Community Chat

[icezeus]

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@ellaphant wrote:

The future is here. I made a home repair appointment by phone today completely by AI. 

CS is being phased out. 

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@ellaphant 

I had a plumber visit my house last week to perform some work.

I chose the company based on its 5-star rating, but when I spoke with the scheduler, she informed me that they were a paperless company. My appointment was confirmed via text. When the plumber arrived, he primarily showed me the pricing and what needed to be done via an industrial-looking iPad.

i ended up paying with a check, because I did not want to pay the fee if you use a card. However, my service receipt was sent to me by e-mail.

As you mentioned, the future is here. We need to adapt to it, or you'll get left behind. 

[MithrilStar]

My Sam's was the pilot test store for the Scan & Go system. I was upset about it at first, but it's turned out to be very easy to use, and convenient.

You have to download the app and link a form of payment to it. As you shop, you use your phone to scan the bar codes of each item (or you can put stuff into your cart and scan it all at the same time when you're done shopping). Once everything is scanned, you checkout on your phone. You will then get a QR code to be used if there is some issue.

You walk out with your completed purchase through what I call the "Stargate." LOL This scans your cart to make sure everything has been paid for. If everything is accounted for by the Stargate, the employees at the exit will just wave you through. If the Stargate thinks you missed something, the employee will stop you and ask to see the QR code you got as your receipt, and they will manually check over your cart (quickly) to make sure everything is paid for.

I have never had to wait in line at the exit, ever. It's much, much faster than going through a checkout line.

The pharmacy still has a regular register, as you do have to pay for prescriptions at the pharmacy counter.

They've been testing this for over a year, and I guess it's gone well if they're planning to roll it out to all other stores. There are still employees there who I am sure are able to help with scanning things if you need assistance. 

It took a little getting used to, but I am a convert now. LOL

[hopi]

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@smoochy wrote:

two thoughts: for the visually impaired, I would guess that stores will offer a live person to assist them and meet ADA requirements

Those ppl who say they are fearful of being  "tracked"- exactly what is your concern? Tracked for what purpose? What do you imagine is going to happen to you?

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You should read up on it. They have access to your all  personal and financial information.

There are already to many instances of people's info and bank info being stolen. Money missing from accounts, house titles being changes etc, etc,  Your data  is also sold to companies.

[hopi]

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@hopi wrote:

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@smoochy wrote:

two thoughts: for the visually impaired, I would guess that stores will offer a live person to assist them and meet ADA requirements

Those ppl who say they are fearful of being  "tracked"- exactly what is your concern? Tracked for what purpose? What do you imagine is going to happen to you?

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@smoochy 

You should read up on it. They have access to your all  personal and financial information. There are already to many instances of people's info and bank info being stolen. Money missing from accounts, house titles being changes etc, etc,  Your data  is also sold to companies.

Also maybe you missed that your guy cut 11 areas of guidance for the ADA you can't count on being helped.

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[MorningLover]

I guess you can't help yourself.

[Puppy Lips]

What if you want to pay cash?  I have not read all the responses, so maybe this was addressed already.

[MorningLover]

While Scan & Go doesn't support cash, you can still pay with cash at the regular checkout lanes or self-checkout kiosks in Sam's Club locations that haven't fully transitioned to Scan & Go only, according to Sam's Club.

Scan and Go is designed to be a mobile payment method, primarily using the payment information stored in the app, such as credit cards, debit cards, or Sam's Cash. 

• Scan & Go is app-based:

  
  

  It's a feature within the Sam's Club app that allows members to scan items, pay digitally, and skip traditional checkout lines. 
• Limited payment options in Scan & Go:

  
  

  Scan & Go primarily supports payments through linked payment methods within the app, including Sam's Cash, EBT cards, and gift cards. 

[MorningLover]

Sam's Club is indeed planning to eliminate both traditional checkout lanes and self-checkout kiosks across all 600 of its stores in the U.S. and Puerto Rico. This change is part of a larger remodel and strategy to enhance the member shopping experience through technology.

Here's how Sam's Club plans to manage this transition:

• Focus on Scan & Go: Sam's Club will rely on its app-based "Scan & Go" system for member purchases. This system allows members to scan items as they shop and pay digitally through the app.
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• AI for Verification: AI technology will be implemented to verify purchases as members exit, eliminating the need for manual receipt checks.
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• Support for Members: While the company is pushing for the adoption of Scan & Go, they plan to have associates with tablets available to assist members who are not comfortable with the technology. 

• This shift is being rolled out following a successful pilot at a store in Grapevine, Texas.

• Approximately one-third of Sam's Club members already use the Scan & Go feature, with usage increasing over the past three years.

• The transition aims to create a more "friction-free" shopping experience and potentially redefine the club retail channel.

• This strategy also aligns with the broader industry trend of embracing cashierless technologies and leveraging AI to streamline operations. 

[Sakuya]

I will not renew my membership if this is true. Don't use apps. Don't use new self checkouts.

Michaels has self checkouts and clerk told me the day it came out her hours were cut. I insist on being rung up by a person because I don't want jobs to go away. One clerk said she could not ring me up at register so I left and did not buy a thing. Other Michaels stores will ring me up but that store, the main one I went to, no longer has my business.

[Etoile308]

They can try and sugar coat it anyway they want. It's not about streamlining. It's about cost cutting at the expense of employees.

There are some hesitant to have any payment information stored in their phones. My phone is kept in my purse except for actual necessary use. I don't and won't walk around with my phone in my arthritic hands.

It will be interesting to see how this works out for them.