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> Wegmans supermarkets opened a new store a few years ago at the Brooklyn Navy Yard in reaction to that Whole Foods in Union Square with that dehumanizing cattl

by _ea1k 4y ago

> Wegmans supermarkets opened a new store a few years ago at the Brooklyn Navy Yard in reaction to that Whole Foods in Union Square with that dehumanizing cattle chute. Dehumanizing cattle chute? What do you mean? I've never heard this term in relation to a grocer.

tedunangst 4y ago
Instead of a dozen lines, there's a single line feeding all registers. Somebody studied queuing theory to save you checkout time, but now it's, oh, the humanity! (Unless I'm thinking of the wrong store.)
- mindslight 4y ago
  I wholeheartedly agree with you about queuing theory, and can't not think of it every time I'm in line somewhere. But apparently they needed to study up on the fallacy of personal choice, which pervades US culture. It's the same reason Southwest has open seating. When people choose their own seats, they stick to them hard. Whereas often on a plane with "assigned" seats, there will be a bunch of people trying to swap with other people (window for aisle, let me sit next to my buddy, etc), which interferes with the new people boarding.
- vel0city 4y ago
  Sam's Club has mobile app scan and go. Its so nice just being able to scan things as I put it in the cart. When you're ready to leave you just mark finish and pay in the app. It shows a QR code you show to the loss prevention people at the exit. They scan the QR code, scan three items in the cart and do a quick eyeball count of items, and you're on your way. I truly wish more places had this. Its been my favorite way to shop so far. So fast, so easy, far less machine learning and expensive cameras and sensors everywhere. Its even better than a single queue for checkout, which is for sure far better than multiple queues.
  - ceejayoz 4y ago
    Wegmans had that for a while; they got rid of due to shrinkage. (I presume lots of people were stuffing $200 beef tenderloins into the bottoms of their bags.) They're trialing a camera-driven replacement now.
    - _ea1k 4y ago
      I think Wal-Mart had the same issue. They've tied it to a paid membership program. Presumably people paying ~$100/year are less likely to walk out without paying for things. And they'd also be easier to catch.
- sgerenser 4y ago
  How is a single line feeding all registers not better? It's so frustrating being a busy store, getting in the best-looking checkout line, then finding out the person in front of you has decided they need to a price check/manager intervention/whatever at the register while all the people around you are passing you. I wish more places would have just a single line (although using self-checkout, if available often solves this problem as well).
  - PaulHoule 4y ago
    Single lines are fine. It is superficial aspects of the design of that "cattle chute" at the Union Square Whole Foods that make it feel dehumanizing. People think Amazon is a particularly advanced retailer and that every other retailer is "legacy" like Sears and Roebucks and that is just not true. Go to a Wal-Mart Supercenter in a flyover state and you will find a large investment in an advanced self-check system that has single lines and many other features that make for a competitive checkout experience.
    - deleted 4y ago
      [deleted]

by _ea1k 4y ago

tedunangst 4y ago

Instead of a dozen lines, there's a single line feeding all registers. Somebody studied queuing theory to save you checkout time, but now it's, oh, the humanity! (Unless I'm thinking of the wrong store.)

mindslight 4y ago
I wholeheartedly agree with you about queuing theory, and can't not think of it every time I'm in line somewhere. But apparently they needed to study up on the fallacy of personal choice, which pervades US culture. It's the same reason Southwest has open seating. When people choose their own seats, they stick to them hard. Whereas often on a plane with "assigned" seats, there will be a bunch of people trying to swap with other people (window for aisle, let me sit next to my buddy, etc), which interferes with the new people boarding.
vel0city 4y ago
Sam's Club has mobile app scan and go. Its so nice just being able to scan things as I put it in the cart. When you're ready to leave you just mark finish and pay in the app. It shows a QR code you show to the loss prevention people at the exit. They scan the QR code, scan three items in the cart and do a quick eyeball count of items, and you're on your way. I truly wish more places had this. Its been my favorite way to shop so far. So fast, so easy, far less machine learning and expensive cameras and sensors everywhere. Its even better than a single queue for checkout, which is for sure far better than multiple queues.
- ceejayoz 4y ago
  Wegmans had that for a while; they got rid of due to shrinkage. (I presume lots of people were stuffing $200 beef tenderloins into the bottoms of their bags.) They're trialing a camera-driven replacement now.
  - _ea1k 4y ago
    I think Wal-Mart had the same issue. They've tied it to a paid membership program. Presumably people paying ~$100/year are less likely to walk out without paying for things. And they'd also be easier to catch.
sgerenser 4y ago
How is a single line feeding all registers not better? It's so frustrating being a busy store, getting in the best-looking checkout line, then finding out the person in front of you has decided they need to a price check/manager intervention/whatever at the register while all the people around you are passing you. I wish more places would have just a single line (although using self-checkout, if available often solves this problem as well).
- PaulHoule 4y ago
  Single lines are fine. It is superficial aspects of the design of that "cattle chute" at the Union Square Whole Foods that make it feel dehumanizing. People think Amazon is a particularly advanced retailer and that every other retailer is "legacy" like Sears and Roebucks and that is just not true. Go to a Wal-Mart Supercenter in a flyover state and you will find a large investment in an advanced self-check system that has single lines and many other features that make for a competitive checkout experience.
  - deleted 4y ago
    [deleted]