For several years, Giant has had the best self-checkout system in retail. If it ain't broke...well, they'll find a way, folks. The Giant store at 5400 Westbard Avenue in Bethesda has just converted its self-checkout units to this new scale system. Shoppers are now required to place each item onto a scale as an additional step in the checkout process.
This is a minor, additional inconvenience if its works. But if it doesn't, Giant may have lost one of its top selling points for those who prefer self-checkout. Safeway uses a scale system like this, and it's a complete disaster. After using it several times, and having to wait while the computer summoned a store employee repeatedly each time, I gave up and went back to the long lines of the old-fashioned human checkout lane.
On the first try, the new Giant scale system required more employee intervention than the one it just replaced. We'll see if they can iron out the bugs, and get back to the standards the chain had set before. Or admit this was a mistake, and go back to the previous system.
Once again we see the impact of rising crime in the community. And as it often does, the burden ends up on our shoulders more than on those of the criminals. A society ordered that way eventually ceases to function.
11 comments:
It would be interesting to know how the theft/shrinkage at our Giant compares with others, or whether it's just "more PC" to install these 'enhanced' self checking machines everywhere. Punish everyone everywhere because of a few at some other location?
Why is everything considered "PC", especially in the retail business, simply because the business wants to cut their losses? It looks like Bethesda is behind the eight ball on this one, as nearly every other Giant in the DMV has had them installed for several months now. Perhaps they found out that the shoppers in this area are not as honest as the tea they drink. Your punishment his well earned.
FYI. I am a former Bethesdan who now lives in San Antonio. The local Giant-like chain - HEB - has used a scale system for self-checkout for years and I’ve only had it summon an employee a couple of times. It can work like a charm.
On the other hand --and I'm not saying this new system won't be a pain-- but if it helps reduce theft there is a chance, (slim, I realize,) it *might* help hold prices from rising as much, which one could interpret as being as being a *benefit* to the community.
I don't subscribe to the philosophy of TV news vox pop --I'm thinking of those man-in-the-street interviews when the government announces some new security policy, and the ovine masses offer the camera some variation of, "Well, if it keeps me safe I'm all for [giving DNA samples, allowing police into your home w/out cause, being "probed" on random street corners by uniformed personnel]"-- but given that Giant is going to introduce their check-out scales with or without their shopper's blessing, one might as well try to embrace the possible upside, to the extent such exists. I know, I know: more likely any savings realized by the company will be ushered to stockholders, not shoppers.
Now I understand why CVS and Safeway are so frustrating. I always get in an argument with the machine when trying to use my own bag or putting heavy/bulky items back in the shopping cart.
How does the scale system deter thievery?
Learning
Safeway at Sangamore has deactivated their weight sensors at the self checkouts.
CVS already has this system and it works fine unless people scan stuff that doesn’t weigh anything………most customers will get used to it.
I needed to wait for help several times with the new system at the Arlington Road Giant. The next time I shopped, I went back to the old checkout lines and let Giant employees do the work.
@1:48 -- the scale and scanner are linked. Each item scanned has a unique weight, known to the machine based on the UPC code. If the scale detects a total weight greater than the items scanned indicate should be in the bagging area, it assumes the customer is trying to slip extra Tide/lobster tails/frozen peas into their shopping bags.
Yeah, so now my last trip to Giant makes sense.
I had at least 3 errors, one which went away, two which needed a person to fix. I think I had three bags of groceries.
I thought I just got an overly sensitive/faulty checkout, but if this is now normal I'm going back to a teller...
The new scale system is horrible. The system frequently errors and requires an employee to cleat it. I will be going back to regular checkout lines. Hopefully, they will have more open than just two as was the case yesterday in Germantown.
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