topic Re: Self Service in Community Chat

Self Service

Susan in California — Fri, 14 May 2021 23:10:42 GMT

While out and about today:

1.). Self-checked myself out of the store.

2.). Handled three transactions at an indoor ATM at the bank.

3.). Gassed-up the car, transaction made at the pump.

4.). Bought a few items from the online A store.

I remember a few years ago, a family member said,

"In the future we may not have any human contact while

handling our daily transactions....and we may just like it

that way."

Question: Do you prefer it that way? Do you miss dealing with

tellers, clerks

I know it is often a lot faster, but in general do you

like not dealing with people?

Re: Self Service

Bhvbum — Fri, 14 May 2021 23:15:49 GMT

during the "shut down" I would be at my grocery at 7 a.m. to shop and the only checkouts open then. are the self scanning ones. Some visits that early, I saw no one. I got used to it and I like it.

Re: Self Service

ThinkingOutLoud — Fri, 14 May 2021 23:17:03 GMT

@Susan in California wrote:
While out and about today:

1.). Self-checked myself out of the store.

2.). Handled three transactions at an indoor ATM at the bank.

3.). Gassed-up the car, transaction made at the pump.

4.). Bought a few items from the online A store.

I remember a few years ago, a family member said,
"In the future we may not have any human contact while
handling our daily transactions....and we may just like it
that way."

Question: Do you prefer it that way? Do you miss dealing with
tellers, clerks
I know it is often a lot faster, but in general do you
like not dealing with people?

My thoughts:

~ given how many people are glued to devices, the need for human interaction is even more important

~ the jobs lost from all the 'do-it-yourself' is a concern

Re: Self Service

deepwaterdotter — Fri, 14 May 2021 23:24:15 GMT

If businesses no longer desire to hire employees as "tellers, clerks" at a desirable wage, I can handle my business myself.

Re: Self Service

jannabelle1 — Fri, 14 May 2021 23:21:40 GMT

Interesting question. For me it's not really about liking/not liking to deal with people, but rather what is convenient or available.

I stopped shoppping at Walmart for groceries because no more than 2 clerks were ever available for checking out long lines of people with full carts like me. I'm not about to self-check a very full cart of groceries....a few items are fine. My local grocer always has plenty of clerks available, as well as self-checkout, so that's where I now shop.

On the other hand, I'm fine with using an ATM for banking transactions, pumping my own gas, and using self-checkout at the big-box hardware store when I have a few items. Convenience is the key for me.

Re: Self Service

pachutabelle — Fri, 14 May 2021 23:27:57 GMT

In businesses where checkers don't bother to greet customers and say thank you I would just as soon handle the transaction myself.

Re: Self Service

ThinkingOutLoud — Sat, 15 May 2021 00:10:57 GMT

@deepwaterdotter wrote:
If businesses no longer desire to hire employees as "tellers, clerks" at a desirable wage, I can handle my business myself.

These are good entry level jobs where teenagers can learn customer service skills, develop work ethic, build a resume and save for college.

Re: Self Service

Meowingkitty — Fri, 14 May 2021 23:51:22 GMT

I've been doing most things like that by myself long before Covid. I prefer it that way. Usually I'm faster than waiting for some clerk with an attitude to come wait on me or try to engage me in chit chat. I don't want to be followed in department stores either. I know what I'm looking for and if they don't have it, somewhere online does. I guess I'm just a loner at heart.

Re: Self Service

FrostyBabe1 — Fri, 14 May 2021 23:56:06 GMT

Nine times out of ten, I prefer to do it myself. The only exception is if I'm doing a bigger grocery buy. I'm not a fan of packing several bags myself.

Re: Self Service

Oznell — Fri, 14 May 2021 23:57:01 GMT

Great, thoughtful observations, @ThinkingOutLoud .

Re: Self Service

Still Raining — Sat, 15 May 2021 00:03:02 GMT

A BF and I were talking about this. Since this all began, we have not been in any store at all. All pickup or delivery.

And it is wonderful. Forces me to do a proper grocery list every two weeks.

Can't imagine walking all over a store or mall ever again. How much time we used to waste.

I was in the bank a couple of years to do legal stuff.

Re: Self Service

Sage04 — Sat, 15 May 2021 00:31:19 GMT

I prefer self check out anywhere. I've never liked people touching my groceries. Publix is the only place that does not have self check out in my area. I always go to the Bank and use the ATM.

Re: Self Service

Mz iMac — Sat, 15 May 2021 01:20:46 GMT

In my neck of the woods, supermarkets & most if not all retail store cashiers are "unionized." For this reason, I never use "self checkout." The store would have to PAY ME to pack my own stuff!

I am NOT going to do THEIR job unless I get paid too!

Re: Self Service

mspatmac — Sat, 15 May 2021 02:16:29 GMT

@ThinkingOutLoud wrote:
@deepwaterdotter wrote:
If businesses no longer desire to hire employees as "tellers, clerks" at a desirable wage, I can handle my business myself.
These are good entry level jobs where teenagers can learn customer service skills, develop work ethic, build a resume and save for college.

@ThinkingOutLoud I Prefer people interaction whenever possible. These people are working to support their families, themselves or young people earning their first paycheck. I greet them with a smile and small pleasantry and rarely if ever have a problem.

Re: Self Service

kittykatkay — Sat, 15 May 2021 02:39:17 GMT

@mspatmac wrote:
@ThinkingOutLoud wrote:
@deepwaterdotter wrote:
If businesses no longer desire to hire employees as "tellers, clerks" at a desirable wage, I can handle my business myself.
These are good entry level jobs where teenagers can learn customer service skills, develop work ethic, build a resume and save for college.
@ThinkingOutLoud I Prefer people interaction whenever possible. These people are working to support their families, themselves or young people earning their first paycheck. I greet them with a smile and small pleasantry and rarely if ever have a problem.

I agree. I prefer people interaction also. I like to ask the cashier how their day is going and hopefully make them smile. I have even helped the baggers by helping them bag my groceries, lift them in my cart and tell them to rest a minute....they just laugh and thank me, lol.

There was one particular grocery clerk who recently retired...but I got to know her so well during my trips to the store that we would both break into singing "Disco songs" while she rang up my groceries and we would just holler with laughter. I miss her

A smile on someone's face costs nothing, but it goes a long way for both them and me. That's more important to me especially in today's world.

Re: Self Service

SurferWife — Sat, 15 May 2021 03:00:29 GMT

I do love my full-service gas station! I don't go anywhere else!

Re: Self Service

Desertdi — Sat, 15 May 2021 03:39:38 GMT

The self-service machine has never asked to see "my identification"

Re: Self Service

CalminHeart — Sat, 15 May 2021 11:43:17 GMT

I will wait in line before I use self-checkout. For every self-checkout, an employee no longer has a job.

Re: Self Service

caroln242 — Sat, 15 May 2021 12:52:22 GMT

@SurferWife wrote:
I do love my full-service gas station! I don't go anywhere else!

I WISH I had a full service gas station! I miss not having to get out of my car in the cold and rain to push a bunch of buttons on a pump and then stand there pumping gas freezing to death with hurricane winds blowing through. (Why is it always windy-er (sp) at the gas station pumps?)

Re: Self Service

tototwo — Sat, 15 May 2021 13:07:35 GMT

@CalminHeart wrote:
I will wait in line before I use self-checkout. For every self-checkout, an employee no longer has a job.

Exactly!!!

Even tho I enjoyed curbside pickups at Walmart and Kroger during the lockdown, I'd rather pick out my own groceries, especially produce. I prefer to deal with people rather than all this "do it yourself" stuff.

@SurferWife -- I do miss "service" stations where the guy would come out and fill your tank, wash your windshields, check your oil, and put air in your tires... all while I sat in my car. You're lucky!