The Signature store I'm at is set to have two additional self check-out lanes put in, bringing the total up to six. Only in Marketplaces have I noticed more than four, so I'm assuming either all Signature stores are going to get additional self check-out lanes (probably so that they can get away with scheduling even fewer cashiers...) or I'm simply at a store that does enough business to justify the expansion of the self check-out area. I'm highly skeptical this is going to help with Que Vision because number one, our cashiers are slow for various reasons and number two, our schedule writer... well, our schedule writer is apparently about to get a "refresher course" on how to write a schedule from someone higher up within the district. Two additional self check-out lanes isn't going to be a magic bullet by any stretch of the means... I just know I'm very happy I don't work self check-out because presently, at least the worst that could possibly happen is four of the units might be beeping at you while customers glare and wonder why the SCO attendant picked another customer to help first instead of them... now with six units, all six can require attention at once, and you can have six angry, impatient customers glaring at you at the same time... all the while you still need to make sure no one is walking out without paying and the CSM/floor supervisor is yelling, "robin, Robin... ROBIN!" I sometimes wonder if customers listening to all this ever mistake Kroger for an insane asylum.
Apparently too, there was "talk" of a major front end remodel where self check-out would be "flipped" and moved over to the other end, where the last big register is, and express would be moved down there next to self check-out, while the regular check out lanes would be moved in the other direction, so that customers coming from the other end of the store after finishing shopping would be more likely to use self check-out/express rather than stopping at a regular register with a few items. Most customers looking to check out do come from the opposite end of where self check-out/express are, and the customers with small orders will a lot of times stop at a regular check out rather than go down to express or self-scan. That though, apparently cost "too much" money. Moving self check-out alone to the other end would supposedly have cost around $200,000. Has this been talked about/actually implemented at a store that anyone here works at? This is one of the few ideas out of corporate I actually think makes some sense... so naturally, they aren't going to do it! Instead, just two more self check-out lanes will be put in. Big deal! Two more self check-out lanes can't help that much... can they? Would be nice, but I doubt it.
-- Edited by GenesisOne on Wednesday 2nd of July 2014 12:26:23 AM
I currently work the 6 at my store and it is exactly as you describe. God help you if you have to walk away to get cigarettes, as, without fail, 3 of the 6 will suddenly need IDs checked, another will have someone who doesn't understand the scale/sensor system, and the fifth will have some coupons for you. It's far better to work the 4 side at my store, though both have their problems.
My store has 2 sets of SCO with 5 on each side, for a total of 10. Due to the ineptitude of the schedule writers, the usual call outs , no shows, breaks, lunches, etc., we sometimes have to run both sides with one person wearing both handhelds strapped around their neck. Not fun.
I will refuse to use "self-checkout" whenever possible. Screw corporations and their schemes to hire less Americans.
Fewer. If it's something that can be counted, whether realistically or theoretically, use the word, "Fewer". If it's a mass quantity, use the word, "Less".
I will refuse to use "self-checkout" whenever possible. Screw corporations and their schemes to hire less Americans.
Fewer. If it's something that can be counted, whether realistically or theoretically, use the word, "Fewer". If it's a mass quantity, use the word, "Less".
Whatever you say, magical internet fairy.
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Would you like fries with th... I mean, your milk in a bag?
My store went from 4 to 6 Uscan lanes after our remodal. Really wasn't that difficult of a transition. Cut down on the "grand slams" (when all 4 lanes needed help) I jokingly told my guys running it.
-- Edited by Anonymouse5 on Sunday 6th of July 2014 02:24:19 PM
Looks like I was wrong. Ever since the installation of the two additional self-scan units, we've gone from getting five or six or seven dips on weekdays down to... one, or zero, with a 97%-100% compliance, up from being stuck in the 80% range. It's hard to believe that two more self-scan units could make such a huge difference, but the numbers seem to indicate otherwise.
I imagine when corporate sees improvements like this, the next logical step is add more self check-out lanes. Customers are clearly willing to use them, and some are even willing to wait to use them instead of going through a regular lane. I wonder if Kroger will continue to add self check-out lanes while reducing express and regular check out registers? That would cut down on cashiers, as well as baggers, because instead of having six or seven baggers scheduled throughout a day, only three or four might be needed to keep up on the lot and do the occasional carry-out. Considering how Kroger is all about reducing costs, I suppose a future where the number of self check-out lanes outnumber traditional check-out lanes isn't too far off.
Looks like I was wrong. Ever since the installation of the two additional self-scan units, we've gone from getting five or six or seven dips on weekdays down to... one, or zero, with a 97%-100% compliance, up from being stuck in the 80% range. It's hard to believe that two more self-scan units could make such a huge difference, but the numbers seem to indicate otherwise.
I imagine when corporate sees improvements like this, the next logical step is add more self check-out lanes. Customers are clearly willing to use them, and some are even willing to wait to use them instead of going through a regular lane. I wonder if Kroger will continue to add self check-out lanes while reducing express and regular check out registers? That would cut down on cashiers, as well as baggers, because instead of having six or seven baggers scheduled throughout a day, only three or four might be needed to keep up on the lot and do the occasional carry-out. Considering how Kroger is all about reducing costs, I suppose a future where the number of self check-out lanes outnumber traditional check-out lanes isn't too far off.
Well there are a few dozen stores in my division alone that already have >60% of their customers go through SCO.
