about 95% of the time, but I do think it's weird that at places like Home Depot, which sells large and unwieldy items that there are NO manned checkout lanes. I prefer a mix of both, and our local Home Depot has a poorly designed queuing area for the block of self checkout stations. Then all of a sudden they realize the line is halfway back the ginormous store and the employees start panicking and opening up special registers.
I actually prefer self checkout about 95% of the time, but I do think it's weird that at places like Home Depot, which sells large and unwieldy items that there are NO manned checkout lanes. I prefer a mix of both, and our local Home Depot has a poorly designed queuing area for the block of self checkout stations. Then all of a sudden they realize the line is halfway back the ginormous store and the employees start panicking and opening up special registers.
5-10% - and only if service etc - are good, (for 10% it would need to be pretty good) would be right to me.
Anything beyond that, the service would need to have been exceptional.
I'm in Phoenix. Granted that may have changed. I think I asked maybe 10+ years ago and I was told no. Perhaps it's down to the retailer, IDK.
We have machines as well. Those do accept cards, but I think my bank doesn't like them because every time I tried using on my bank rejected the charge.
My wife and I still use check to pay some bills. While home work-contractors accept both credit cards, cash, and checks, the latter are preferred to credit cards. What happens is that the credit card companies charge a certain amount of money from the payment's recipient, not the payer. But if it is a check or cash, then the contractor is pocketing the total sum of money without any credit-transaction charges.
Would the contractors not expect a bank transfer? That’s how we paid for most of our home renovations. You just transfer the money straight from your account to theirs. No bank charges.
Some prefer cash. But only those who let’s be honest are not going to put it through the books.
Cheques are easy to cancel. That’s why a bank transfer is preferred. Definitely last century technology as far as I’m concerned.
I think if you come to the UK with your cheque book hoping to pay for things you’ll find very few (if any) that would accept payment that way.
Yes, they do. It's just that my bank refuses to authorize a charge to the AZ Lottery machine.
Around here, self-serve checkouts are becoming more and more prevalent. Walmart has perhaps 50 self service vs. maybe 8 or 10 staffed (capable - typically not that many open). Lowe's has switched from 2 self-serve with perhaps 6 staffed (again - not that many open at once) to 8 self-serve with 2 staffed.
And it's working. At either of those stores, I haven't had to wait for an open check-out a single time since they were reconfigured.
Personally, I have no need for a check-out cashier. I went in and pushed my own cart, pulled my own items off the shelf... I can very easily scan & bag them myself too, thankyouverymuch. I turn my hearing aid mics off & stream a podcast or audiobook while shopping, so it's just as well not to have to speak to someone for any reason.
My favorite, though, is Sam's Club. I literally scan each item as it goes into my cart, using my iPhone. And then head straight for the door. THAT is the ultimate convenience.
If you do the Walmart+ stuff (home delivery) then they let you use a different app that functions the same way as you describe Sam's Club. Pick, scan, pay and exit.
It's possible they integrated that into the main Walmart app, it's been a while since I checked.
The coupon person is the absolute worst. They come in with one or two full carts, their coupon box and a stack of those mail flyers showing weekly deals at other supermarkets. Because of Walmart's price match, the cashier has to process all that.
Then they take their sweet time pulling out their payment. It's either a check, or a debit card they have no idea how to use. In the mean time, all the people who came in for a few items are stacked in line behind them because Walmart has (again) not opened the 20 items or less line.
Then they take their sweet time pulling out their payment. It's either a check, or a debit card they have no idea how to use. In the mean time, all the people who came in for a few items are stacked in line behind them because Walmart has (again) not opened the 20 items or less line.
When I lived on the east coast our Walmart's were just converting to that model.
Out here in AZ they still have the traditional setup with just a few self-checks on the ends. Can't wait until they convert my store.
Aldi is headed that way as well with new stores getting self checks.
The one place I really appreciate them auto parts stores. My Autozone has one and it is great because I don't want to get stuck in line when all the associates are having to look up parts and explain things to customers when I just want to buy wiper blades and leave.
I understand, but in my case it is a matter of convenience to have numerous options to pay bills and things like that. A lot of small businesses don't accept checks, but others do. But most contractors do accept checks and cash, and is done legally, since the check is paid to the company or business, not to the workers. Some rare coin shops don't accept credit cards, but accept checks from customers they know, money orders, or cash.
Hmm, didn't realize that. It ain't worth $99 a year just for that though (even $49 for the first year).
Yeah, it gives you other benefits but... none that I'd use.