Self-checkout and receipt checks

[aznsx]

+

from this morning

Retailers say organized theft is biting into profits, but internal issues may really be to blame

Target and Foot Locker may be using organized retail theft as a convenient excuse to cloak internal flaws, as others focus on internal theft and self checkout.

www.cnbc.com

Another thing worth noting is that in the case of a good many large 'chains' literally shutting down a fair number of locations - look at the locations they're choosing to shut down. That tells part of the story too.

 

[Monocrom]

Business is business, and so is the Bottom Line. Stores that are not performing consistently well in terms of sales, get closed down.

 

[aznsx]

Business is business, and so is the Bottom Line. Stores that are not performing consistently well in terms of sales, get closed down.

Correct, however that's more or less a constant in retail, and certainly nothing 'new'. A fair number of the closures I've personally heard about were referred to a "flagship" location, which I have no reason to believe were poor performers historically. They might be having trouble staffing them....(?)

 

[Monocrom]

Correct, however that's more or less a constant in retail, and certainly nothing 'new'. A fair number of the closures I've personally heard about were referred to a "flagship" location, which I have no reason to believe were poor performers historically.

Things change over the decades. Though I've seen insanity in which locations that are performing well, do get shut down. In fairness, not every company is run by those who necessarily know what they are doing.

 

[Galane]

Things change over the decades. Though I've seen insanity in which locations that are performing well, do get shut down. In fairness, not every company is run by those who necessarily know what they are doing.

Like K-Mart. I saw a page showing the closing of the first K-Mart that was opened as a K-Mart rather than Kresge's previous stores that were converted to K-Mart.

It had photos taken of the grand opening and photos taken during its final days. Aside from updated cash registers and some alteration to the front of the store to make shopping cart storage, *nothing had been changed* in more than 50 years. All the shelves, signage, even the fluorescent light fixtures were all the originals from when the store opened. They'd moved things around but as many have said, "rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic".

Not updating the looks of their stores was just one major part of K-Mart's failure. They were slow to get on the web. They didn't land big name exclusive brand deals. Martha Stewart Living and Joe Boxer weren't enough. Too much Made in China.

The stores needed to be on a 5 or 6 year update or remodel cycle, interspersed with quick replacements of any fixture showing wear.

A much smaller company that self imploded was King's Variety Store. Founded in 1915, at its peak there were 27 locations in Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, and Wyoming. In some cases new stores were opened to replace older, smaller stores. In Weiser, ID they built a new building that was just for King's, moving out of a building downtown that was shared with other stores. But when they did it they took all the signage and old fixtures to put into the new building. They even pulled out the basement stairs with their white rubber treads and the handrails to install in the new building. New, narrower stairs were constructed in the old building for access to the basement area.

Nothing hurts a company going for a fresh start like filling the shiny new building with tired 1960's vintage signage and fixtures. Moving the stairs just added to the WTH? factor. King's Variety went under in 2017.

Another company skewering itself by letting stores "go to seed" is Carl's Jr. Some locations have not been updated ever. The one in Ontario, OR was built sometime between 2006 and 2009. (Historical images on Google Earth show it not there in 2006, and there in 2009.) When it opened I remarked on the ugly, bare, concrete floor with the giant star logo. The employee said they were going to get a remodel in 5 years. It's been at least 14 years, no remodel. Should be on makeover #3. The floor now really looks like crap with the logo being heavily worn and try as they might, they can't get the stains out of the bare concrete. If they'd at least acid etch the floor then lay down ceramic tile it would help a lot.

McDonalds regularly remodels, refreshes, and updates its restaurants. I've lost track of how many times the one here has been reworked. One of the two in Ontario, OR got completely razed and a new one built because it was cheaper than remodeling. Unfortunately their current building style looks like a different color knockoff of Carl's Jr. cuboid stlye circa 15 years ago, and the way they set up the drive through and parking at that location is the stupidest thing ever. The parking is split into two sections, which drivers have to navigate like a U shaped cow milking barn. Vehicles for both parking and dive through enter at the back side to that half of the parking, then people leaving that parking have to merge into a single lane around the end of the building with drive through traffic. If the back parking is full, people have to mix with drive through traffic to get around to the front parking lot. The building should have been at the back of the space with just room for a drive through and all the parking in front. Backing out of the angled spots as drive through traffic zips through is not a fun thing.

 

[PhotonWrangler]

If you think that using a self checkout is completely private, I have some bad news for you.

 

[Dave_H]

I am noticing increasing delay in getting through a cashier line, up to ten minutes one time for a very short line. Some of it is customer pokiness. Once in a while I run into a cashier who's pokey, but most are not, don't want to come down on them under the conditions.

There used to be express lines, but no longer when only one cashier is open. I seem to get stuck behind people with a huge number of items, and I often only have a few (or one).


Dave

 

[IMA SOL MAN]

I am noticing increasing delay in getting through a cashier line, up to ten minutes one time for a very short line. Some of it is customer pokiness. Once in a while I run into a cashier who's pokey, but most are not, don't want to come down on them under the conditions.

There used to be express lines, but no longer when only one cashier is open. I seem to get stuck behind people with a huge number of items, and I often only have a few (or one).


Dave

Yes, it is annoying that people with a full cartload will go to the express lane, but when there is only ONE PERSON RUNNING REGISTERS, I understand it. Stupid management. I refuse to be forced to do a clerk's job and checkout my own full cart! This cost-cutting is getting really annoying!

 

[letschat7]

I socialise with half of my customers when I do cashier work. Any young girl, people from my neighbourhood, family, my regular customers, any Canadians or foreigners visiting my state, some people I used to terrorise, and anyone that seems interesting.

I could get people through faster but where is the fun in that? I get tips when that isn't the norm and I have like double the hours of anyone else. I was promoted to another position but I still end up spending 90% of my hours working at the cash register. People elsewhere like at Lowes or the post office know me as that guy from .... Sometimes I have the same customers from another place in another state.

If you try using a self checkout and have an issue I won't really help you. I listen to your problem and apologise and say sorry there is nothing I can do. I'll repeat this line and stick with it. Even if I could help you I won't. Hopefully you ask for a manager and I get the one that won't do anything about it. Afterwards we make fun of you for being a Karen. If there is no issues I'll delay things for as long as I can just to waste your time and you get extra loss prevention techniques applied to you. You are already antisocial at this point so you are more likely to steal or do something dishonest so please show me that reciept so I can match it up with the items.

Now if you are from another country and you have some problem paying I don't mind using my discount or personal funds to help you. They seemed shocked at this but its the right thing to do and of course if I detected this issue you are in my line and going about things the right way anyways.

 

[Dave_H]

I chat with cashiers but not to the point of slowing them down, or distracting them as that's when errors can be made. Some get the humour of my "are these tarantula-free bananas?" (**) or "I hope these are not the dreaded killer-tomatoes" comments.

I was forced to use a checkout machine at Value Village recently. Maybe not forced, I could have not purchased the single item. The only cashier had called in sick. The attendant scanned
said item, I inserted cash into the machine, and it spit out change and a receipt.


Dave


** but I would settle for low-tarantula bananas