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friendica (DFRN) - Link to source
Seeing the number of self service checkouts in UK supermarkets is freaking me out a bit. Obviously we have them in Portugal too, but humans are still very much the default.

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in reply to Sarah Brown

Alexandra Lanes
friendica (DFRN) - Link to source
Alexandra Lanes
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@Sarah Brown annoyingly I can’t usually use them any more because I have to have the security tag taken off the goddamn cheese
@Sarah Brown
in reply to Sarah Brown

Jessamyn
mastodon - Link to source
Jessamyn
• •
My local supermarket (I live in Vermont, in the US) went to self-check and then went BACK to human checkout, maybe eight years ago. It was like a weird fever dream.
in reply to Sarah Brown

Miguel Arroz
mastodon - Link to source
Miguel Arroz
• •

I just wish they were more efficient, though. The difference between the waiting time on a checkout line here and in Vancouver for the same number of people waiting is just staggering. Pingo Doce and Auchan are especially exasperating.

Auchan is likely a systemic issue given some episodes I witnessed. And their self-checkout machines are even worse, I keep having to call someone to unblock them. Their scales seem too sensitive or not properly tuned.

in reply to Miguel Arroz

Sarah Brown
friendica (DFRN) - Link to source
Sarah Brown
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@Miguel Arroz This is the thing. The ones at my local Pingo are ok, but it’s still usually quicker to use a staffed one because I can bag whilst they scan.
@Miguel Arroz
in reply to Sarah Brown

Miguel Arroz
mastodon - Link to source
Miguel Arroz
• •
Lucky you! I already know every time I walk in Pingo Doce here that I will spend 2-3x longer in the line than actually grabbing whatever I need to buy. No self-checkout here on Pingo yet, although I tend to prefer humans as well.
Unknown parent

zuzak
mastodon - Link to source
zuzak
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@neil where I am it's still only the big supermarkets -- Aldi, Lidl, Iceland, B&M and Home Bargains are still a human
@Neil Brown
in reply to Sarah Brown

Bruno Girin
mastodon - Link to source
Bruno Girin
• •
yeah, my Sainsbury's Local now has 4 self service check-outs (with usually 1 of them out of service for a reason or other) and 1 staffed check-out that is only staffed on demand because the staff are usually busy with other duties. And of course, there's no real line to the check-outs because that would reduce shelf space so you queue in the aisle and rush hour is absolute mayhem. I still go there because it's the only supermarket within walking distance.
in reply to Sarah Brown

~
hometown - Link to source
~
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where I live *so* much real estate is dedicated to rows of human checkouts...which are usually closed and everyone is shuttled through a cramped self-checkout section.
Unknown parent

daj
mastodon - Link to source
daj
• •
@neil up here Booth's used to have self checkouts but took them out a year or two ago
@Neil Brown
Unknown parent

Mans R
mastodon - Link to source
Mans R
• •
@neil Self-service checkouts take up less space (and are cheaper to run), so they can have more of them. Even if they are sometimes slightly slower (and they are often faster) than manned tills, the total throughput is higher. They can be irritating if they malfunction or you have to wait for an age check, obviously.
@Neil Brown
in reply to Sarah Brown

SaraMG
mastodon - Link to source
SaraMG
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Humans? What on Earth do they have to do with checking out? You mean like back in the olden times?
in reply to SaraMG

SaraMG
mastodon - Link to source
SaraMG
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Seriously though. There are stores in the US (one less than a mile from my home) where they've entirely done away with human checkout.

Just one bored security guard to check receipts.

in reply to SaraMG

Sarah Brown
friendica (DFRN) - Link to source
Sarah Brown
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@SaraMG Not even anyone to verify age restricted purchases?
@SaraMG
in reply to Sarah Brown

SaraMG
mastodon - Link to source
SaraMG
• •
Can't need age verification if you don't sell age restricted items.
in reply to SaraMG

Sarah Brown
friendica (DFRN) - Link to source
Sarah Brown
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@SaraMG How bizarre! I guess.

BTW, have you read The Book, yet?

@SaraMG
in reply to Sarah Brown

SaraMG
mastodon - Link to source
SaraMG
• •
Might need you to narrow that down, but I'mma guess not, else I'd probably get the oblique reference.
in reply to Sarah Brown

SaraMG
mastodon - Link to source
SaraMG
• •
Have not. Not sure it looks like my cup either. You're recommending?
in reply to SaraMG

Zoë O'Connell
mastodon - Link to source
Zoë O'Connell
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@saramg The book is… not about what the summaries say it’s about. That’s just the central conceit needed to get to the ACTUAL subject matter.

However, the content warning is “yes”.

@SaraMG
in reply to Zoë O'Connell

Sarah Brown
friendica (DFRN) - Link to source
Sarah Brown
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@Zoë O'Connell @SaraMG It’s a cognitohazard for trans women.

For a LOT of us, it gazes into our soul, takes it apart, tells us we’re good girls, puts it back together and makes us want to do self improvement.

The surface read is a parody on NHS transition, making the point that a force fem torture basement is more humane.

But it rapidly becomes so much more. It’s about our pain, our trauma, sisterhood, and a world where things could be better for us.

@SaraMG @Zoë O'Connell

Jess reshared this.

in reply to Sarah Brown

SaraMG
mastodon - Link to source
SaraMG
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@zoe So... critique on societal expectations of conformity to an artificial and unequally applied psuedo-standard?
@Zoë O'Connell
in reply to SaraMG

Sarah Brown
friendica (DFRN) - Link to source
Sarah Brown
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@SaraMG @Zoë O'Connell well it’s got that in it for sure.

But the main thing is that it will fuck with your brain. Utterly.

And you’ll probably be grateful.

@SaraMG @Zoë O'Connell
in reply to Sarah Brown

SaraMG
mastodon - Link to source
SaraMG
• •
@zoe It puts the words in its eyes or else it gets the JK Rowling again?
@Zoë O'Connell
in reply to SaraMG

Sarah Brown
friendica (DFRN) - Link to source
Sarah Brown
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@SaraMG @Zoë O'Connell Noooooo. It’s a NICE torture basement.

It did, however, encourage me to get my hormone levels checked.

I have been menopausal probably for years.

@SaraMG @Zoë O'Connell
in reply to Sarah Brown

SaraMG
mastodon - Link to source
SaraMG
• •
It's just America doing America things. Like grinding away any last shred of dignity from the working class, then convincing them a billionaire tax cheat, draft dodging, sexual predator is their new messiah. #freedumb #makeAmericaRegressSomeMore
#freedumb #makeamericaregresssomemore
in reply to SaraMG

Cyberspice
glitchsoc - Link to source
Cyberspice
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@saramg They are all broken at our local corner shop. So there’s a queue for the one woman who works the checkout. We don’t have security guards. So a question is a security guard cheaper to pay than someone on checkout?
@SaraMG
in reply to Cyberspice

SaraMG
mastodon - Link to source
SaraMG
• •
@cyberspice The guard is pulling double duty and (in theory) reducing shrinkage. Nevermind Walgreens has gone from a drug/convenience store to a Mad Max wasteland in the span of a few years thanks to overenforcement.
@Cyberspice
in reply to Sarah Brown

cy
ActivityPub - Link to source
cy
• •
All I can say is don't blink. It changed for us practically overnight. That's what big trusts can do.
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