Calis Beach and Fethiye Turkey Discussion Forum
General Topics => All things that have nothing to do with Turkey => Topic started by: KKOB on November 23, 2013, 14:14:10 PM
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, ,,,,,as their fans like to call them. Perhaps I am unusually incompetent, but I have almost never had a trouble-free encounter with one of these machines, provoking the inevitable accusation of "unexpected item in the bagging area!". But think of the speed, the efficiency, the cost savings, you are told. To which you can only reply: expected bull**** in the management area. Stefan Stern, The Guardian
http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/nov/22/tube-tickets-rage-closing-ticket-offices
Love 'em or hate 'em, they're on the increase. Do you use them ? Do you like them ? Are they quicker and easier than using a conventional check-out ?
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My view is that if a supermarket can't be bothered to employ someone to "check out" my shopping and take my money/payment, then I can't be bothered to shop in their store.
From what I read on various forums and in online newspapers the word "service" is fast disappearing from the English language in the UK.
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I use them,one of the checkout girls told me that using them actually helps them out, as for some reason the more they are used then the amount of checkout staff is increased.
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I will use them if I only have a few items but I would say 4 out of 5 times I will need assistance due to one thing or another.
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I was involved in introducing the kiosks into Argos. These now take up to 35% of all sales in any given store during peak periods (eg now in the run up to Christmas) and 20% of sales in quieter times. One of the big lessons learned when first introduced (at which point the sales participation was only 5%) was that you need to man these devices with staff until customers feel comfortable enough to use themselves. The whole solution becomes unstuck at the point where a customer needs help but none is to hand. Another good lesson learned was to make sure the customer feels that that there is a good level of privacy - putting self checkout/ kiosks too close together or near to windows drives down their usage. It annoys me when I retailers missing out on these basic rules.
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The difference with the ones in Argos is that you are not scanning and bagging your shopping like in a supermarket, so you don't need the assistant to accept that you don't have 'unauthorized items in the bagging area' every few swipes of a bar code.
I remember hearing that some stores were trialing a scanner that you had on your trolley to scan the stuff as you put it in then you just pay on the way out. That didn't appear to take off. I wonder why. :o ;)
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I regularly use the "fast lane" in Asda as I normally only have one or two items. The problem is I need assistance every time because one of my items is always Strongbow for which I need approval. They should program the machine to recognize an old git when it scans one ;)
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What I hate about those check outs in the Supermarkets is, if you have more that 10 items, its really difficult to to get your shopping into the bags, as there is little room and if you take time to put the stuff in the bags, the machine starts to complain..
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I avoid them too, I just can't be doing with all the complications of this new convenient way. What I hate is standing in a queue for a traditional till & human, and an employee telling me I can use the self service tills. I know that, I'm not a total idiot. I have made my choice and am standing where I decided to.
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I am still having to get used to getting my own petrol at Morrisons so imagine my horror at the press the button to pay by card or pay at the till machines....
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In my teenage years the Esso garage near me had attendants that would
put the petrol in for you, blow the tyres up using a preset gauge and clean
the front and rear windows.
Esso regular cost 19 shillings for 4 gallons
Esso golden cost 19/6d for 4 gallons.
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You still get that great windscreen cleaning service free of charge in Turkey! Never ceases to impress me.
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I remember getting offered cay while someone filled your car over there - then round the corner for a free car wash :)
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I remember hearing that some stores were trialing a scanner that you had on your trolley to scan the stuff as you put it in then you just pay on the way out.
Tesco's in Wrexham introduced them a few weeks ago and further reduced the number of manned checkouts available. They don't appear to have been very well received yet but it'll be interesting to see what happens in the run-up to Christmas.
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In my teenage years the Esso garage near me had attendants that would
put the petrol in for you,
Several Shell outlets around the UK have reintroduced attendants at the pumps. It's a bright idea that their marketing people came up with apparently.
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When B&Q introduced them there was a huge backlash from customers. It was this response that has stopped other DIY retailers like Homebase from adopting them.
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I wonder if the faceless experience of the massive players will go so far as to cause a complete reversal and turn people back to the local baker, greengrocer and butcher. I saw Ayrshire bacon (the best bacon in the World, don't argue) in the window of a little independent butchers here in Perth. It was the price that caught my eye - based on no knowledge at all, it seemed cheaper than I would have thought. So I bought some, and it was very pleasant being served by a jolly (and passionate) fellow, who told me all about their range.
Sure enough, me being me I had to go straight to Tesco to find out, and the kilo price was significantly cheaper than even the Tesco bacons on special offer. It has certainly started me thinking...
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This topic really made us smile, we do most of our shopping in Melisa in Gunlikbasi, if anyone's been there, you will understand our amusement.
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I saw Ayrshire bacon (the best bacon in the World, don't argue) in the window of a little independent butchers here in Perth. It was the price that caught my eye - based on no knowledge at all, it seemed cheaper than I would have thought. So I bought some.
Can't argue with that - it is the best.
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Mmmm Ayrshire fore bacon, no arguments from me, simply wonderful, with Greek bacon coming a close second.
Cant stand self service at supermarkets either, and it is a joy having Shell fill up for me when at the Garage.