Discussions

Thanks Cassie! I had no idea they could do that at Walmart!

I really like self checkouts for smaller trips, but agree that for larger trips with family in tow current systems aren’t ideal. In the US I read that they have a system where you can scan your items on the go as you’re shopping (I think smartphone app??).... end result being that checkout is much quicker. Hope the same system is on the way to this side of the border soon!  
 
Edited by Adam, 2018-10-14 21:09:00

You can download the app, but the Scan & Go is still in the pilot phase. The app does have flyers and price checker that you can use though.

Personally, I never want to have to settle for going to use some machine to check my items out after I find them in a store.  
Replacing people with a machine is never a good answer. Especially when it comes to having fewer jobs for us human beings. And is it really replacing them? How much do they pay the technician to come fix those machines? And why do we have to give up human interactions, to further isolate ourselves when we go out of the house?

that the cashier checkouts have gotten way slower? It seems like the cashiers they kept were the slowest ones available. I don't mind waiting in line, I hate the self checkouts, but the wait times have become ridiculous. I find I'm buying less and less at Walmart.

shadowpix said "that the cashier checkouts have gotten way slower? It seems like the cashiers they kept were the slowest ones available. I don't mind waiting in line, I hate the self checkouts, but the wait times have become ridiculous. I find I'm buying less and less at Walmart. "

Now you mention it. I thought the lines just got longer. But they might just take longer all in all. Wow!

I like the self-checkouts at Walmart, much quicker than waiting in line at the staffed checkouts. If I wish to pay with cash, I just let the staff person monitoring the self-checkouts know that I'm using cash. I have used the Sobey's self-checkouts a couple of times and have used cash there; and I thought the Superstore self-checkouts accepted cash as well but I'm not a regular shopper there so can't say for sure.

LoadedGun said "Personally, I never want to have to settle for going to use some machine to check my items out after I find them in a store.   Replacing people with a machine is never a good answer. Especially when it comes to having fewer jobs for us human beings. And is it really replacing them? How much do they pay the technician to come fix those machines? And why do we have to give up human interactions, to further isolate ourselves when we go out of the house? "

Where were you when they were building the pyramids? They could have used more people with your vision. You would not have fared that well during the Industrial Revolution though. Machines taking jobs away from people, Really? Well I suppose it’s possible, but there is another way to look at it.... You could say that Self checkouts actually create some jobs too. Think of the education a person would need to design this machine. Then come the people to actually build them, gathering/ manufacturing components from many sources to build this machine. Then comes the sales team to source and explore markets and sell these machines. The trucking company to pick up and deliver all over the world. Then the technicians to set up and service these things. Each step in this process has significant administration costs attached to it as well. This is not including all the fringe benefits to the businesses associated with any of these services i.e. fuel, road repairs, mining, education etc. ...And, I dare say many of these people get paid more than a checkout cashier, therefore generating MUCH more tax money for the benefit of the country (you i:ncluded).  
If people have the right attitude and want to work, they will find a job. Compared to today, the Canadian unemployment rate was lower pre 1970, and, somewhat higher in 1980-1990s. It has dropped again since then. This, not only during a time of incredible technological advancement but also in spite of the fact that all the “baby boomers” hit the work force as well large numbers of women (who were earlier, to a large extent considered unemployable and therefore not part of employment statistics) entering the work force.  
I think we will be fine in spite of self checkouts.

nicemoustache said "    LoadedGun said "Personally, I never want to have to settle for going to use some machine to check my items out after I find them in a store.   Replacing people with a machine is never a good answer. Especially when it comes to having fewer jobs for us human beings. And is it really replacing them? How much do they pay the technician to come fix those machines? And why do we have to give up human interactions, to further isolate ourselves when we go out of the house? " Where were you when they were building the pyramids? They could have used more people with your vision. You would not have fared that well during the Industrial Revolution though. Machines taking jobs away from people, Really? Well I suppose it’s possible, but there is another way to look at it.... You could say that Self checkouts actually create some jobs too. Think of the education a person would need to design this machine. Then come the people to actually build them, gathering/ manufacturing components from many sources to build this machine. Then comes the sales team to source and explore markets and sell these machines. The trucking company to pick up and deliver all over the world. Then the technicians to set up and service these things. Each step in this process has significant administration costs attached to it as well. This is not including all the fringe benefits to the businesses associated with any of these services i.e. fuel, road repairs, mining, education etc. ...And, I dare say many of these people get paid more than a checkout cashier, therefore generating MUCH more tax money for the benefit of the country (you i:ncluded).   If people have the right attitude and want to work, they will find a job. Compared to today, the Canadian unemployment rate was lower pre 1970, and, somewhat higher in 1980-1990s. It has dropped again since then. This, not only during a time of incredible technological advancement but also in spite of the fact that all the “baby boomers” hit the work force as well large numbers of women (who were earlier, to a large extent considered unemployable and therefore not part of employment statistics) entering the work force.   I think we will be fine in spite of self checkouts. "

We all can extrapolate a rosy future but what happens when all of those new jobs you just described can be replaced by a machine? The technology is there or is being designed.  
 
The companies installing these machines are doing it for 1 reason, to increase profit. Do you believe that profit is being passed down to the consumer?  
I don't see my grocery bill getting any lower but i understand the Waltons wealth and their shareholders is increasing quite nicely.  
 
Marpet

Self serve gas stations were once a new thing too.

We have used the new checkouts but end up dealing with a person since we choose to pay with cash.  
The question had to do with all the new production and jobs.  
This is not new technology, but using existing technology in a different way, possibly there could be less jobs since the self checkouts don't have belt conveyors, as for scanners and the rest of technology it will likely means a few new jobs, and a loss of a few old jobs.  
This is me just going off topic, but I feel that it is relevant.  
I have sort of made a habit of getting up really early when Warren Buffet comes on to discuss his outlook on the economy.  
I decided to drop this habit when Warren Buffet said the most idiotic thing I have heard, the comment was, wouldn't it be great if a single person could push a button and create 100,000 autos. Guess it would be very cost effective, but if things go this way we will create a welfare state with very high unemployment.

Cause they are never busy, in fact I don’t like when I got into a store and they are all closed off cause apparently there is no attendant available, they are super easy to use, and as far as Wal-mart, don’t care if they had all their registers as self check out, have not stepped foot in there for 4 years, and never will again, even if I have to pay more elsewhere Walmart sucks, and as far as cashiers being slow, I don’t imagine they have much incentive to “bust their a$$” need more self checkouts, everywhere.

I like self checkouts everywhere but walmart. Every time i use them i have to show my receipt and have a greeter search my stuff. They need it set up better so you can use them and leave without the hassle. Its never happened to me anywhere else with self checkouts.  
 
Edited by thevoiceofreason, 2018-10-15 22:00:51

have had to show my receipt after using the self checkouts.

there's just a phobia people have with new technology and want to resist using it for as long as they can. Technology has been taking over peoples jobs for centuries and will continue into the future. Humans have always looked and developed technology to make their lives easier at the expense of human labour and jobs.  
 
In farming, to harvest it used to take many people to run and supply a threshing machine and today a modern combine takes 1 or 2 people.

Walmart now offers on-line shopping for everything in the store including groceries, free of charge! If you have kids you can pre-order your groceries, and drive down to the store and get a premium parking spot and pick up your groceries. Those people that would have been working as a cashier do the shopping for you, all you have to do is pick up your groceries. Another perk is, if your specific item isn't in stock, they will upgrade to the next expensive item at no charge! I would suggest giving this a try if you don't want to deal with lines or your own offspring.

Im pretty much done with Walmart. If they cant bother having a couple of express lanes with people, I'm not gonna bother giving them my business.

Unfortunately, for everyone who says they are done at Wal Mart, nothing will change.  
 
Our little bit of business from this area would not hurt them one bit or make them change procedures.

won't use them , they took someone's job , and I would rather wait in line