8 ms·

Figure this is an appropriate time to share this story: went to Whole Foods a little while back and the cashier seemed nearly terrified that she'd be terminated

by kbd 8y ago

Figure this is an appropriate time to share this story: went to Whole Foods a little while back and the cashier seemed nearly terrified that she'd be terminated if she didn't make sure to ask before checkout if the customer was a Prime member. I'm pretty sure she said that other people had been for forgetting.

tony_cannistra 8y ago
I did a weird double-take when I asked why a sale (yellow-labeled) item didn't ring up as discounted and the cashier asked if I had Prime. He then asked me to search "whole foods QR code" on my Amazon app. I just ... didn't love it.
- SilasX 8y ago
  Such a bizarre juxtaposition, it feels like it came out of The Onion.
  - ccvannorman 8y ago
    You can use the Prime app to have a drone deliver you the correct identification documents, which are printed at a desk across from the cashier, which employees are not allowed to touch.
- shostack 8y ago
  Guessing they are attempting to maximize linkage of Prime user records to WH purchase habits, so getting you to provide the QR code is just a backup way for them to do so.
johnnyb9 8y ago
Is Amazon really this trigger happy?
- s73v3r_ 8y ago
  This is the company where people piss in water bottles and leave them around the warehouse because they are so afraid of being fired for going to the bathroom.
  - zaroth 8y ago
    Can’t imagine a company where you would be fired for the latter rather than the former.
jhwang5 8y ago
You seem to be reaching there, jumping to conclusions that she was terrified of getting fired. How do you tell all that from just someone being apologetic?
crazygringo 8y ago
How is that any different from grocery stores asking everyone if they have a reward card, clothing stores asking if you have their credit card, McDonald's asking if you want to super-size that, or bartenders being required to offer to upsell liquor? It's extremely common for cashiers to be required to ask if customers are part of whatever program is relevant, if they would like the current promotion, etc. Nobody's going to get fired for forgetting once... but if you're reminded repeatedly by management and you continue not to, then what would you expect to happen?
- house9-2 8y ago
  One of the things I used to like about shopping at Whole Foods - no stupid club pricing. Yeah, I have prime - but I am not putting the app on my phone and don't want to give my phone number out, or be bothered too. Just let me buy my groceries in piece.
  - EpicEng 8y ago
    >One of the things I used to like about shopping at Whole Foods - no stupid club pricing Of course not; everything there is (was?) insanely expensive because they knew their core customers would pay.
    - zandl 8y ago
      You’re paying at the club stores, they’re just spreading it out over different items you buy. WH might still be more but the club isn’t about leaving money on the table.
      - EpicEng 8y ago
        >WH might still be more Sure is. I understand that the club nonsense is a marketing stunt, but at the end of the day WH is (was?) overpriced, which is all that matters.
    - SeanBoocock 8y ago
      Everything? No. Certain produce, bulk items, and white label products were cost competitive, and often cheaper, than regular groceries. At least that was true ~15 years ago when I used to shop there regularly, and save money, in the DC area.
dominotw 8y ago
I've been noticing subtle amazonification of the stores and they are all for the worse.

by kbd 8y ago

tony_cannistra 8y ago

I did a weird double-take when I asked why a sale (yellow-labeled) item didn't ring up as discounted and the cashier asked if I had Prime. He then asked me to search "whole foods QR code" on my Amazon app. I just ... didn't love it.

SilasX 8y ago
Such a bizarre juxtaposition, it feels like it came out of The Onion.
- ccvannorman 8y ago
  You can use the Prime app to have a drone deliver you the correct identification documents, which are printed at a desk across from the cashier, which employees are not allowed to touch.
shostack 8y ago
Guessing they are attempting to maximize linkage of Prime user records to WH purchase habits, so getting you to provide the QR code is just a backup way for them to do so.

johnnyb9 8y ago

Is Amazon really this trigger happy?

s73v3r_ 8y ago
This is the company where people piss in water bottles and leave them around the warehouse because they are so afraid of being fired for going to the bathroom.
- zaroth 8y ago
  Can’t imagine a company where you would be fired for the latter rather than the former.

jhwang5 8y ago

You seem to be reaching there, jumping to conclusions that she was terrified of getting fired. How do you tell all that from just someone being apologetic?

crazygringo 8y ago

How is that any different from grocery stores asking everyone if they have a reward card, clothing stores asking if you have their credit card, McDonald's asking if you want to super-size that, or bartenders being required to offer to upsell liquor? It's extremely common for cashiers to be required to ask if customers are part of whatever program is relevant, if they would like the current promotion, etc. Nobody's going to get fired for forgetting once... but if you're reminded repeatedly by management and you continue not to, then what would you expect to happen?

house9-2 8y ago
One of the things I used to like about shopping at Whole Foods - no stupid club pricing. Yeah, I have prime - but I am not putting the app on my phone and don't want to give my phone number out, or be bothered too. Just let me buy my groceries in piece.
- EpicEng 8y ago
  >One of the things I used to like about shopping at Whole Foods - no stupid club pricing Of course not; everything there is (was?) insanely expensive because they knew their core customers would pay.
  - zandl 8y ago
    You’re paying at the club stores, they’re just spreading it out over different items you buy. WH might still be more but the club isn’t about leaving money on the table.
    - EpicEng 8y ago
      >WH might still be more Sure is. I understand that the club nonsense is a marketing stunt, but at the end of the day WH is (was?) overpriced, which is all that matters.
  - SeanBoocock 8y ago
    Everything? No. Certain produce, bulk items, and white label products were cost competitive, and often cheaper, than regular groceries. At least that was true ~15 years ago when I used to shop there regularly, and save money, in the DC area.

dominotw 8y ago

I've been noticing subtle amazonification of the stores and they are all for the worse.