There's a McDonald's in my neighborhood that has automats now... you go up to an ATM-ish thingy, select your order, give it cash or credit, it gives you a receipt. Usually by the time you get up to the counter, your order is ready, they hand it and your change to you, done. It's *freakishly* fast.
But I have to admit that I kinda miss the human touch there. Yeah, I know it's just McD's. \
This is really easy to explain. In an age where people are spending most of their time at work or getting to work, time is a luxury. People have to spend more time at the office to keep their jobs because they know if they were to be laid off, it's not the best time to be looking for work.
So when you get out of work and have to take care of things like going to the store, buying gas for the car, getting 'fast food', etc., every minute seems to count. They had some of these 'express' lanes at a Stop and Shop across from where I worked a few years ago and they literally had two people standing there making sure that the machines worked. It was kind of funny to see two people just standing there actually, since not many people were using the machines any way.
A Shaw's near my school also has the machines now. I like the fact that I can go into the store, scan my items quickly, pay, and be out of there without having to stand in line. I usually go after class and at that point, I just want to get home and relax.
But this isn't the old days where life was slower where you worked close to where you lived. Most people have a rough commute and barely spend time at the house as it is. I think that anything that shaves time off of errands, etc., is going to be viewed as positive. Like someone else has said, most of the aisles at the grocery store are never open any way, and this just takes pressure off of people that do work at the store as lines for actual checkout people are shorter.
Well if you'll recall a few years ago it was all the rage to order your groceries on line. You didn't have to go to the store at all.
Well this hasn't exactly caught on like they had hoped.
My feeling is ( and feel free to call me old fashioned for this ) that people still like to interact with people when buying something. In a lot of cases they like to touch and really look at ( not a picture on the screen ) what they're buying.
Just like the online scheme these machines will have their uses but will never replace " live " checkers.
It is not lost jobs that is sad so much as the fact that people are more isolated with the advent of this kind of use of machines.
Part of the appeal of going to Starbucks to get a coffee is the whole "hand crafted" human interaction of it all.
I mean if you walked into a Starbucks and walked up to a machine that said insert bank card or cash here and select product 1-25 and wait for a machine to make the drink I think Starbucks would not be as warm a place to visit.
I don't know what do you think?
Fellows
In some of the smaller Starbucks, the coffee machine is an all-in-one... beans in a hopper on top, you just press a button. So you're basically paying for the privilege of having some dolt do it for you.
This is all a reflection of a huge socio-economic screw up. Remember when people said, "Oh technology is going to give us more free time because we'll get our regular tasks done quicker."
WRONG.
Instead, we get the regular stuff done quicker so that we can pile MORE things onto us. Quicker car washes, drive-thrus, self checkouts, and ordering movie-tickets online all make it easier for us to have more time to do more stuff. People aren't relaxing with their free time! They're using up their free time because they have this masochistic desire to always DO something.
Instead of using the extra time from this stuff to take your kids to and from gymnastics lessons, how about you go home and have more quality family time?
Anybody been to Walmart, lately? Today, I noticed something new. They got "self-checkout" counters. That's right- you literally walk up, run your own stuff through the scanner, bag it, and pay (using the usual pay card options). It was novel entertainment as I was doing it, thinking, "Look'a'me, I'm a checkout counter cashier!"
that really made me laugh, thanks
as for automated checkout dealies, there is one at the local super market. It's weird because, when you use it, you feel like "wait, why do we have checkout cashiers anyway?" ya know?
Well, obviously, because paying with cash requires a cashier, and in that respect there will always be a need for them , but I could definitely see self-checkout becoming more popular in the future.
kind of a shame really, since bag-boy is a very viable and easy job for many young kids.
Well, obviously, because paying with cash requires a cashier, and in that respect there will always be a need for them ,
Nope. The ones here have bill and coin slots, and give you your change. Cash is perfectly viable.
I prefer to have a live checker - if they're competent. Unfortunately, most of them aren't. There are a couple though that I know at various stores that if I see them working, and the line isn't horrendous, I'll get in their line.
The fact that they're all cute has *nothing* to do with it, I swear.
I live in the land of the red-necks. Now I love my small town, but I have to say that I have never laughed as hard in my life as I did this past weekend. The Wal-Mart here put in the self check out lanes and all hell broke loose. I was in tears behind two people as they cursed the machine, Mr. Wal-Mart, each other, the bread bag, and everything else they could find.
I think these self checkout machines will give me great enjoyment for months to come. If ever I need a pick me up I know where to go......
I am all for the use of technology and things being efficient and done in a manner of good productivity. That said,,, A good restaurant where food is prepared fresh by real chefs and with good service will always provide a better product / service than McDonalds where they have every kind of technology to make the process of serving "food" fast and efficient.
Machines, Fast and Efficient does not always equal quality, service, or a high standard of living or enjoyment.
In our fast paced world many of us live within I am not so sure that getting back to basics and taking time to smell the roses is not what we really need as opposed to driving through drive-thru's going to ATM machines and self checking groceries and building supplies.
who knows,
Fellows
i would recommend a relatively old book called Megatrends. It some ways it is out of date, but I think the general concepts still hold. In this case, the chapter on High Tech, High Touch. The example the author uses is movie theaters. It was generally thought that video was going to kill movie theaters. When it didn't, the question was "why?" Answer: because movies provided a social event/setting that video didn't replicate. People go to the movies to watch a show with other people. It is a social or "high touch" situation. The authors contention is that there is a will be a social (touch) reaction (for a lack of better word) to an increase in technology. I think this forum is a prime example.
As for the self-checkout, it doesn't bother me a bit. A store can pay one person a heck more money to watch over four machines than they can pay four cashiers to check the same number of people. You have to watch that. Technology will frequently replace jobs, yes, but the new jobs are generally higher paying because the productivity of each employee is increased. And that person who has just moved into a higher income can consume more, thus further stimulating the economy. The picture is much (much) bigger than the hypothetically unemployed cashiers.
Nope. The ones here have bill and coin slots, and give you your change. Cash is perfectly viable.
whoa, the future...today.
Still though, I think most people prefer tending cash with a person not a machine, competent or not. though sometimes incompetent ones are a pain in the butt, I don't let it get to me.
It was generally thought that video was going to kill movie theaters. When it didn't, the question was "why?" Answer: because movies provided a social event/setting that video didn't replicate.
I personally couldn't care less about the social aspect. If I want to spend time with friends, we'll find a way to do it...movie or not.
I personally go to the theater to see a film on a screen that's 200 times the size of my TV and has MUCH better sound than my stereo.
You can't discount the factor of being IN the theater room. I have often...
I'm way off topic now. Sorry. My point is/was: If I could replicate the movie-plex technology in my own home, I'd watch movies there instead and have all my friends over.
The people manning the automated checkout often are not efficient at all at what they do and it often takes three-times as long as at a manned stations. Even worse is that sometimes the machines are too smart and see a big bulky object as something more than a big bulky object -- try purchasing a 6 month's supply of toilet paper at one of these machines, it simply won't work...
I can't imagine self-checkout being any better than the lines so long as someone basically has to check out your stuff anyway. I don't get that part at all. For human intervention, they just need Terry Tate waiting at the doors if someone sets off the alarm. Yeah, that's it, the self-check-out needs a cop/bouncer.
I liked that IBM commercial a couple of years ago about his sort of thing. The guy in that commercial just stuffed things in his coat and walked through. Actually, the best part was the old ladies zooming around in their Little Rascals, but that's another story.
I generally don't like the self checkout machines at the grocery store... they seem too buggy -- "please remove the item from the bag" "please wait for cashier assistance"...... it happens all too often.
One night at Kroger the only checkout lines open were the self checkout. The were just not cooperating. The line backed up to about 20 people. After about 15 minues, the machines crashed and the guy had to call for service and reboot the machines. We all just put down our groceries and left.
The one self service machine I DO like is the e-ticket machines at the airport. They're nice!
For those interested, Walmart is undergoing a pretty big endeavor to get UHF RFID tags on everything. These are like the things in EZPass, SunPass, SpeedPass, PowerPay, GO wristbands, etc. In short, they will speed up the scanning process immensely.
But at 0.50 cents a tag currently (in a batch of a million), it means they're going to have to do some pretty impressive work for this to be practical.
Hopefully, one day you could just drive your cart through, but at this point there's too much interference between different RFID tags in the same cart for that to work.
Comments
But I have to admit that I kinda miss the human touch there. Yeah, I know it's just McD's.
So when you get out of work and have to take care of things like going to the store, buying gas for the car, getting 'fast food', etc., every minute seems to count. They had some of these 'express' lanes at a Stop and Shop across from where I worked a few years ago and they literally had two people standing there making sure that the machines worked. It was kind of funny to see two people just standing there actually, since not many people were using the machines any way.
A Shaw's near my school also has the machines now. I like the fact that I can go into the store, scan my items quickly, pay, and be out of there without having to stand in line. I usually go after class and at that point, I just want to get home and relax.
But this isn't the old days where life was slower where you worked close to where you lived. Most people have a rough commute and barely spend time at the house as it is. I think that anything that shaves time off of errands, etc., is going to be viewed as positive. Like someone else has said, most of the aisles at the grocery store are never open any way, and this just takes pressure off of people that do work at the store as lines for actual checkout people are shorter.
Well this hasn't exactly caught on like they had hoped.
My feeling is ( and feel free to call me old fashioned for this ) that people still like to interact with people when buying something. In a lot of cases they like to touch and really look at ( not a picture on the screen ) what they're buying.
Just like the online scheme these machines will have their uses but will never replace " live " checkers.
Originally posted by Fellowship
It is not lost jobs that is sad so much as the fact that people are more isolated with the advent of this kind of use of machines.
Part of the appeal of going to Starbucks to get a coffee is the whole "hand crafted" human interaction of it all.
I mean if you walked into a Starbucks and walked up to a machine that said insert bank card or cash here and select product 1-25 and wait for a machine to make the drink I think Starbucks would not be as warm a place to visit.
I don't know what do you think?
Fellows
In some of the smaller Starbucks, the coffee machine is an all-in-one... beans in a hopper on top, you just press a button. So you're basically paying for the privilege of having some dolt do it for you.
WRONG.
Instead, we get the regular stuff done quicker so that we can pile MORE things onto us. Quicker car washes, drive-thrus, self checkouts, and ordering movie-tickets online all make it easier for us to have more time to do more stuff. People aren't relaxing with their free time! They're using up their free time because they have this masochistic desire to always DO something.
Instead of using the extra time from this stuff to take your kids to and from gymnastics lessons, how about you go home and have more quality family time?
Originally posted by Randycat99
Anybody been to Walmart, lately? Today, I noticed something new. They got "self-checkout" counters. That's right- you literally walk up, run your own stuff through the scanner, bag it, and pay (using the usual pay card options). It was novel entertainment as I was doing it, thinking, "Look'a'me, I'm a checkout counter cashier!"
that really made me laugh, thanks
as for automated checkout dealies, there is one at the local super market. It's weird because, when you use it, you feel like "wait, why do we have checkout cashiers anyway?" ya know?
Well, obviously, because paying with cash requires a cashier, and in that respect there will always be a need for them , but I could definitely see self-checkout becoming more popular in the future.
kind of a shame really, since bag-boy is a very viable and easy job for many young kids.
Originally posted by Wrong Robot
Well, obviously, because paying with cash requires a cashier, and in that respect there will always be a need for them ,
Nope. The ones here have bill and coin slots, and give you your change. Cash is perfectly viable.
I prefer to have a live checker - if they're competent. Unfortunately, most of them aren't. There are a couple though that I know at various stores that if I see them working, and the line isn't horrendous, I'll get in their line.
The fact that they're all cute has *nothing* to do with it, I swear.
I think these self checkout machines will give me great enjoyment for months to come. If ever I need a pick me up I know where to go......
StarSchmucks
Originally posted by rok
oh, hell... speaking of starbucks (adult language ensues upon loading... you have been warned, kiddies)
StarSchmucks
Originally posted by Fellowship
I am all for the use of technology and things being efficient and done in a manner of good productivity. That said,,, A good restaurant where food is prepared fresh by real chefs and with good service will always provide a better product / service than McDonalds where they have every kind of technology to make the process of serving "food" fast and efficient.
Machines, Fast and Efficient does not always equal quality, service, or a high standard of living or enjoyment.
In our fast paced world many of us live within I am not so sure that getting back to basics and taking time to smell the roses is not what we really need as opposed to driving through drive-thru's going to ATM machines and self checking groceries and building supplies.
who knows,
Fellows
i would recommend a relatively old book called Megatrends. It some ways it is out of date, but I think the general concepts still hold. In this case, the chapter on High Tech, High Touch. The example the author uses is movie theaters. It was generally thought that video was going to kill movie theaters. When it didn't, the question was "why?" Answer: because movies provided a social event/setting that video didn't replicate. People go to the movies to watch a show with other people. It is a social or "high touch" situation. The authors contention is that there is a will be a social (touch) reaction (for a lack of better word) to an increase in technology. I think this forum is a prime example.
As for the self-checkout, it doesn't bother me a bit. A store can pay one person a heck more money to watch over four machines than they can pay four cashiers to check the same number of people. You have to watch that. Technology will frequently replace jobs, yes, but the new jobs are generally higher paying because the productivity of each employee is increased. And that person who has just moved into a higher income can consume more, thus further stimulating the economy. The picture is much (much) bigger than the hypothetically unemployed cashiers.
Originally posted by Kickaha
Nope. The ones here have bill and coin slots, and give you your change. Cash is perfectly viable.
whoa, the future...today.
Still though, I think most people prefer tending cash with a person not a machine, competent or not. though sometimes incompetent ones are a pain in the butt, I don't let it get to me.
Originally posted by Fangorn
It was generally thought that video was going to kill movie theaters. When it didn't, the question was "why?" Answer: because movies provided a social event/setting that video didn't replicate.
I personally couldn't care less about the social aspect. If I want to spend time with friends, we'll find a way to do it...movie or not.
I personally go to the theater to see a film on a screen that's 200 times the size of my TV and has MUCH better sound than my stereo.
You can't discount the factor of being IN the theater room. I have often...
I'm way off topic now. Sorry. My point is/was: If I could replicate the movie-plex technology in my own home, I'd watch movies there instead and have all my friends over.
The people manning the automated checkout often are not efficient at all at what they do and it often takes three-times as long as at a manned stations. Even worse is that sometimes the machines are too smart and see a big bulky object as something more than a big bulky object -- try purchasing a 6 month's supply of toilet paper at one of these machines, it simply won't work...
Human intervention will always be needed...
I liked that IBM commercial a couple of years ago about his sort of thing. The guy in that commercial just stuffed things in his coat and walked through. Actually, the best part was the old ladies zooming around in their Little Rascals, but that's another story.
One night at Kroger the only checkout lines open were the self checkout. The were just not cooperating. The line backed up to about 20 people. After about 15 minues, the machines crashed and the guy had to call for service and reboot the machines. We all just put down our groceries and left.
The one self service machine I DO like is the e-ticket machines at the airport. They're nice!
Originally posted by Randycat99
Airport ticketing, DMV, and the Post Office- 3 places that are in desparate need of self-checkout...
Airport ticketing -- check...
DMV -- nope...
Post office -- mostly check...
Yet another reason to only do carry-on.
But at 0.50 cents a tag currently (in a batch of a million), it means they're going to have to do some pretty impressive work for this to be practical.
Hopefully, one day you could just drive your cart through, but at this point there's too much interference between different RFID tags in the same cart for that to work.