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Or extra BIG ASS FRIES... (Carl's Jr from Idiocracy) ObOnTopic: Cashiers are doing a very automatable job.. Like, it's done already to good effect. And if you

by kefka 10y ago

Or extra BIG ASS FRIES... (Carl's Jr from Idiocracy) ObOnTopic: Cashiers are doing a very automatable job.. Like, it's done already to good effect. And if you do like our Krogers does at night, you dont have a choice to not use automation. The harder thing is mechanics and QC for food production. But with cheaper motors and actuators, makes more complicated food automation cheaper, easier, and higher quality than human workers. And robots don't complain, or whine about bad working conditions... And they show up to work without fail.

strange_quark 10y ago
Cashiers are not automate-able yet, at least not with current product design. Yes, yes I know there's that Amazon store and some other test store that tags every one of its products with RFID tags, but the self-checkout isn't automated, it's just making the customer be their own cashier.
- hacker_9 10y ago
  This is a good example of changing the layout to suit the technology though. And I see the Amazon store as taking the next step and applying the technology in an even more convenient way. The tech is still relatively new, and it takes a while to filter down to the day to day, as they have to measure user impact and so on.
- kefka 10y ago
  Well, if the store isn't paying for it, and isn't discounting for working for the store, then yes it's "Free". People are just too stupid to see it that way, and are willing to be flesh-automation with no cost.
  - rhino369 10y ago
    It's not no cost. It creates long wait times which can send customers elsewhere. I was a cashier in 2004 and I saw the introduction of the self checkout. The store ended up taking them back out this past year. When you can pay a teenager 9 bucks an hour to do it much faster it's worth every penny. These things work for walgreens but Costco and Aldes won't have them for a long while.
    - kefka 10y ago
      Indeed, I get the sentiment. But in South-Central Indiana (Bloomington), we see Krogers with self-checkouts. How Krogers uses these, is that they only keep them open after 10p. And 1 clerk deals with 6 registers. Even if someone is being slow, the whole line moves faster. And you don't have a choice. Marsh has 1 24 hour store here. And they have 1 clerk (no self checkout) so it's on the range of 10-20 minute lines. If you want something from Krogers at night, it's self checkout or go away. Walmart has a weird strategy: self checkout is closed at night, and the center lane with the tobacco is always open no matter what. But I don't particularly like wally world. And they're further away than kroger.

by kefka 10y ago

strange_quark 10y ago

Cashiers are not automate-able yet, at least not with current product design. Yes, yes I know there's that Amazon store and some other test store that tags every one of its products with RFID tags, but the self-checkout isn't automated, it's just making the customer be their own cashier.

hacker_9 10y ago
This is a good example of changing the layout to suit the technology though. And I see the Amazon store as taking the next step and applying the technology in an even more convenient way. The tech is still relatively new, and it takes a while to filter down to the day to day, as they have to measure user impact and so on.
kefka 10y ago
Well, if the store isn't paying for it, and isn't discounting for working for the store, then yes it's "Free". People are just too stupid to see it that way, and are willing to be flesh-automation with no cost.
- rhino369 10y ago
  It's not no cost. It creates long wait times which can send customers elsewhere. I was a cashier in 2004 and I saw the introduction of the self checkout. The store ended up taking them back out this past year. When you can pay a teenager 9 bucks an hour to do it much faster it's worth every penny. These things work for walgreens but Costco and Aldes won't have them for a long while.
  - kefka 10y ago
    Indeed, I get the sentiment. But in South-Central Indiana (Bloomington), we see Krogers with self-checkouts. How Krogers uses these, is that they only keep them open after 10p. And 1 clerk deals with 6 registers. Even if someone is being slow, the whole line moves faster. And you don't have a choice. Marsh has 1 24 hour store here. And they have 1 clerk (no self checkout) so it's on the range of 10-20 minute lines. If you want something from Krogers at night, it's self checkout or go away. Walmart has a weird strategy: self checkout is closed at night, and the center lane with the tobacco is always open no matter what. But I don't particularly like wally world. And they're further away than kroger.