Empowering Automation

[Mo2vation]

It began (we can debate this one all week), I mean REALLY began with self-serve Pay-at-the-pump. The strategic business decision that consumers aren't idiots, can master simple checkout devices, and will actually reward actually the time you save us with our business is slowly catching on across different enterprises.

Case in Point: If it ain't Pay-at-the-pump, I drive on. I simply will not ever buy gas if I need to go to the counter.

This business practice has been spreading over the years - but over the last 12 - 18 months or so, its really picking up speed around here.

About a year or so ago, the Home Depot by my place put in 4 self-check out systems. How much does that rule? The answer is, COMPLETELY. They got back my small business. I was driving past HD when I needed a simple box o' screws, because there is always a line at the MDR store. Now, I can roll in and buy the small stuff again. Rock on!

Last year Delta (and recently American) installed self check-in. There are two types of luggage - the kind you carry on and the kind you leave at home. So I roll in, insert my card, get my boarding pass and I walk to the terminal...almost without breaking stride.

Several months ago, a local Ralphs (big super market chain here in SoCal) put in Self Check Out. ROCKIN! I don't need to stand around and yenta it up with the checkout lady who's been a Ralphs employee since the Carter Administration. If you really value my service, get me the heck outta here. Its so much faster...

And now, the Post Office in MDR (where there is a line of bluehairs and eccentric, artsy boat people from opening to closing) gets in the act. They just installed a self check out machine. I roll in with my Silica Gel and eBay stuff (well, the small eBay stuff I don't use UPS on line for...) drop it on the scale, put in my debit card, push a few buttons, get the postage and wave buh-bye to the Chris Crafters. Its beautiful.

I'm telling you - the more technology advances, the better my life gets. I don't go to the markets and shops I frequent to engage in snappy dialog, dishy gossip and all that nonesense with the help (no offense to retail workers across America.) I shop local because I can't buy it on-line, or because I need it now. The less I need to interact with people at retail, the faster I get in and out. I love this.

Yes, I am one of THOSE people. I'm not unfriendly, I just have better things to do that yap away the day in line. And you know what, I'm proud. I'm the reason the profit margin slide at these places is slowing down. By serving myself, these places get to make more money, stock more good stuff, and churn through more orders each day. I got no issues with that. I will gladly serve myself at every opportunity, and the more places that install self-serve, the better.

Some places that still need to get a grip and install some empowering automation include:

* Office Superstores - I go there for the heavy stuff (paper, etc.)

* Clothing Stores - I know my size. Sometimes I can't shop on line - so install some EA and I'll get it, fit it, and hit it.

* Sporting Goods Stores - When SC puts this in I'll be in Hog Heaven


Any Others?

Ken

 

[emtdan]

Dive Shops.... When they put in a self-service air fill machine, ill be in doggy heaven. Wouldnt it be nice not to get the .5 hour lecture about why you need that new BC?

 

[Nomaster]

Dive Shops.... When they put in a self-service air fill machine, ill be in doggy heaven. Wouldnt it be nice not to get the .5 hour lecture about why you need that new BC?

This wouldn't be difficult in the US either, if the c-cards had magnetic strips. Like paying for gas at COSTCO, you put in your membership card (C-Card), then your debit or credit card and off you go.
Further, for the multi-fill discounts, you can do it at the machine and it recognizes your card, or you do the once a 10 or 20 dive plus thing at the counter.
Oh, until C-Cards have magnetic strips, you can get a card at your LDS to use at the compressor feed.
I imagine that some LDSs might be against this because they miss a chance at point of contact hard sell.
Good, I hadn't considered this before.

Tom

 

[DeepDog]

Coming soon: "Robodivebuddy"

I'll take real people, thanks.

 

[RonDawg]

* Clothing Stores - I know my size. Sometimes I can't shop on line - so install some EA and I'll get it, fit it, and hit it.

Any Others?

Many Wal-Marts now have self-serve checkouts as well; I wish Target would do the same as their lines tend to be long and the nearest Wal-Mart to me is 20 miles away.

I agree with you, I much prefer self-serve checkout to having live-help, whether it's retail, grocery shopping, banking (almost all my banking is done electronically or via ATM, and that includes my paycheck being electronically deposited), or fueling up my car.

I especially like the US Postal Service's self-service machines. Unlike the rest of the consumer world, most USPS locations aren't open late, and many aren't open on Saturdays or especially Sundays. Heck, even banks are now open until 6PM or later, and most are open on Saturdays and even a few on Sundays. Plus, USPS lines are notoriously long, especially during Christmas season, and if I have to send a package I really don't want to have to wait in line behind someone who insists on buying one stamp and paying for it with pennies :11: Or worse, someone who insists on mailing a package without a ZIP code!!

The disadvantage is that if you get stuck behind someone who's not technologically savvy, you could be in for a long wait; fortunately most self-service locations have more than one kiosk.

 

[Mo2vation]

Many Wal-Marts now have self-serve checkouts as well; I wish Target would do the same as their lines tend to be long and the nearest Wal-Mart to me is 20 miles away.

I agree with you, I much prefer self-serve checkout to having live-help, whether it's retail, grocery shopping, banking (almost all my banking is done electronically or via ATM, and that includes my paycheck being electronically deposited), or fueling up my car.

I haven't been IN a bank in years. Its all direct deposit, pay on line, transfer funds on line, ATM, etc.. My last bank, like 9 or 10 years ago made me go IN the bank for some transaction thing. I remember telling them that if I needed to go in, I was coming out with my money. I closed my accounts that day, lit up the bank GM for the hundreds of thousands of dollars he was losing over my lifetime of banking for the next 50 years, shook the dust from my clothes and stormed out. I only wish I had some cloak or cape to throw over my shoulder as I spun around to leave that day.

The DMV needs to get it. No reason to go in that place either. Please. If I can recieve a ticket without ever seeing an officer (without ever stopping, really) and pay the ticket on line (or go to traffic school on line) I should be able to transact my DMV crapola on line.

Thinking about this a little more, the only time I want help fawning over me is when I'm dropping a load of money on a bespoke suit or something. That takes time and precision and experience - I'll pay for that to get a good product that will last a lifetime. For everything else, I'm just not willing to trade the interaction for the speed and efficiency of doing it myself.

Same with instruction (scuba, higher education, vocational, etc.) - I completely appreciate the dynamic of the instructor-student thing (for the most part.) But for just about all other "transactions" - I can handle it, thanks.

K

 

[RonDawg]

I haven't been IN a bank in years. Its all direct deposit, pay on line, transfer funds on line, ATM, etc...

I'm glad to see someone make greater use of electronic banking. A lot of people are afraid to do their banking electronically (which includes online), saying it's less safe than traditional banking. In reality traditional banking, particularly the use of paper checks, is nowadays more riskier than the electronic version.

I have found that people who are loathe to use electronic banking, citing security fears, are often the ones who are ridiculously careless with paper checks. They leave their bills at their mailbox for their local postal carrier to collect, which is a common way for thieves to steal checks; they'll use a "chemical wash" to remove the ink, then fill out the check to their desire. Or they'll dispose of their cancelled checks without shredding them first; the numbers at the bottom are what many thieves want, not the check itself.

The DMV needs to get it. No reason to go in that place either. Please. If I can recieve a ticket without ever seeing an officer (without ever stopping, really) and pay the ticket on line (or go to traffic school on line) I should be able to transact my DMV crapola on line.

Actually, you can do a surprising amount of transactions online at the CA DMV website. You can renew your driver's license or vehicle registration online, as well as order specialized/personalized plates online as I have. Not only can you check online if your desired personalized plate is available, the DMV website includes a nifty tool that allows you to see what the letters and spacing will appear on the plate background of your choosing.

If you have to do something that requires you to come to an office, you can also make an appointment online.

The downside is that any online DMV transaction that requires fees to be paid will incur a slight fee for credit card processing, but it's only a few dollars; well worth the price for not having to wait in line at the DMV. For those not willing to pay a few dollars there's always AAA, but at some of their offices the wait is starting to rival that of the DMV itself :11:

 

[baltimoron]

well, I am sure the automated stuff has hit big in the suburbs and country, but I still have yet to see some of that stuff here in the cities... I don't know where I stand on this: I like to say "Hi" and smile at the lady checking me out at the Local food market (its NOT a big chain supermarket... just a place to get some package items and some fresh things..), and I don't really deal with Costco and bulk markets. Gas stations, however, I will make a point that they do make life much easier. This might be over my head a bit, but haven't those self serve things been there for a while now? I thought that if you have a credit card, then you can use self serve. I know that in places like NJ, you cannot fill your own gas. I knew a girl in NJ that phoned me up crying, saying, "AHHH HELP ME!!! I DON'T KNOW HOW TO PUMP GAS!" Also, El Al will not check you in electronically, I guess beacuse people LOVE to be stared down and chilled to the bone by the security people...

so, the title of my song is, Do Automated Services really have a place in City Life?

Post Scriptum- Also, I think it is good to have low-wage jobs for unskilled workers, such as immigrants, at supermarkets and gas stations... if everything were to be automated, how would that effect the workforce and the economy?

 

[DennisS]

It must be me, half the time when I use one of those automated checkouts at Home Depot, I scan the item and put it in the bag as requested, then the machine informs me that the item isn't in the bag or there is an unscanned item in the bag. I find the automated machines great when they work and an irritant when they don't

I'm usually buying PVC pipe, plywood or 2x4s when I go to Home depot. I know there is a cashier to assist you supposedly but trying to get through the automated line isn't worth waiting for the support help.

They've whittled down the cashier lines to the point where there are two cashiers and a very long line at both of them. They have instituted a security guard that tries to stop you at the exit. I walk right by them if there is anyone in front of me getting checked, after the delays in line because they are trying to save money with the automatic check outs, I don't need another delay with the rent a cop, checking to see if I checked out properly with the automatic checkout.

My Winn Dixie has instituted the fallible automation too.

I now shop at Publix and Lowe's where they have live customer service.

Home Depot and Winn Dixie have replaced the cashiers and lost a customer.

 

[munkispank]

no dennisS it is not just you- the same thing happens with me- and numerous others I have watched. I personally am not fond of these things- although I am fond pf several other online services. I would argue that sociologically it is making us a society which segregates itself to converstaions of choice- makes us more isolated. When I first moved here I was stunned how little interation there was between people and how little 'society' existed. I feel that these forced interactions we have when checking out or buying produce remind us that others exist- an important issue.