Woolies gets self served..
About 3 or so weeks ago, our store had self serve checkouts installed.. and having been an attendant on a number of occasions, and will continue to be in future, no doubt.. I find myself wondering how it is that something so relatively simple can frustrate the crap outta people.. so I’ve decided to post a few tips with regard to the self serve checkouts.. not in a patronising manner, but in one that may assist some people with their prejudicial hostility towards this potentially brilliant technology..
If you’re going to attempt to use the self serve checkout:
* be patient.. and listen to the prompts.. there is a visual aid which demonstrates exactly what needs to be done..
* there is always an attendant within our self serve area.. so if you have any questions, no matter how ‘dumb’ it may seem.. we’re more than willing to help..
* these checkouts are an alternative option.. don’t feel that they are going to turn all our registers into these.. lets face it.. a business is nothing without its customers.. and customer service is what ultimately brings a customer back.. look at it as another ‘express’ option.. or something fun and different to do.. spesh when ya got ya kids out with ya..
* we have not lost staff members over the installation of self serve.. we’ve in fact hired extra people.. as the self serve registers have been installed on top of what we previously had.. it hasnt taken anything away from us..
* be realistic.. these self serve registers weren’t intended for people to go through with trolley loads of shopping.. but by all means.. if that’s what ya want to do.. fair play to ya! .. but essentially.. as mentioned previously.. it’s another ‘express’ option.. dun have time to be waiting in line and only have a few items.. jump the queue and give yaself a confidence buzz.. 
We have had feedback of both extremes.. some people even claiming to no longer shop at our store simply due to the installation of self serve.. others believe its brilliant.. we’re not forcing people to embrace it.. but give it a go before making judgement.. ya never know.. ya might like it.. but if you dont.. then there’s always our manned registers
Tags: Work
July 7th, 2008 at 8:56 am
Yeah, tesco has them here in the UK. Personally, I prefer to not use them unless there’s an obvious lack of queue compared to the manned tills. This is due to my extensive experience as a cashier at Safeway followed by ASDA: I find them to be too nannyish for people that know what they’re doing. “scan the item.. now put it in the bag.. I said put it in the bag, dumbass.. that’s it, make sure you push down as you put it in the bag, too, because I can’t detect the weight else.. now scan the next item.. this item was the same as the previous one, are you sure you’re doing it right?”