Dear Woolworths..

aussie_paul · Guru

Dear Woolworths..

Whenarewethere · Guru

& if you didn't print the receipt.

Thanks for the heads up.

If I cop this I will purposely take as much time as possible plus some to make it a very expensive sale for them.

In the meantime I will try to use a conventional checkout. I'm sick to death of all the BS.

Also the number of wrongly priced items happens every few visits, which wastes my time.

Are We Lost · Guru

Whenarewethere wrote:
Also the number of wrongly priced items happens every few visits, which wastes my time.

You know that if the price charged is higher you can get the item for free. This is a voluntary participation by supermarkets. Definitely Coles and Woolies. I don't think Aldi is in it ... not sure about IGA or others.

I welcome spending a few minutes for those bonus times when they have left an old special price sticker on the shelf.

I was puzzled one time to see a shopper put a special price sticker on the shelf for a $30+ dishwasher detergent. I noticed because she looked around and then huddled close with her husband while doing it. I was thinking shoplifter. Then later at the checkout they successfully claimed the item for free. I am guessing the shopper took the special price sticker when it WAS on special, and then replaced it on the shelf when the detergent was back to normal price.

Kebbin · Guru

Aldi also do it now at least the three I have visited do, Cardiff, Toronto & Tuggerah.

Gaylehere · Guru

These days I do my main Woolies grocery shop on line. (When neither I nor my husband could drive it was really good and I had a one month free delivery) so I write a list, sit at the computer anytime and shop, and they home deliver it onto my kitchen table or bench. Home delivery costs me $13.50 per month plus $2.00 for bags each shop. I probably shop 3 times a month and have no trouble spending the minimum $75.00 per shop. I pick my delivery time (within a 3 hour bracket when I know I will be home); today it was between 6 and 9 am. which suited me. I can now drive again (couldn't drive for 3 months after surgery), but have decided to keep doing the main grocery shop this way. Cheers.

Are We Lost · Guru

I have done online grocery shopping a few times but prefer to choose my own stuff. Typically I go along each aisle and when there is something I like on special pick up several instead of one or two (non perishable of course).

When I ordered online, I found too often that much of the fresh produce is stuff I would normally reject, either being short dated or poorer quality. If buying steaks for example I will choose the preferred size(s) and reject those that look sub quality and ALWAYS check the expiry dates. If my chosen dairy does not have decent expiry time I will choose a different brand. Or something essential is out of stock and I don't want their substitute.

So what I choose myself is much better value and quality than what the pickers choose for me when doing it online. On maybe half the occasions I have returned something that was picked by them.

Of course, if getting there is a problem then I agree online has its place.

-- Edited by Are We Lost on Tuesday 24th of October 2023 07:26:40 PM

shakey55 · Senior Member

The local Coles store has gone completely self checkout. There a no checkout chicks (or guys) in the entire store.

Be interesting to see how it goes.

I went there recently to purchase two small items. Went and lined up behind four people with full trolleys. Changed my mind, put the items down, went a short distance to Aldi and bought same items

Whenarewethere · Guru

There was a small Woolworths in Manly for a short time. It changed to cashless only & it was self checkout only, but there was a person to observe. I stopped going when they changed to cashless. They shut down about 3 years ago.

dorian · Guru

I don't like or use self-checkouts. That said, I can't recall if there was this much resistance towards self service at the petrol stations.

Are We Lost · Guru

I think there are two main differences. Filling the car you can stand there and do it without thinking. Scanning stuff and choosing which variety of potato or other fresh produce is more like work. You can't just stand there.

And the other reason, I think we have changed in our outlook towards big business. Many now consider them as blood sucking parasites (e.g. this thread). With constant cost cutting in so many facets of life we are now more aware and strongly resist.

Gundog · Guru

Gee arnt you going to be in a pickle when the whole process is seamless, you collect you shopping trolly login with a credit card or smart device, as you wander around the supermarket as you pick up an item as you place it in the trolly a sensor read, when you get to leave the store sensors will debit your bank account and then the barrier will open to let you exit the store.

dogbox · Guru

Gundog wrote:

Gee arnt you going to be in a pickle when the whole process is seamless, you collect you shopping trolly login with a credit card or smart device, as you wander around the supermarket as you pick up an item as you place it in the trolly a sensor read, when you get to leave the store sensors will debit your bank account and then the barrier will open to let you exit the store.

referred to as progress but all the factory jobs as well as low skill jobs that kids use to do after school or after leaving school are getting fewer and fewer would that be one of the contributing reasons so many kids are out and about getting up to nonsense.

we will probably not have shops like woolies/ Coles / Aldi ect,ect in the near future all shopping will be done online, the shop lifting bill will be reduced to the point that the big companies will find it cheaper/more profitable to deliver than have a store open to the public.

even maccas has menu boards push a few buttons swipe the card wait for number to come up on screen pick up order from counter no interaction between humans

-- Edited by dogbox on Wednesday 25th of October 2023 09:52:52 AM

smwhiskey · Senior Member

Gundog wrote:
Gee arnt you going to be in a pickle when the whole process is seamless, you collect you shopping trolly login with a credit card or smart device, as you wander around the supermarket as you pick up an item as you place it in the trolly a sensor read, when you get to leave the store sensors will debit your bank account and then the barrier will open to let you exit the store.

As an IT professional for the last 35+ years, I can almost guarantee that process will never be seamless. Its success or failure will entirely hinge on what contingency plans they have in place for when it all goes pear shaped. And given that for most stores the contingency plan for something simple like network issues causing EFTPOS outages is close the shop, I can't see it being very popular with your average shopper.

Whenarewethere · Guru

I have put a scalpel blade through the aerial in my cards. So pin number only.

Often go out with a bit of cash only & leave mobile phone at home, not that it has any form of payment anyway.

If I can't pay cash. Then maybe I will end up standing outside of the shop until they solve the payment problem.

Just have to make their admission cost too much.

Gundog · Guru

smwhiskey wrote:
Gundog wrote:
Gee arnt you going to be in a pickle when the whole process is seamless, you collect you shopping trolly login with a credit card or smart device, as you wander around the supermarket as you pick up an item as you place it in the trolly a sensor read, when you get to leave the store sensors will debit your bank account and then the barrier will open to let you exit the store.
As an IT professional for the last 35+ years, I can almost guarantee that process will never be seamless. Its success or failure will entirely hinge on what contingency plans they have in place for when it all goes pear shaped. And given that for most stores the contingency plan for something simple like network issues causing EFTPOS outages is close the shop, I can't see it being very popular with your average shopper.

It's not an problem, before I retired our computer system which all eft terminals were connected to it, if the outlink to finance clearing house was down, the system stored all EFT transactions were the link was restored.

Another reason why businesses are removing the cash option, it costs a lot of money to move cash around, it also makes non cash stores a harder target for hold ups.

I feel sorry for people like Whenarewethere, who are so paranoid about the smallest thing, just walking around with a mobile phone is leaving breadcrumbs of your activities, and then there are stores using facial recognition tracking your in store movements.

msg · Guru

If there were no more "supposedly" "unskilled" factory and labour jobs available, then supposedly there would be no need for us to take in all those "economic migrants" and save our migrant intake for those really in need of a safe place to live. We also need to train those citizens who are already here for skilled and professional employment. SOPs cannot be used as a training tool instead of formal training. Even, though big business doesn't believe it, retail and product knowledge and customer interaction (not customer management) is a very skilled job.

-- Edited by msg on Wednesday 25th of October 2023 03:46:14 PM

Gundog · Guru

Here's story about woolies AI trial in some stores in 3 states.

https://www.theguardian.com/business/2023/feb/19/woolworths-expands-self-checkout-ai-that-critics-say-treats-every-customer-as-a-suspect

That is followed by Coles staff members bearing body cams in high risk stores, do you think they are just to protect the team member or are they an extension of the stores security cameras.

The Belmont Bear · Guru

I was at the local Woolies last week grocery shopping and they had 1 checkout open with a long line up of people plus the self checkouts with hardly anyone using them. I dont use them myself unless I only have a couple of items and I'm in a hurry I might. I waited patiently in line with a full trolley and when I finally got my turn the poor young girl at the register looked buggered. I asked her why werent they opening any of the other checkouts and she told me that a couple of people had rung in sick and no one wanted to come in. They had a front end controller watching on or maybe she was just there to sell cigarettes but she didnt bother calling anyone from doing other duties and help clear the rush. They were other staff members running around picking groceries to fill online orders, in the aisles stacking the shelves from cages etc. (which they used to do at night when the store was empty)..It seems operating the manned checkouts ranks somewhere behind online shopping, selling smokes. stacking shelves or supervising the self serve area.

BB

Craig1 · Guru

Filling the car you can stand there and do it without thinking.

You must not watch the $ clicking over then.

Dick0 · Guru

It appears self checkout is the way supermarkets are going except for IGA.

Whenarewethere · Guru

Craig1 wrote:
Filling the car you can stand there and do it without thinking.

You must not watch the $ clicking over then.

Once upon a time you didn't even have to hold the nozzle trigger.

Where has that gone?

Let alone actual driveway service which even I still remember!

yobarr · Guru

Whenarewethere wrote:
Craig1 wrote:
Filling the car you can stand there and do it without thinking.

You must not watch the $ clicking over then.
Once upon a time you didn't even have to hold the nozzle trigger.
Where has that gone?
Let alone actual driveway service which even I still remember!

Hi Jonathan. Truck stops still have catches that can be engaged so that there is no need to hold the nozzle trigger, as even with HIGH flow pumps it takes a while to put 1800 litres in the tanks, and most truck companies have accounts or fuel cards, so no risk.

Seems servos got rid of those catches on nozzle triggers to reduce the chances of motorists "accidentally" putting $67 fuel into the car's tank and then crying that they "didn't realise it was filling so fast. I've got only $10. Can I pay you later?" Yeah, right.

Gundog · Guru

Dick0 wrote:
It appears self checkout is the way supermarkets are going except for IGA.

IGA at Beachmere has self serve checkouts !

Southern Cruizer · Guru

Bunnings are getting just as bad of late in the Riverina. Only 1 or 2 checkouts open, self serve ones not even open and queues a mile long

yobarr · Guru

Southern Cruizer wrote:
Bunnings are getting just as bad of late in the Riverina. Only 1 or 2 checkouts open, self serve ones not even open and queues a mile long

Yea, I too had that problem, with lengthy queues. When I asked for help it was suggested that I should join the far queue. Cheers

watsea · Guru

yobarr wrote:
Southern Cruizer wrote:
Bunnings are getting just as bad of late in the Riverina. Only 1 or 2 checkouts open, self serve ones not even open and queues a mile long
Yea, I too had that problem, with lengthy queues. When I asked for help it was suggested that I should join the far queue. Cheers

Thankfully queues in the Bunnings stores near me are not bad. Their "team member" service has improved.

Though, a few years ago, some of their customer service was really bad. For example, the store closing time is 9.00pm. At 8.45pm, I was in an aisle unsuccessfully looking for some goods and found a "team member" to ask a question. She berated me for being in the store so late at night. cry For another incident, I had been waiting, nearby, for a staff person finish with another customer. I thought that I was visible to the staffer. The staffer received a phone call, looked the other way and headed immediately to the front counter.

-- Edited by watsea on Saturday 28th of October 2023 12:43:50 PM

JayDee · Guru

I absolutely despise retailers using self-service checkout points. I refuse to comply and only use the open checkouts. Which can be an issue if only one or two are open. As for Bunnings, they will not be happy until they have closed all the small hardware stores./ In my area we had a rather large Mitre 10, Bunnings moved into the same centre and you guessed it. No more Mitre 10. There is not an independent small hardware store open in our highly populated area.
Having said all that.
"Change is the most constant thing in life."

Jay&Dee

Cupie · Guru

We never use self-service for our weekly shopping. Wifey loves to have a long chat with the checkout person while I wait patiently to put the bags into the trolley. It's amazing what personal information she gets from them & they greet each other as long lost friends at subsequent visits.

I use self-service when I have a couple of items & find that a valuable option.

Our major complaint is the number of shelves that require restocking.

Cuppa · Guru

As someone who has never used a self service checkout, & have changed shopping locations to avoid those which no longer provide any manned checkouts at all (ie. the Coles which was previously our preferred shopping location) when I read this article https://au.news.yahoo.com/are-self-serve-checkouts-killing-jobs-coles-and-woolworths-respond-005407001.html I simply don't believe it. Like many we use a Woolies which still has (a limited number of) manned checkouts (frequently only one) & stand waiting inline, refusing the offer of staff members to be led to, & assisted to use the self service checkouts.

This week we wanted to see if there were any more items of something in stock when we wanted more than what was on the shelf. Finding a staff member (with a scanner) took forever. When we eventually did whilst she was looking to see if they had any more stock 'out the back' we commented that they must be short staffed today. "No this is normal now" she said.

It was a large store with one manned checkout & another staff member flitting between trying to get shelves stocked, encouraging folk to use the self service checkouts, & trying to answer questions for folk at the 'info desk' . Two staff only on the shop floor apart from the couple in the bakery & the deli.

Gundog · Guru

Instead of complaining about self serve checkouts in stores move forward with the times, because in my childhood you went to the grocers and you stood in line waiting your turn to be served by person in a white apron, who would get each item you wanted and brought it to you at the counter, from there you would go to the butcher, baker and green grocer. Then the first self serve for want of a better word supermarket cam to town, it had 2 isles, Coles and Woolies were variety stores they evolved over the years to become the monsters that we have today.

Many here rave about Aldi, there method of service is like the Franklins and Jack the Slasher that are long gone, the only difference between the self service checkout and Aldi is the attendant scan your items, but you do all the work.

Look around there even Aldi and now some IGA's have self service checkouts, if you want service in SA you have Foodland and Drakes supermarkets, Drakes are in Qld also, sure some of their prices might be a little dearer than the big 2, but you do get excellent Customer service at their stores

Petrol stations had driveway service, there is the odd one still providing that serve by and large, they have eveolved into convienence stores with a variety of shopping offers, even they are evolving more with pay at the pump options.