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Self-Checkouts In Supermarkets



BensGrandad

New member
Jul 13, 2003
72,015
Haywards Heath
Something that people overlook is the computer. I remember the first computer I worked on nearly forty years ago, it was little more than a calculator and was hugely expensive to buy and run. How many jobs have been lost to computerisation ? In engineering many jobs that were done by skilled worker are now done by machines that can do the same thing 24/7 and more accurately. How many clerical jobs are now done by a machine ? Sure computing has increased the need for IT specialists but I doubt that it has created the same number of roles it has replaced.

I remember years ago being told that Guinness at Park Royal had 100 people per shift, 3 shifts a day to brew Guinness but with the advent and bringing in of computers they changed this to 3 men per shift to keep their eyes on the computer. Also when I had my piub in Guildford we had a chap, a regular who worked for BAT and would quite often have a taxi turn up for him and he had to go to his office in Woking to sort out the computer to get the production line working again in Manilla.
 




stss30

Registered User
Apr 24, 2008
9,546
They used to piss me off in the early days, because I didn't relise you had to put all the items you are buying on the scales before and after. :dunce: Now I find them quick and easy :lolol:
 


BensGrandad

New member
Jul 13, 2003
72,015
Haywards Heath
To reduce the waiting time at checkouts more could be done to bring in many more hand held readers/scanners that you used as you walked around the shop and just took them to a pay point to pay either by cash or card. What it would mean as they would have to be much more stringent and efficient on the exit alarms.

What would also make it quicker is the people themselves. How long do you wait for somebody to pack their shopping and then get their bag out with the their cash or card in to pay for the shopping didnt they realise that they would have to do that and could thus have the purse at hand.

If my memory serves me right in America dont you go to the desk and clear your card or cheque prior to doing the shopping so that there is less delay at the checkout.
 
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Lush

Mods' Pet
I reckon people will get used to them.

I can (just about) remember when self-service petrol pumps first came in. My mum used to drive miles to the only garage where a real person would fill up your car for you, kind of defeating the object. Whatever happened to all the unemployed petrol pump attendants?
 


Stoo82

GEEZUS!
Jul 8, 2008
7,530
Hove
I reckon people will get used to them.

I can (just about) remember when self-service petrol pumps first came in. My mum used to drive miles to the only garage where a real person would fill up your car for you, kind of defeating the object. Whatever happened to all the unemployed petrol pump attendants?

They all moved to Greece.

Its great having someone fill up the pump for you, only one filler upper per petrol station, but they will also clean the windows, front and back, for you. Its great! For FREE!

Oh, and they probably stopped employing thses people in the UK to get you into the shop so you could buy some crap which you didn't want or need in the first place!
 




... and big cities used to be full of horses. Millions of them. What happened to all the agricultural labourers who used to work in the Royal Parks, harvesting hay to feed them? I bet there isn't a single farmworker living on Park Lane today.
 








Rock Lobster

Active member
Dec 2, 2010
191
Hastings
99% of the time it's simple, but you always occasionally get one that won't either scan/recognise an item when you put it in the bagging area. When this happens, I always seem to perfectly time swearing at the machine just as the assistant pops up to scan her card through. Oh and I'm sure all the assistants are about 50+ females... ???
 


vegster

Sanity Clause
May 5, 2008
28,272
Its always a pain if I buy a bottle of wine as I have to wait to be "verified" .. I'm 50 FFS
 


Lyndhurst 14

Well-known member
Jan 16, 2008
5,241
They all moved to Greece.

Its great having someone fill up the pump for you, only one filler upper per petrol station, but they will also clean the windows, front and back, for you. Its great! For FREE!

Oh, and they probably stopped employing thses people in the UK to get you into the shop so you could buy some crap which you didn't want or need in the first place!

New Jersey in the States still has petrol pump attendants (it’s federal law there) and I agree it is great to have someone do that for you. One gas station on a busy Interstate had about 10 attendants and it really kept the traffic flowing.
 




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