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Someday Robots Will Replace Us All
from the well,-if-that-means-we-can-all-hang-out-at-the-beach... dept
A few weeks back we had a discussion about how retail self-scanners were catching on in many retail establishments such as Home Depot (the only place I've used one). At the time, we discussed issues of theft and customer annoyance. However, a San Jose Mercury News columnist has just come across these machines for the first time (also at Home Depot) and experienced a different feeling: fear. When presented with a strange machine and a process that you're not used to, some people may be afraid to actually make a purchase, since they don't understand how this works, and it makes them feel uncomfortable. Of course, that's a limited time problem for most stores. As these things become more popular (and it sounds like they will), and more people understand them, the "fear factor" will quickly go away.
Reader Comments
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No Subject Given
I've used the self scanner at Food Lion - I hate the things. Buying the same groceries at the same price but now doing more work in the process does not sound like a great deal for consumer. In essence its a price increase, only its not cash - the cost is time and effort.
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No Subject Given
I love these things. The lines are short and you don't have to deal with a cashier who is usually so disinterested in their job they fall asleep. I have them in 3 stores in my area, BJs wholesale, Home Depot, and Stop and Shop and I make a beeline for them as they are typically unoccupied.
The down side is you have to bag your own groceries which can slow the line down if your alone. VIVA LE' TECHNOLOGY !!!
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No Subject Given
I just discovered these. I think the user interface on them might be just a little too friendly. I understand why people are afraid of them, but I think that it's a little silly. Being afraid of this kind of technology should be a blanket deal. If you're going to be afraid of self scanners, you should also be afraid of any touch screen device, like palm pilots. Then you might also be afraid of toasters and talking car alarms that announce "I AM VIPER" in a deep molderous voice.
Why not?
Where do you draw the line?
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Re: No Subject Given
What about toasters who nag you with: "Would you like some toast?"
(A nod to Red Dwarf, I couldn't resist)
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Airport Check-In
The best "self scanner" I have run across are the credit card check-in kiosks at airports. I don't think I've spent more than ~3 minutes checking in for a flight in the past 6+ months.
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A few thoughts
That last commment about the airport 'scanner.' Makes me wonder how people would embrace these technologies if you could somehow virtually add items to your 'checkout cart' while you shop, and when you leave the store, just swipe the credit card. That's what makes the airline check in so quick... the sytem already knows what you want to 'buy.' Of course the end game is to just RFID the world, and when you walk out of the store, it knows all the goods you are carrying and automatically debits your account.
Second thought: I absolutely hate these machines in grocery stores. Only if I have less than 5 items, and my items don't require weighing (veggies), do I use them. Usually because they never recognize when I put the groceries in the bag after scanning, and it tells me over and over 'please place your items in the bag.' But they should reduce costs (in theory) of running a store, which should (in theory) result in lower consumer prices.
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