Wal-Mart to use more self-checkout lanes

[Sherman A1]

(Reuters) - Wal-Mart Stores Inc will add more self-checkout lanes at Walmart and Sam's Clubs stores as it continues to look for ways to lower costs and prices, Chief Financial Officer Charles Holley said on Wednesday.
Holley said he was "very pleased" with the traffic and sales at Walmart's U.S. stores this quarter, which started in February.
Pushing shoppers to scan their own items and make payments themselves, eliminating the cashier, has the potential to save Wal-Mart millions of dollars. For every one second in average transaction time at the Walmart U.S. chain, the company said it spends about $12 million in cashier wages.

http://ca.news.yahoo.com/wal-mart-more-self-checkout-lanes-141140469.html

Cutting labor again and again.....

[KansDem]

1. I find this hard to believe...

For every one second in average transaction time at the Walmart U.S. chain, the company said it spends about $12 million in cashier wages

Someone want to explain this to me...?

[zbdent]

22. wait a minute ... how much of that is public assistance to most of WM's employees?

You know, the ones who are trained in knowing how to get food stamps because their wages are so low ...

[KansDem]

23. Wal-Mart has three foundations. One of them is the "Wal-Mart Associates in Critical Need Fund"

Type of Grantmaker:
Public charity

Purpose and Activities:
The fund assists Wal-Mart associates in need.

Why would Wal-Mart need an "Associates in Critical Need Fund?"

[jillan]

2. I was at Walmart yesterday (Yes, I shop there) and for the first time ever there was a bagger!

He bagged my groceries and put them in the cart for me.... I almost fell over.

When I go there, I do because I need alot of things and a variety of things and end up with a cart full.
If anything, they need more cashiers - not less!

[JSnuffy]

3. Forget that...

I wish they'd turn half of that long chain of stations into self-checkout.

The sooner I can get in and out the better.

[Lionessa]

4. I've travelled some lately so I can't remember where, but they were removing the self-check outs

because no one liked them and always went to the cashier. Not a Walmart, because I've yet to set foot in one of those travesties. Either a Safeway or a Fry's I'm guessing, though sometimes in traveling I've been to a few other national chains.

[msongs]

5. so do we get a 10% discount for doing Walmart's work for it? nt

[Sherman A1]

6. Bingo

But, just like self service gas stations, I don't think I would count on any discount very soon.

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

16. Exactly. They don't want to pay store clerks and they want the customer to do that work

I always refuse to get into the self-checkout line at any store that has this policy.

[snappyturtle]

7. Number one: I absolutely do not believe this:

For every one second in average transaction time at the Walmart U.S. chain, the company said it spends about $12 million in cashier wages.

Number two: Does anyone believe the savings will go anywhere other than the pockets of the family and shareholders?

Edit: Heaven forbid Walmart might think they could put the 'savings' into healthcare or to give their workers more hours and get them off part-time status.

[Honeycombe8]

8. My local WalMart foodmart has self-checkout lanes, as well as some cashier lanes. It works fine.

But my local Albertson's, who had almost all self-checkout lanes, reverted back to cashiers, after spending tons of money trying to maintain the expensive scanners for self-checkout, and the frequent breakdowns and malfunctions.

[eShirl]

9. I'll be in the long line at the human cashier

[rox63]

10. A lot of people hate the self-checkout lanes

I try never to use them at any store I go to, unless every checkout with a human being has long lines.

[Newest Reality]

11. I wonder how many

people realize that automation is a critical issue as far as employment goes?

The automating of various processes and replacing jobs with machines is continuing in full force and the technology is gradually improving.

What does that tell you? Outsourcing and insourcing, plus increasing automation tell us something important about our futures as proles.

I would be fine and dandy in an equitable society where automation made the Protestant work ethic obsolete, if, (and that's a big if) we could restructure the culture and economy to fit. A national dividend, (where the profits of our gross output are shared) and the problem of how to best utilize leisure-time would then be important social issues.

Profit-as-power prevents that for now, but as it goes to sink or swim and the choice becomes more obvious that we will either have equity or, large numbers of us will live as an expendable underclass, sharing the third-world environment in the dregs of what the rich allow, then it is time to rethink our lifestyles and upset the Status Quo.

[Wait Wut]

12. I still won't use them.

And, I'm obviously not alone.

There were only two cashiered registers open. It was Friday nite before the Super Bowl. The place was packed and the two registers were backed up all the way into the women's clothing dept. Only a few people were using the self-serve checkouts. Finally, a manager came up and announced, "There are plenty of self-serve registers open!"

No one moved. We all just stared at him. A few minutes later, they managed to dig up two more cashiers.

[Sherman A1]

13. +1

Well Done!

[Nye Bevan]

21. I'm happy that many people are like you.

So that there is no line for me at the self-service checkout.

[hobbit709]

14. I have yet to not have a problem with them.

I can guarantee there will be at least one item that I have that fails to scan/register or whatever.
I just refuse to use them now.

[spinbaby]

15. Our Wal-Mart has had them for a long time

And the lines for the human cashiers are always ridiculous. I think they deliberately understaff to keep the lines long and drive people to the self checkout.

[Sherman A1]

24. Precisely

That is exactly what is being done. They are channeling you to the self checkouts.

[Zalatix]

17. This is the future of work in America...

http://marshallbrain.com/manna1.htm

[sinkingfeeling]

18. Reason 1,312,766 for not ever stepping foot in the door of a Walmart.

[taught_me_patience]

19. Finally

I'll shop at Wal-mart more now. The biggest thing holding me back from shopping at Wal-mart was the long lines for cashiers. Self-check lanes are much much faster.

[Wellstone ruled]

20. Check this out

Target started the self-serve checkouts,now,they have removed all of them. Work retail part time,noticed self-checkout is wide open to theft. Most of our shrink goes through the self checkout. When the shrink hits 2%,Wally will pull these POS's,people like a little personal interaction will retail people.

Wally World is on their way to the dumpster anyway,Costco and other Blue Companies are eating their lunch.

[Sherman A1]

27. As much as I dislike Wal Mart

they are a long, long way from the dumpster.

I hope that you are right that the blue companies are giving them a run for their money, but it will be a long run.

[blue neen]

25. One more reason to avoid Wal-Mart.

The shopping experience there is already hideous.

[bigwillq]

26. Ugh. I really dislike self-checkout lanes.