krunchykrome
Lifer
Inspired by this article.
When I go to a grocery store, I specifically look for the self-checkout. Sometimes, I actually go out of my way to visit a grocery store that has the self-checkout machines. It's not because I want to privacy that the machine offers. It's more of a convenience to me to do it all myself and not rely on some potentially incompetent cashier. I actually find that I checkout much faster when I "do it myself", rather than letting a cashier check me out.
I actually wish more places would move forward with the self-checkout intiative. I'm not sure if I can think of a retail business where a self-checkout would not be feasible. Sure, it means less jobs for people, but why pay a human to do something that a machine can do in possibly less time. The article mentions that the machines recover their costs in about six months.
And with regards to true customer service, and the lack of it that these machines offer, I actually have a much more pleasant shopping experience with these machines than I do with most cashier human intereaction. I dont remember the last time I received good customer service. Now I understand that the retail industry does not pay well, and you can't expect to find a motivated employee who earns just $8 an hour. But any employee, regardless of hourly rate should know the difference between acceptable service and bad service. I actually expect more businesses to start using the self-checkout machines more.
I think many retail jobs will not exist in the near future. I believe that some banks have already started, however I havent seen any yet; my prediction is that bank tellers will not exist in 10 years. The job is really a systematic one, with each transaction involving very little difference.
When I go to a grocery store, I specifically look for the self-checkout. Sometimes, I actually go out of my way to visit a grocery store that has the self-checkout machines. It's not because I want to privacy that the machine offers. It's more of a convenience to me to do it all myself and not rely on some potentially incompetent cashier. I actually find that I checkout much faster when I "do it myself", rather than letting a cashier check me out.
I actually wish more places would move forward with the self-checkout intiative. I'm not sure if I can think of a retail business where a self-checkout would not be feasible. Sure, it means less jobs for people, but why pay a human to do something that a machine can do in possibly less time. The article mentions that the machines recover their costs in about six months.
And with regards to true customer service, and the lack of it that these machines offer, I actually have a much more pleasant shopping experience with these machines than I do with most cashier human intereaction. I dont remember the last time I received good customer service. Now I understand that the retail industry does not pay well, and you can't expect to find a motivated employee who earns just $8 an hour. But any employee, regardless of hourly rate should know the difference between acceptable service and bad service. I actually expect more businesses to start using the self-checkout machines more.
I think many retail jobs will not exist in the near future. I believe that some banks have already started, however I havent seen any yet; my prediction is that bank tellers will not exist in 10 years. The job is really a systematic one, with each transaction involving very little difference.
