Why Job Cuts In Supermarkets Are A Bad Idea

[SarahBell]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2135284/How-cheating-checkouts-turning-nation-self-service-shoplifters.html

How cheating at checkouts is turning us into a nation of self-service shoplifters

Almost a third have admitted to stealing at scanners

Many trick machines by giving the wrong information

Techniques include slipping extra items through and lying about which items they had

The figures were revealed in a study of 4,952 shoppers

[Frank Hovis]

We're all at it then. Free the Henley one!

[shindigger]

GOOD!!!

[JustAnotherProle]

‘I don’t think they can be motivated by poverty because they’ll still be paying for some of the shopping – so they can’t be that poor. These statistics show a lack of morals in this country today.’

Hilarious comment, just who do they think provides the moral compass to which they refer to? the government?the supermarkets themselves?, all wonderful examples of moral fortitude indeed!

I can't be the only person who can see amusement in the fact that a solution employed by supermarkets to cut costs, improve their profits and deny entry level employment to young people ( whilst being supremely annoying to the poor customers), is falling victim to fraud and cutting into the supermarkets excessive profits! I shed a tear for them, honestly, I am heartbroken

Edited April 26, 2012 by JustAnotherProle

[Garf]

Meh. The supermarkets knew the punters would steal at the self-pay tills. But they estimated that the losses would be offset by what they save in wages.

The big supermarkets are also seeing reductions in "shrinkage" (theft by employees) as they reduce numbers of people on sites. It's easier to catch thieves on staff when there are fewer of them - and more cameras all over the place. What customers can pilfer at the self-serve checkout pales into insignificance when compared with what employees half-inch from the stock room.

[Gone baby gone]

I don't use self-service checkouts anyway, as a matter of principle:

Firstly, they are attempting to remove even more low-skilled jobs, which will just push increasing numbers into the benefits system

Secondly, they are expecting me to do a job they were doing, but not offering any discount.

Same goes for airport self check-in. If I have time and am forced to use one, I deliberately f*ck things up so they need to send over a member of staff.

Edited April 26, 2012 by What's'isname

[N1AK]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2135284/How-cheating-checkouts-turning-nation-self-service-shoplifters.html

How cheating at checkouts is turning us into a nation of self-service shoplifters

Almost a third have admitted to stealing at scanners

Many trick machines by giving the wrong information

Here I was hoping for an insightful piece on how increased staffing improves customer satisfaction and would lead to improved performance; an argument similar to that made by the net promoter score school of thinking. Sadly it's a Daily Mail dross piece.

Obviously supermarkets will see increased customer theft with self-checkouts. They'll have budgeted for it and still think it's worth the expense. Personally I prefer self checkouts and haven't felt the need to stoop to the level of using them for theft.

[erat_forte]

I don't use self-service checkouts anyway, as a matter of principle:

Firstly, they are attempting to remove even more low-skilled jobs, which will just push increasing numbers into the benefits system

Secondly, they are expecting me to do a job they were doing, but not offering any discount.

Same goes for airport self check-in. If I have time and am forced to use one, I deliberately f*ck things up so they need to send over a member of staff.

Is this veering towards the broken window? Isn't automation and its associated increase in productivity better for society as a whole? Isn't it better for these individuals to be out fishing or in watching their favourite TV show than sitting in a badly lit space passing packages in front of a scanner?

On the other hand supermarkets are pretty shite any way you look at it, compared with local family-run specialist food shops.

[Errol]

If I have time and am forced to use one, I deliberately f*ck things up so they need to send over a member of staff.

lol! I must admit to having a penchant for this type of thing as well.

[Unsafe As Houses]

I don't use self-service checkouts anyway, as a matter of principle:

+1

[Gone baby gone]

Is this veering towards the broken window? Isn't automation and its associated increase in productivity better for society as a whole? Isn't it better for these individuals to be out fishing or in watching their favourite TV show than sitting in a badly lit space passing packages in front of a scanner?

They aren't even a productivity aid for the consumer in many cases. Cheaper for the supplier yes, but have you ever tried one and had things like a bottle of wine, or a tube of glue (or in my case, both) in your basket. They have to get someone over to check you're 18 anyway. By the time you've factored in a few re-scans, fannying about with weighing your own veg and then having to deal with the inevitable and haunting "unknown item in the bagging area" protestations, they cost time and increase hassle.

And some of those checkout ladies are HOT!

Same goes for self check-in at airports. On a long-haul flight I'm going to be carrying bags that need to be checked in, so after being forced to deal with some airline's poorly designed HMI, I STILL have to drag my case over to the desk, get it weighed and answer the usual questions. The whole process saves me no time, and in that case, I'm not sure it saves the airline any time or money either. It looks very futuristic though, having loads of people swearing and tapping little consoles in the middle of a space like a cathedral.

[Gone baby gone]

lol! I must admit to having a penchant for this type of thing as well.

You should see me if someone has a survey on the street... unless they're paying me, they get the extreme answers most likely to affect their results.

[Britney's Piers]

Is this veering towards the broken window? Isn't automation and its associated increase in productivity better for society as a whole?

What does it matter? I thought the free market was about consumer choice, if people want to be served by a fellow human instead of ordered around by some uppity software then why can't they, and if enough people want this as to make it a worthwhile venture for the supermarket then it should be supplied, no?

What is the goal of the economy exactly, to serve human demand, or to follow some bunch of technocratic economic laws?

Edited April 26, 2012 by Britney's Piers

[Harry Monk]

Secondly, they are expecting me to do a job they were doing, but not offering any discount.

[interestrateripoff]

How is walking off without paying tricking the scanners?

I don't think the scanners has been tricked and to be honest if your going to do that you might as well just walk straight out of the store.

In our local Asda they seem to deliberately only have one check out on, so you either queue or go for the quick option.

[goldbug9999]

I don't use self-service checkouts anyway, as a matter of principle:

Secondly, they are expecting me to do a job they were doing, but not offering any discount.

Unless you avail yourself of the five fingered variety of course

[Harry Monk]

They'll be wanting you to go out the back and unload a couple of lorries before you start shopping next.

[Nationalist]

Personally I like to watch staff type in their ids and passwords, then next time there's a problem by the time the assistant comes over to fix it I'm deep into the operating system playing the naive user saying I don't understand what all these options are!

[okaycuckoo]

And some of those checkout ladies are HOT!

Some. And at the self-service they have to lean across and expose some cleavage when they're approving your purchase of a 3 litre bottle of scrumpy.

[the_duke_of_hazzard]

Here's my scam (never done it).

1 - Buy goods legitimately

2 - Put goods in car, keeping receipt

3 - Return to shop and pick up same goods again

4 - Leave

If challenged, brandish receipt.

[Gone baby gone]

Here's my scam (never done it).

1 - Buy goods legitimately

2 - Put goods in car, keeping receipt

3 - Return to shop and pick up same goods again

4 - Leave

If challenged, brandish receipt.

Good scam, they'd need to check CCTV to get you.

[the_duke_of_hazzard]

Good scam, they'd need to check CCTV to get you.

Needed two of 'em, haven't got the first receipt anymore.

[Ungeared]

I don't use self-service checkouts anyway, as a matter of principle:

Firstly, they are attempting to remove even more low-skilled jobs, which will just push increasing numbers into the benefits system

Secondly, they are expecting me to do a job they were doing, but not offering any discount.

Same goes for airport self check-in. If I have time and am forced to use one, I deliberately f*ck things up so they need to send over a member of staff.

Yeah i remember the same at petrol stations

[Gone baby gone]

Needed two of 'em, haven't got the first receipt anymore.

Your receipt has the time on, as will the CCTV image.

Bang to rights guv, just don't bend over in the showers....

[Diver Dan]

They'll be wanting you to go out the back and unload a couple of lorries before you start shopping next.

My local supermarket gives you a pound for every trolley you bring back; that's a nice little earner.