Whole Foods workers seek to unionize • Hacker News Board

Re: Whole Foods workers seek to unionize

#31

Post by EpicEng » Thu, Sep 06, 2018, 11:20 PM UTC

house9-2 wrote: post #19

crazygringo wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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 go…

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.

>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.

Re: Whole Foods workers seek to unionize

#32

Post by jblow » Thu, Sep 06, 2018, 11:21 PM UTC

EpicEng wrote: post #29

matthewmacleod wrote: post #20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

but if you're reminded repeatedly by management and you continue not to, then what would you expect to happen? I’d expect a massive fucking award for not constantly pissing off customers with this nonsense.

And you'd be fired because no one else lives in the world you've created in your head.

I do. I am a Prime member but when Whole Foods cashiers ask I say "no" because I just want to get the bullshit over with and get out of there.

Re: Whole Foods workers seek to unionize

#33

Post by joering2 » Thu, Sep 06, 2018, 11:22 PM UTC

matthewmacleod wrote: post #20

crazygringo wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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 go…

but if you're reminded repeatedly by management and you continue not to, then what would you expect to happen? I’d expect a massive fucking award for not constantly pissing off customers with this nonsense.

They are separate entity from amazon afaik, and are unrelated to grochery shopping.

Imagine every time pumping at BP being asked if you need libricant oil for your plane (that you dont have but they keep asking every time).

Further the whole thing is a scam - wholefoods advertise Prime as get extra 10% off shopping but upon inqury I was told there are only some 60 items in the whole store that are Prime discounted. Thats far from literally their ad “take extra 10% off your shopoing with Prime”

Re: Whole Foods workers seek to unionize

#34

Post by wpdev_63 » Thu, Sep 06, 2018, 11:24 PM UTC

crazygringo wrote: post #14

kbd wrote: post #2

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.

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 go…

They're looking for any reason to fire old employees so they can hire new employees at lower wages. This is one of the reasons unions exist.

Re: Whole Foods workers seek to unionize

#35

Post by zandl » Thu, Sep 06, 2018, 11:24 PM UTC

EpicEng wrote: post #31

house9-2 wrote: post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

>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.

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.

Re: Whole Foods workers seek to unionize

#36

Post by HammerJack » Thu, Sep 06, 2018, 11:25 PM UTC

caconym_ wrote: post #13

codeddesign wrote: post #6

I fail to see “dedication”. Anyone getting paid minimum wage and working sub hours for a non career job is not going to be highly dedicated to a position. While I’m not against unionizing, I am against the rise of unskilled labor assuming that an employer owes them something. Unionizing isn’t inherently bad, but unions do tend to exploit both the laborer and the employer for the union’s gain. Failed labor unions comb…

Oh, so unskilled employees shouldn't be so entitled as to want the protection of unions (etc.)... but also unions are bad for them? Come on. Workers of any skill level are "owed" whatever they can get, because that's the same ethic employed by their employers.

You have to remember though, if a corporation is doing it, it's good business/capitalism. If an individual is doing it, it's greed or something similar.

E.g. wage negotiations.

Re: Whole Foods workers seek to unionize

#37

Post by chrsstrm » Thu, Sep 06, 2018, 11:26 PM UTC

jblow wrote: post #32

EpicEng wrote: post #29

Earlier quoted context omitted.

And you'd be fired because no one else lives in the world you've created in your head.

I do. I am a Prime member but when Whole Foods cashiers ask I say "no" because I just want to get the bullshit over with and get out of there.

If you're so bothered to be there, why did you go in the first place? You know Prime members get an addition discount on top of sale items, yes? Do you enjoy paying more for your groceries?

Re: Whole Foods workers seek to unionize

#38

Post by imagiko » Thu, Sep 06, 2018, 11:27 PM UTC

I have noticed that the cashier's have gotten pushy about asking about a Prime account, and very recently about a charity donation. It's a good way to 'make' people donate when asked upfront. I'm sure the probability of people donating increases. When I denied, I was asked if I'd like to round off my payment and have the balance donated. Honestly, it's very annoying. Whole foods is unfortunately becoming an REI store.

Re: Whole Foods workers seek to unionize

#39

Post by ssalka » Thu, Sep 06, 2018, 11:27 PM UTC

matthewmacleod wrote: post #20

crazygringo wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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 go…

but if you're reminded repeatedly by management and you continue not to, then what would you expect to happen? I’d expect a massive fucking award for not constantly pissing off customers with this nonsense.

Agree - Amazon could very easily add a QR page to their mobile app, and install scanners at registers that fetch a customer's Prime account. No cashier questioning necessary. If you want Prime benefits at Whole Foods, scan your phone.

Re: Whole Foods workers seek to unionize

#40

Post by AnimalMuppet » Thu, Sep 06, 2018, 11:27 PM UTC

jblow wrote: post #32

EpicEng wrote: post #29

Earlier quoted context omitted.

And you'd be fired because no one else lives in the world you've created in your head.

I do. I am a Prime member but when Whole Foods cashiers ask I say "no" because I just want to get the bullshit over with and get out of there.

No, you don't live in the world that matthewmacleod described. You live in a world where the customer doesn't want to put up with the nonsense. We all live in that world.

But matthewmacleod lives in a world where the cashier will be rewarded (rather than fired) for ditching the script and just getting on with it. We'd all like to live in matthewmacleod's world, but I don't think any of us actually do...