Do you ever have trouble with the self-checkout stations at the grocery store? If you don’t place your item in the bag within, 
I helplessly look for the SCMD (self-checkout monitor dude) with a pleading look that says, “I wasn’t skipping, I just wasn’t fast enough! I bag!” My hands are in the air.
Why did the programmers leave such a short interim between the beep and system meltdown? And why isn’t it smart enough to realize that sometimes it isn’t speed but that I’ve run out of room? Like if I’ve scanned five gallons of milk they just aren’t going to all fit in the bagging area. “Place the item in the bag” says Joan, and I’m holding a 48-pack of Gatorade above my head. Don’t shoot!
How does calibrating the item weight to the bagging area weight make anything more efficient or help deter shoplifters? The scan and beep are evidence that I am planning to pay for the item. Why do they care where I put it after that? If I am going to steal a cantaloupe, I probably wouldn’t mess with Joan and the whole bagging process. They should probably have a hidden scale under the floor. If my cart weighs 80 pounds and I only scan some Tic Tacs, the system could flash a message to the SCMD: Keep an eye on station 4; don’t let his fresh breath fool you.
It might be a bit Orwellian but imbedded floor scales for the customer could open up all kinds of marketing and health education opportunities. “At your current weight, if you are shorter than 7 feet you probably shouldn’t buy that much bacon” or “4 out of 5 cardiologists recommend Jimmy Dean Lite for their patients who eat sausage.”
I could be on to something.
5 comments:
I like this idea. I really dislike those self scanners.
Dave, have you heard much about RFID? It's a pretty cool technology where they put a small tag on an item so the store can see where it is at all times. ("Hey Bob, why did 30 units of Gillette razor blades suddenly move swiftly towards the exit?)
Theft deterrent aside, from a consumer side it holds the promise that someday you just walk your whole cart through an archway & everything is instantly scanned. No more scanning UPCs. Of course, that would make it much easier for our kids to sneak forbidden desirables like Snickers, CDs or new tires into the cart...
I have not heard of RFID, sounds cool though. I guess you could review the detailed bill on a screen before paying, to check for errors.
It makes me wonder what we would do with the "saved" time. Would we think, "Wow, I just saved six minutes. I think I'll do a good deed." Probably not. We'll probably just watch a few extra minutes of "Matlock" or something.
So true, so true to all that you said...you should send that into "Reader's Digetst" or something, it's great
I hate the too small bagging also. Maybe self check was intended for quick small purchases...
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