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Shops return to rural Sweden but are now staff-free

bbc.co.uk

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Re: Shops return to rural Sweden but are now staff-free

#261

Post by seanmcdirmid »

t_von_doom wrote: post #256
aivisol wrote: post #180

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Whenever I use self service checkout, it always takes much longer time for me to get through. I guess I am not so good at quickly juggling and locating bar codes at each item as the staff working at checkout are. So I leave it to professionals.

Here in the UK some stores offer a handheld wireless scanner at the entrance to the store (and some chains offer an app so you can use your phone too) You then scan items as you pick them off the shelf - if you're really prepared you put the item directly into a bag you brought with you. Payment is then a case of walking up to the till - human or machine - and scanning one final barcode. Your order is presented to yo…

QFC tried this in the Seattle area. I actually never tried because it feels more cumbersome than just scanning everything at once.

Also, scales to price veggies and fruits are at checkouts in the states. If they had them in the veggie area, like in much of Europe, things might be really different.

Re: Shops return to rural Sweden but are now staff-free

#262

Post by bhupy »

kqr wrote: post #148
seanmcdirmid wrote: post #138

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I love the quick self service checkouts and will line up for them even when a regular staffed checkout is free. I’m just the opposite and instead dislike interaction I guess.

One implicit benefit of the self-service checkouts is that there's often one line for multiple machines. Any student of queuing theory will know how much this reduces waiting time compared to the one queue per cashier that's otherwise common.

That's a good point. Trader Joe's appears to use this approach even for their human cashiers.

Re: Shops return to rural Sweden but are now staff-free

#263

Post by offtop5 »

leetcrew wrote: post #215
offtop5 wrote: post #196

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>wouldn't trust a computer to recommend a cheese to with a certain kind of crackers. What stores are you going to now where this is the case, every time I buy some food I need to know exactly what I want. I wouldn't expect some 19-year-old clerk to be a culinary expert either.

the cheese counter staff at whole foods are usually pretty knowledgeable (more so than me anyway). but even at a lower end store, the people that work there aren't idiots. they might not be able to tell you what cheese would go well with a california syrah, but they can probably recommend a good blend for homemade mac and cheese.

I didn't call anyone an idiot, but if I'm a 19-year-old clerk I have other things on my mind than what type of cheese people like.

Nor would it be this 19-year-old's job to guess what your preferences are

Re: Shops return to rural Sweden but are now staff-free

#264

Post by Mediterraneo10 »

qmmmur wrote: post #239
rootsudo wrote: post #143

Earlier quoted context omitted.

People aren't indentured to work in Sweden. They don't have to work and have choice of where to work. It's also nice, to talk to people, instead of talking down to them.

I have done plenty of jobs that are shit pay in the same tier of manual labour (stockist, hospitality) and have never met anyone in that field who didn't want to do somethinge else if possible.

In the Nordic countries, those manual labor jobs are union jobs. Sure, pay is lower than other jobs, but thanks to collective bargaining and the union having your back in case of unforeseen overtime, it isn't "shit pay" like it might be in, say, the United States. I worked some of those jobs when I was in uni, and many of my coworkers were older people who had decided to stay for the long haul, because it does feel like a stable, acceptable working environment.

Re: Shops return to rural Sweden but are now staff-free

#265

Post by INTPenis »

JasonFruit wrote: post #245
tpmx wrote: post #202

The BankID service seems to trip up many people here. Swedish residents have a personal identity number issued at birth or immigration. Format: YYYYMMDD-NNNN. More details: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Personal_identity_number_(Swed... BankID is a service run by the Swedish banks that interfaces with the banks, individuals and third parties (like this chain of unmanned stores). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BankID T…

> There is growing awareness that this service should not be run by private companies/banks. At risk of sounding snarky, I'm growing in awareness that the anonymous nature of paper money and coin had a lot of advantages. I would be unhappy if the only option for groceries in my area required me to strongly identify myself to shop there.

Why? Why are you worried about disclosing how much milk and eggs you buy?

I know this is the age old "I have nothing to hide" argument but I truly am curious why people are so afraid of saying where they're travelling (train tickets) or what they're buying (shops).

Don't you think that once that dystopian future comes - when that info might be used against you - we'll have much worse things to worry about?

Re: Shops return to rural Sweden but are now staff-free

#266

Post by BlackVanilla »

Zitrax wrote: post #255
BlackVanilla wrote: post #225

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Very true, and young people too! I think these shops could reduce loneliness as customers may talk to each other. There's more chance of interaction with a shop than no shop. The concern is where technology is used in place of staffed-shops, but perhaps you would have to make small talk with the security guard instead.

I don't think there is even a security guard there.

Perhaps in cities, where there is more footfall, it might save money to employ one. But you're certainly right, in these rural Swedish shops, there doesn't seem to be.

Re: Shops return to rural Sweden but are now staff-free

#267

Post by kqr »

sethammons wrote: post #258
kqr wrote: post #148

Earlier quoted context omitted.

One implicit benefit of the self-service checkouts is that there's often one line for multiple machines. Any student of queuing theory will know how much this reduces waiting time compared to the one queue per cashier that's otherwise common.

This one gets me every time. I’ve only ever seen a couple super markets or stores implement this for human-operated check out stations. Ross has this, and Best Buy used to during the holidays.

Ironically, some smaller stores near me have implemented this just the past few months. The covid-19 rules that stipulate only a few people in the stores have created a single queue outside the store, for all cashiers!

I would honestly be fine with making that permanent. It's so much easier to pick the things I want with fewer people between me and the shelves. All in all a much more efficient shopping experience.

Re: Shops return to rural Sweden but are now staff-free

#268

Post by dsco »

cambaceres wrote: post #221
tpmx wrote: post #202

The BankID service seems to trip up many people here. Swedish residents have a personal identity number issued at birth or immigration. Format: YYYYMMDD-NNNN. More details: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Personal_identity_number_(Swed... BankID is a service run by the Swedish banks that interfaces with the banks, individuals and third parties (like this chain of unmanned stores). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BankID T…

> There is growing awareness that this service should not be run by private companies/banks. I don't agree. I'm a Swede too (as I assume you are), and I have basically never heard anyone complain of BankID being owned by the banks. I am really happy that our government does not own BankID, since they suck badly at developing software.

Try starting a Blockchain company and they will violently fight you until they’ve (the big banks) have shut down your access.

Re: Shops return to rural Sweden but are now staff-free

#269

Post by gerikson »

dsco wrote: post #268
cambaceres wrote: post #221

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> There is growing awareness that this service should not be run by private companies/banks. I don't agree. I'm a Swede too (as I assume you are), and I have basically never heard anyone complain of BankID being owned by the banks. I am really happy that our government does not own BankID, since they suck badly at developing software.

Try starting a Blockchain company and they will violently fight you until they’ve (the big banks) have shut down your access.

As a Swede, I'm glad this is the case.

Re: Shops return to rural Sweden but are now staff-free

#270

Post by slt2021 »

JasonFruit wrote: post #245
tpmx wrote: post #202

The BankID service seems to trip up many people here. Swedish residents have a personal identity number issued at birth or immigration. Format: YYYYMMDD-NNNN. More details: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Personal_identity_number_(Swed... BankID is a service run by the Swedish banks that interfaces with the banks, individuals and third parties (like this chain of unmanned stores). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BankID T…

> There is growing awareness that this service should not be run by private companies/banks. At risk of sounding snarky, I'm growing in awareness that the anonymous nature of paper money and coin had a lot of advantages. I would be unhappy if the only option for groceries in my area required me to strongly identify myself to shop there.

there are prepaid visa/mc cards which can give you anonymity while still using card. accepting cash, means a store has to be staffed with people and it makes it more expensive to run business=>higher prices for products
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