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Supermarket Maven Speaks

G-Fafif Dec 09 2015 10:58 PM

Mrs. FAFIF brought to my attention JCL's inclusion in this Grub Street (NY Mag) piece on high-end grocery shoplifting. Call it kleptogastromania: High-end food boutiques are being hit hard by shoplifters with discerning tastes, grabbing a curated list of things like luxury condiments, pricey sweets, or bottles of wine that retail for hundreds of dollars. Understandably, purveyors are often reluctant to discuss theft in their own stores: "A merchant would probably prefer that their customers who aren’t stealing don’t know there might be customers who do steal there,” says Jon Springer, an editor at Supermarket News who has been covering retailers for more than a decade. “They don’t want to give the perception that their store is a place where criminal activity happens.” Gives good quote!

Fman99 Dec 10 2015 05:20 AM Re: Supermarket Maven Speaks

d'Kong76 Dec 10 2015 08:18 AM Re: Supermarket Maven Speaks

a contributor at cranepoolforum.net who has been covering the Mets and classic rawk for more than a decade. The Shop-Rite by where we used to live had a full-time security guy posing as a 'stock boy.' He walked around the store with his pony tail flapping, donned an apron and blended in well. I saw him bust someone who had a big pack of Duracell's under his coat and said something to him next time I saw him. He said people don't realize how much stuff disappears off of supermarket shelves and they catch people all the time.

Ceetar Dec 10 2015 08:51 AM Re: Supermarket Maven Speaks

d'Kong76 wrote: a contributor at cranepoolforum.net who has been covering the Mets and classic rawk for more than a decade. The Shop-Rite by where we used to live had a full-time security guy posing as a 'stock boy.' He walked around the store with his pony tail flapping, donned an apron and blended in well. I saw him bust someone who had a big pack of Duracell's under his coat and said something to him next time I saw him. He said people don't realize how much stuff disappears off of supermarket shelves and they catch people all the time. How much by stockers who are like 'oops, only 49 of 50 of these cartons of milk made it onto the shelf'!

d'Kong76 Dec 10 2015 09:36 AM Re: Supermarket Maven Speaks

I don't know, but my guess is that employee theft is not a big thing with all the surveillance that goes on in stores. I took a tour of a department store years ago and the security room was something out of a sci-fi movie.

Ceetar Dec 10 2015 09:59 AM Re: Supermarket Maven Speaks

d'Kong76 wrote: I don't know, but my guess is that employee theft is not a big thing with all the surveillance that goes on in stores. I took a tour of a department store years ago and the security room was something out of a sci-fi movie. Maybe not. Seems like it would be fairly easy for a box of cereal to fall off a pallet while unloading the truck. Anyway, I've always wondered if theft is really that big a deal considering how we're moving to self-checkouts more often. Hell, I walk into the store grab a scanner, pack my bags in the aisles and simply scan the scanner at the register and walk out. I generally stack 30 cans of cat food on a shelf to scan one by one, but how would anyone know if I only got 28 of 'em?

John Cougar Lunchbucket Dec 10 2015 10:07 AM Re: Supermarket Maven Speaks

That story (which the writer says was originally pitched to, but rejected by, the Times) is getting a lot of attention. Last night the Fox 5 news van came over to interview me for their take on the story, but despite my making it clear to the producer and the reporter beforehand that my expertise is in retail and not shoplifting, got barraged with questions on-camera as to the motivation of shoplifters, for which I had no answers. I think I killed the piece singlehandedly. Did the interview on the sidewalk while meathead Brooklyn wolf-whisters gathered across the street. They think she puts the fox in Fox 5.

d'Kong76 Dec 10 2015 10:14 AM Re: Supermarket Maven Speaks

Why pay $35 for the good olio oliva when you can steal it is pretty good motivation. I think I posted here a couple of years ago - I walked out of Stop 'n Shop one Sunday morning with a cart load of groceries I neglected to pay for.

cooby classic Dec 10 2015 10:20 AM Re: Supermarket Maven Speaks

I hope you went back :)

cooby classic Dec 10 2015 10:21 AM Re: Supermarket Maven Speaks

Btw lunchy why is everyone across the street looking away from the camera?

John Cougar Lunchbucket Dec 10 2015 10:24 AM Re: Supermarket Maven Speaks

Numbers are hard to come by but believed that something like 60% of retail store "shrink" (unaccounted for losses) is believed to come from employees, between merchandise theft by employees and vendors; cashier shenanigans; and mistakes like failing to see that bag of dog food on the bottom rack of the cart. Customer shoplifting includes both individuals stealing as a compulsion or for actual need and "professionals" who lift and resell things like baby formula on the black market. Stores hate it because catching thieves requires trained employees and investments in technology, so it all is bottom-line pressure. Well-run retailers are absolutely watching you in the store.

d'Kong76 Dec 10 2015 10:27 AM Re: Supermarket Maven Speaks

cooby wrote: I hope you went back :) KB did. John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: Well-run retailers are absolutely watching you in the store. Don't pick your nose in Sears is all I can add here.

Fman99 Dec 10 2015 10:40 AM Re: Supermarket Maven Speaks

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: That story (which the writer says was originally pitched to, but rejected by, the Times) is getting a lot of attention. Last night the Fox 5 news van came over to interview me for their take on the story, but despite my making it clear to the producer and the reporter beforehand that my expertise is in retail and not shoplifting, got barraged with questions on-camera as to the motivation of shoplifters, for which I had no answers. I think I killed the piece singlehandedly. Did the interview on the sidewalk while meathead Brooklyn wolf-whisters gathered across the street. They think she puts the fox in Fox 5. I'd show her my lahmers, you can bet that. I'm pitching a "Fort Wadsworth" in my pants right now.

Edgy MD Dec 10 2015 10:42 AM Re: Supermarket Maven Speaks

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: Numbers are hard to come by but believed that something like 60% of retail store "shrink" (unaccounted for losses) is believed to come from employees, between merchandise theft by employees and vendors; cashier shenanigans; and mistakes like failing to see that bag of dog food on the bottom rack of the cart. Flashing back to losing a job a Borders when I tried to encourage my fellow employees that the store had no right to arbitrarily implement a we-get-to-search-your-bags-when-you-leave policy.

d'Kong76 Dec 10 2015 10:49 AM Re: Supermarket Maven Speaks

Rousing the rabble were we?

Edgy MD Dec 10 2015 11:10 AM Re: Supermarket Maven Speaks

I was a union-organizing failure at two straight jobs. Lefty crunchy bookstores turned out to be really crushy killy when it came to shop organizers.

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Dec 10 2015 11:21 AM Re: Supermarket Maven Speaks

I like how the-- superrich, mind you-- Shoplifters Anonymous success story at the end kept the fucking wine. I'm not a big 12-step guy, but isn't making amends sort of a big thing with these guys? These highfalutin' motherfathers. If you want truffle oil on the cheap, WHY CAN'T YOU MAKE A MIDCAREER CHANGE, WORK YOUR WAY INTO A CULINARY JOB AND TAKE STUFF HOME FROM THE OFFICE LIKE NORMAL PEOPLE?

Benjamin Grimm Dec 10 2015 01:05 PM Re: Supermarket Maven Speaks

cooby wrote: Btw lunchy why is everyone across the street looking away from the camera? Maybe she looks a lot better from the front than she does from the back? I imagine that those self-checkout lanes in supermarket do make it easier to steal and that some people do take advantage of that. But they probably figure that whatever they lose from self-checkout theft costs them less than it would to pay a cashier. Or that if they don't offer it, and another supermarket does, they'll lose some regular customers.

Ceetar Dec 10 2015 01:07 PM Re: Supermarket Maven Speaks

Benjamin Grimm wrote: cooby wrote: Btw lunchy why is everyone across the street looking away from the camera? Maybe she looks a lot better from the front than she does from the back? I imagine that those self-checkout lanes in supermarket do make it easier to steal and that some people do take advantage of that. But they probably figure that whatever they lose from self-checkout theft costs them less than it would to pay a cashier. Or that if they don't offer it, and another supermarket does, they'll lose some regular customers. Ha, like they pay cashiers much than junk change.

Benjamin Grimm Dec 10 2015 01:16 PM Re: Supermarket Maven Speaks

I realize that it wouldn't take too much theft to exceed a cashier's salary, but I also suspect that in an average hour, less than $9 or $10 of self-checkout theft would occur.

dgwphotography Dec 10 2015 01:29 PM Re: Supermarket Maven Speaks

Benjamin Grimm wrote: Btw lunchy why is everyone across the street looking away from the camera? Maybe she looks a lot better from the front than she does from the back? I imagine that those self-checkout lanes in supermarket do make it easier to steal and that some people do take advantage of that. But they probably figure that whatever they lose from self-checkout theft costs them less than it would to pay a cashier. Or that if they don't offer it, and another supermarket does, they'll lose some regular customers. This is where I go an a bit of a rant (again): I refuse - REFUSE - to use those self-checkout lanes. Not only am I costing someone a job, but I am also paying the same amount for less service. Here in CT, gas stations that offer both full and self service charge more for full service. You want me to go through self check out? then give me a discount that is roughly equal to what you would pay a cashier. I'm not filling your coffers any more than I have to.

d'Kong76 Dec 10 2015 02:03 PM Re: Supermarket Maven Speaks

Eh, I don't check out on principle... I check out on which line is gonna get me out of the store quickest.

Benjamin Grimm Dec 10 2015 02:13 PM Re: Supermarket Maven Speaks

Yeah, if I only have a few items, I always go to the self-checkout.

Ceetar Dec 10 2015 02:14 PM Re: Supermarket Maven Speaks

the fewer people involved in my checkout, the better.

cooby classic Dec 10 2015 02:15 PM Re: Supermarket Maven Speaks

Benjamin Grimm wrote: Yeah, if I only have a few items, I always go to the self-checkout. Yeah me too. Makes me mad when it screws up though.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Dec 10 2015 02:21 PM Re: Supermarket Maven Speaks

There's been studies demonstrating that although shoppers perceive self-checkout is faster, it's not. That's doubly great for retailers because as dwg pointed out, it's primarily a labor-driven innovation. Latest innovation today is a self-scanning "tunnel" where you place items on a conveyor belt and as they travel through space age cameras find the barcode wherever it is on the package. That is actually faster.

Ceetar Dec 10 2015 02:33 PM Re: Supermarket Maven Speaks

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: There's been studies demonstrating that although shoppers perceive self-checkout is faster, it's not. That's doubly great for retailers because as dwg pointed out, it's primarily a labor-driven innovation. Latest innovation today is a self-scanning "tunnel" where you place items on a conveyor belt and as they travel through space age cameras find the barcode wherever it is on the package. That is actually faster. I'd suspect those studies. It's at least twice as fast.

d'Kong76 Dec 10 2015 02:38 PM Re: Supermarket Maven Speaks Edited 1 time(s), most recently on Dec 10 2015 02:39 PM

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: There's been studies demonstrating that although shoppers perceive self-checkout is faster, it's not. That's doubly great for retailers because as dwg pointed out, it's primarily a labor-driven innovation. Latest innovation today is a self-scanning "tunnel" where you place items on a conveyor belt and as they travel through space age cameras find the barcode wherever it is on the package. That is actually faster. When I visit an ATM or self-checkout, it's always faster than studies that demonstrate otherwise. I do prefer humans though. OE: can't flirt with a scanner

Benjamin Grimm Dec 10 2015 02:39 PM Re: Supermarket Maven Speaks

I think it depends on how many items you have and how long the lines are in the regular checkout lanes.

Ceetar Dec 10 2015 02:43 PM Re: Supermarket Maven Speaks

Benjamin Grimm wrote: I think it depends on how many items you have and how long the lines are in the regular checkout lanes. It's demonstratively slower in May/June when kids are getting out of school and taking summer jobs and learning the ropes. I think a good rule of thumb is the more people involved, the slower. So if there are 4 people ahead of you in self checkout, but a cashier and three people at the regular line, it's about the same. Shifted in favor of self because you never get people paying with checks that way, and usually less with cash too.

themetfairy Dec 10 2015 03:08 PM Re: Supermarket Maven Speaks

At BJ's Warehouse we prefer the checkers, but often the lines for the checkers are tremendous and the self-checkout lines are minimal. When that's the case, it's a no brainer, especially when we just have a few things in the cart (which, believe it or not, is often the case).

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Dec 10 2015 03:24 PM Re: Supermarket Maven Speaks

I mostly shop at fruit stands, farmer's markets, ethnic markets, and Trader Joe's. So, y'know, no self-check. But, hey, free samples and stickers for the kids!

John Cougar Lunchbucket Dec 10 2015 03:36 PM Re: Supermarket Maven Speaks

One company today has installed infrared cameras in its stores that detect when shoppers approach checkout so as to direct the opening of additional checklanes when necessary (and closing them when not). They say it has helped average wait time go from 3+ minutes to 26 seconds.

Nymr83 Dec 10 2015 03:55 PM Re: Supermarket Maven Speaks

d'Kong76 wrote: Eh, I don't check out on principle... I check out on which line is gonna get me out of the store quickest. bingo.

MFS62 Dec 10 2015 06:33 PM Re: Supermarket Maven Speaks

I usually only shop for a few items at a time, so I look and see how the backup on the "10 items or less" line with a real cashier compares to the backup at the self- scan lines. But I've noticed a few things: 1) If stuff isn't bar coded, like bagels and fresh fruit and vegetables, the self-check line slows to a crawl, while people unfamiliar with the scale or how to find noncoded merchandise fumble, then ask for help. 2) The self-scanning may be quicker, but then the customers are not the greatest in bagging, so the overall time is slower. 3) I have a thing for even numbers, and have noticed that in the several supermarkets I frequent, the even numbered self-check lanes often have longer lines than the odd numbered ones. In some stores, the odd numbered ones are usually closed. I wonder who did that market research (or maybe psychological) study. Later

cooby classic Dec 10 2015 07:19 PM Re: Supermarket Maven Speaks

That is funny, I have a thing for odd numbers (I am not kidding...)

MFS62 Dec 10 2015 07:29 PM Re: Supermarket Maven Speaks

cooby wrote: That is funny, I have a thing for odd numbers (I am not kidding...) How many times did you read my post? Later

d'Kong76 Jan 15 2016 12:34 PM Re: Supermarket Maven Speaks

Not supermarket, but retail and shopping centers/malls in general... the last two weeks it seems every day another retailer is closing a large number of stores. Sears (KMart) was one a week or so ago and now Wal-ly Mart is closing nearly 300 stores.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Jan 15 2016 01:34 PM Re: Supermarket Maven Speaks

d'Kong76 wrote: Not supermarket, but retail and shopping centers/malls in general... the last two weeks it seems every day another retailer is closing a large number of stores. Sears (KMart) was one a week or so ago and now Wal-ly Mart is closing nearly 300 stores. Not a huge surprise that Sears (poorly run and more or less in the business of selling stores vs. selling stuff) announced closures. Most of the US Walmart closures are sort of experimental small stores that were developed under the previous leadership; the new boss either had to continue to invest in them to make it profitable or drop 'em, and he dropped 'em. The reason you heard so many in recent weeks -- you always do in January. Nobody closes before they squeeze all the sales they can from the holiday season.

Ceetar Jan 15 2016 01:39 PM Re: Supermarket Maven Speaks

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: The reason you heard so many in recent weeks -- you always do in January. Nobody closes before they squeeze all the sales they can from the holiday season. or in September so you can sell to a Spirit Halloween? (That's what the K-Mart did by me)

d'Kong76 Jan 15 2016 01:42 PM Re: Supermarket Maven Speaks

Seemed like more than usual but maybe I'm just reading business news more this year. I wonder if Old Navy is gonna scale down too. We were in one the other day and got some stuff cheap and it didn't look like they were in any rush to stock the picked over inventory.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Jan 15 2016 01:46 PM Re: Supermarket Maven Speaks

Well, the Internet is killing lots of department stores so the dealth toll is theoretically rising. Target is closing a bunch of stores too but they announced in December so as to get swallowed up in the Xmas season hype. Macy's. Only about 2/3rd of A&P stores have found new owners. Kohl's might be in trouble. JCPenney is "rebounding" inasmuch as they aren't going out of business as fast as they once were.

Edgy MD Jan 15 2016 04:15 PM Re: Supermarket Maven Speaks

Sears is still the place to get the solid-state small appliances that aren't designed to break in a year and built in a Chinese slave factory. The stores are a mess, but...

seawolf17 Jan 15 2016 04:53 PM Re: Supermarket Maven Speaks

I literally can't imagine a world where Kohl's closes. Feels like the lines are out the wazoo every time I go.

d'Kong76 Feb 25 2016 12:13 PM Re: Supermarket Maven Speaks

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: Kohl's might be in trouble. They're closing 18 stores, don't know how big that news is.

Lefty Specialist Feb 25 2016 12:50 PM Re: Supermarket Maven Speaks

themetfairy wrote: At BJ's Warehouse we prefer the checkers, but often the lines for the checkers are tremendous and the self-checkout lines are minimal. When that's the case, it's a no brainer, especially when we just have a few things in the cart (which, believe it or not, is often the case). I have a rule. If you're not paying me, I'm not working for you. I never use the self check-out. What will happen is that I'll be waiting on line and the self-checkout lanes are empty. The one person who monitors 4 self-checkouts for the inevitable customer problems comes up to me and the conversation usually goes like this: "Sir, the self-checkout lanes are open with no waiting." "I don't do self-checkout." (Brief second or two of confusion, then the programming kicks in) "Oh, that's okay, I'll do it for you." And he or she does it. I get out quicker and I don't have to do it myself. Works almost every time. Once they've interacted with you they can't just leave you hanging.

d'Kong76 Feb 25 2016 12:56 PM Re: Supermarket Maven Speaks

"What are you grinning about?" "You know I always get checked out at the supermarket." "Pig." "Uh, yeah..."

batmagadanleadoff Feb 25 2016 01:01 PM Re: Supermarket Maven Speaks Edited 3 time(s), most recently on Feb 25 2016 01:25 PM

MFS62 wrote: I usually only shop for a few items at a time, so I look and see how the backup on the "10 items or less" line Later How come supermarket express-line cashiers never enforce the x items or less rule? Drives me fucking nuts. And if you say something to the offending shopper, they always say that they didn't know it's an express line. Even though the sign's four times as big as their head and as bright as a 42nd Street billboard. If it's a married couple, or more than one shopper/person with one larger than express order, they'll break up their order so that each offending shopper now has less than "x" items. But the worst supermarket checkout line scam I ever saw is the one where (usually it's) a married couple gets two wagons --- one spouse has the bulk of the order and the other spouse has like two or three items in his/her wagon. The wagon with the small number of items is nothing more than a pretext to carry out the scam. Then they each get on a different checkout line. When it's clear that one of the two lines they're on is moving much quicker than the other, the shopper on the slower moving line moves to the quicker line, joining his/her other and cutting in front of any shoppers that have since gotten on that line behind the "other". This one doesn't bother me so much when it's the shopper with the two or three item jumping in front of me, but when it's the shopper with like 50 items in the cart jumping in from of me -- well that's a different story.

Edgy MD Feb 25 2016 01:09 PM Re: Supermarket Maven Speaks

I think that's the main reason people get married.

d'Kong76 Feb 25 2016 01:17 PM Re: Supermarket Maven Speaks

batmagadanleadoff wrote: How come supermarket express-line cashiers never enforce the x items or less rule? I think they're told to look the other way and let the other customers do the complaining and don't get involved other than just rolling their eyes at the complainer in a "I know, but douche-bags will be douche-bags fashion..."

John Cougar Lunchbucket Feb 25 2016 01:20 PM Re: Supermarket Maven Speaks

I'm tellin ya about these heat-seeking cameras. It's the future.

batmagadanleadoff Feb 25 2016 01:22 PM Re: Supermarket Maven Speaks

d'Kong76 wrote: batmagadanleadoff wrote: How come supermarket express-line cashiers never enforce the x items or less rule? I think they're told to look the other way Yeah ... but why? Sometimes, I'll say something to the cashier instead of to the offending shopper. Not when the shopper exceeds the count by like one or two items, but when it's an egregious abuse -- like a shopper coming on the express line with like 30 or 40 items. This happened this week and so the experience is fresh in my head. I'll tell the cashier -- sarcastically -- why even bother with the x items or less sign? Or ... "hey I guess we're on the honor system here, right?"

batmagadanleadoff Feb 25 2016 01:23 PM Re: Supermarket Maven Speaks

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: I'm tellin ya about these heat-seeking cameras. It's the future. How are they gonna fix express line abuse?

d'Kong76 Feb 25 2016 01:40 PM Re: Supermarket Maven Speaks

batmagadanleadoff wrote: Yeah ... but why? Don't know for sure, but probably an off-shoot of the customer is always right even when they're wrong philosophy.

Ceetar Feb 25 2016 01:47 PM Re: Supermarket Maven Speaks

thing is, with a competent cashier and a swift customer (i.e., ready to pay. Credit card.) the number of items is really the smallest time factor. Bonus points if there is a bagger. Sometimes I get out of the store before the person checking out in front of me, in the rare case there is no self-checkout (where then I'm out faster than everyone else)

Lefty Specialist Feb 25 2016 01:51 PM Re: Supermarket Maven Speaks

batmagadanleadoff wrote: John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: I'm tellin ya about these heat-seeking cameras. It's the future. How are they gonna fix express line abuse? Let's just say it's a mistake you'll only make once.

themetfairy Feb 25 2016 02:44 PM Re: Supermarket Maven Speaks

d'Kong76 wrote: batmagadanleadoff wrote: How come supermarket express-line cashiers never enforce the x items or less rule? I think they're told to look the other way and let the other customers do the complaining and don't get involved other than just rolling their eyes at the complainer in a "I know, but douche-bags will be douche-bags fashion..." They are indeed told to look the other way. My daughter worked as a cashier at our local supermarket and she was instructed not to confront the douche-bags about it.

MFS62 Feb 25 2016 03:00 PM Re: Supermarket Maven Speaks

Life is too short to waste a moment of it being delayed by someone who has violated the "X items or less" sign to be ahead of me on a line. If the lines around me are too long to make it worth changing lines, I'll usually turn to the person behind me (who has also obeyed the rules) and say out loud, "too bad some people can't read". The violator won't cause a confrontation because they will obviously be in the wrong, the other folks in the line will support me and the satisfaction is worth any nasty look that person might give me. If there is nobody behind me on line, I'll just start counting aloud the number of items the person ahead of me has put on the conveyor belt. I dislike people who don't play by the rules, no matter how minor the rules. Later

dgwphotography Feb 25 2016 03:31 PM Re: Supermarket Maven Speaks

MFS62 wrote: Life is too short to waste a moment of it being delayed by someone who has violated the "X items or less" sign to be ahead of me on a line. If the lines around me are too long to make it worth changing lines, I'll usually turn to the person behind me (who has also obeyed the rules) and say out loud, "too bad some people can't read". The violator won't cause a confrontation because they will obviously be in the wrong, the other folks in the line will support me and the satisfaction is worth any nasty look that person might give me. If there is nobody behind me on line, I'll just start counting aloud the number of items the person ahead of me has put on the conveyor belt. I dislike people who don't play by the rules, no matter how minor the rules. Later LOL - I usually say something like, "This is what happens when people try Common core in real world applications..."

John Cougar Lunchbucket Feb 25 2016 04:03 PM Re: Supermarket Maven Speaks

batmagadanleadoff wrote: John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: I'm tellin ya about these heat-seeking cameras. It's the future. How are they gonna fix express line abuse? By reducing wait times at all lanes, shoppers less inclined to abuse product limits AND limits less likely to be required. If you think about it "10 items or less" is really just a stupid and failed strategy to reduce wait times in the first place. It doesn't by itself do anything. As you said it's just a sign. There's no science behind it. I have this company brochure here on my desk. It is awesome.

batmagadanleadoff Feb 25 2016 04:49 PM Re: Supermarket Maven Speaks Edited 2 time(s), most recently on Feb 25 2016 05:54 PM

I just remembered an even more outrageous supermarket line scam that I saw but forgot to mention in my earlier post. It's a bad-faith evolution of that honest situation where a group of two are on line (usually a married couple, again, but sometimes a parent and child) and while they're on line, one of them realizes that they sincerely forgot to pick up an item, so while one person holds their place in the line, the other goes to fetch the forgotten item. Here's the douchebag variation: One member of the group gets a small number of items and goes on the line. Meanwhile, the other member of the group does the rest of the shopping, which could be dozens of other items. The person already on the line is essentially reserving a spot on the line before they're finished picking up all of their other items. If the person on the line reaches the front of the line before his/her partner has arrived, he/she simply lets the next person in line go ahead. This scam only makes sense when the supermarket is very crowded, but I've seen this scam twice the past year.

Frayed Knot Feb 25 2016 05:39 PM Re: Supermarket Maven Speaks

batmagadanleadoff wrote: One member of the group gets a small number of items and goes on the line. Meanwhile, the other member of the group does the rest of the shopping, which could be dozens of other items. The person already on the line is essentially reserving a spot on the line before they're finished picking up their items. If the person on the line reaches the front of the line before his/her partner has arrived, he/she simply lets the next person in line go ahead. This scam only makes sense when the supermarket is very crowded, but I've seen this scam twice the past year. I had one of those incidents once. Husband pushing the cart separates from (considerably younger) wifey who walks toward an empty check-out line as he continues shopping. I assume, seeing as how she's empty-handed, that she's simply walking through the empty line to go fetch the car, or hit the CVS across the parking lot, or whatever. But then she stops short at the cashier causing me to skid to a stop when I realize she's not just waking through. "Oh, sorry" she says, as she notices me for the first time and decides that I'm worthy of going ahead (I didn't have much). Half a minute or so later, macho-looking hubby shows up and accusingly asks me why I jumped ahead of his wife. "Umm, because she told me I could" I cleverly replied. He then apologized (twice as I recall) but it was clear that this was a regular scheme of theirs and the fact that it didn't "work" this time immediately indicated to him that *I* must have done something wrong by scooting ahead of his trophy wife. And the stupid thing was, the upside of having this stunt getting them ahead of me rather than behind would have shaved a whole 45 seconds or so off of their day.

Frayed Knot Feb 25 2016 09:03 PM Re: Supermarket Maven Speaks

Fortunately my other supermarket pet peeve is dying out because no one pays cash anymore - well I do but I'm 3/4 of the way to being a fossil. It's when women who do pay in cash suddenly go diving head-first into their handbags (which of course are about the size of the one on Santa's sleigh) in a search for pennies after they're thrown into a state of shock because they're completely taken by surprise by the idea that the sum of their 27 items didn't add up to an even dollar amount. Look honey, if leaving the store with fewer pennies than you went in with is THAT important to you then have four of them at ready access in your pocket and then you'll be easily able to match any odd amount your bill comes to. But absent that minimal level of prep work, spare the rest of us the 10-minute archeological dig under the 4 cubic feet of stuff (including at least one pair of shoes) you've got in there for whatever copper Abes you can find, mmm'K?

seawolf17 Feb 26 2016 08:17 AM Re: Supermarket Maven Speaks

Frayed Knot wrote: Fortunately my other supermarket pet peeve is dying out because no one pays cash anymore - well I do but I'm 3/4 of the way to being a fossil. It's when women who do pay in cash suddenly go diving head-first into their handbags (which of course are about the size of the one on Santa's sleigh) in a search for pennies after they're thrown into a state of shock because they're completely taken by surprise by the idea that the sum of their 27 items didn't add up to an even dollar amount. Look honey, if leaving the store with fewer pennies than you went in with is THAT important to you then have four of them at ready access in your pocket and then you'll be easily able to match any odd amount your bill comes to. But absent that minimal level of prep work, spare the rest of us the 10-minute archeological dig under the 4 cubic feet of stuff (including at least one pair of shoes) you've got in there for whatever copper Abes you can find, mmm'K? That used to drive me BANANAS as a cashier. We had a contest in the store to see who was the fastest cashier, and those wasted seconds KILLED ME because I was usually at or near the top, and I hated when people wasted my time.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Feb 26 2016 08:29 AM Re: Supermarket Maven Speaks

From 4 minute average wait time to 30 seconds, wthout adding extra labor. Heat-detecting cameras.

Frayed Knot Feb 26 2016 08:33 AM Re: Supermarket Maven Speaks

seawolf17 wrote: That used to drive me BANANAS as a cashier. We had a contest in the store to see who was the fastest cashier, and those wasted seconds KILLED ME because I was usually at or near the top, and I hated when people wasted my time. "Oh wait young man, I have the three pennies" ... dives into pocketbook ... cue 'Jeopardy' music

seawolf17 Feb 26 2016 08:35 AM Re: Supermarket Maven Speaks

Frayed Knot wrote: seawolf17 wrote: That used to drive me BANANAS as a cashier. We had a contest in the store to see who was the fastest cashier, and those wasted seconds KILLED ME because I was usually at or near the top, and I hated when people wasted my time. "Oh wait young man, I have the three pennies" ... dives into pocketbook ... cue 'Jeopardy' music DO YOU UNDERSTAND THAT I'VE WON LIKE FIVE WEEKS IN A ROW, LADY? SCREW YOU AND YOUR THREE PENNIES.

Ceetar Feb 26 2016 08:45 AM Re: Supermarket Maven Speaks

did those images describe how this heat-sensing thing works, functionally? On a different note, did they explain why they're spending a whole ton of money to avoid just paying another employee? Does it actually work out better financially in the long run for the company, or only if they can pay the employees below livable wage? Is it much different than the NYC Whole Foods that have one line and direct you to the next available cashier by overhead monitor/announcement? These sorts of systems make it so one bad customer doesn't inhibit any of the others.

Lefty Specialist Feb 26 2016 10:08 AM Re: Supermarket Maven Speaks

seawolf17 wrote: Frayed Knot wrote: Fortunately my other supermarket pet peeve is dying out because no one pays cash anymore - well I do but I'm 3/4 of the way to being a fossil. It's when women who do pay in cash suddenly go diving head-first into their handbags (which of course are about the size of the one on Santa's sleigh) in a search for pennies after they're thrown into a state of shock because they're completely taken by surprise by the idea that the sum of their 27 items didn't add up to an even dollar amount. Look honey, if leaving the store with fewer pennies than you went in with is THAT important to you then have four of them at ready access in your pocket and then you'll be easily able to match any odd amount your bill comes to. But absent that minimal level of prep work, spare the rest of us the 10-minute archeological dig under the 4 cubic feet of stuff (including at least one pair of shoes) you've got in there for whatever copper Abes you can find, mmm'K? That used to drive me BANANAS as a cashier. We had a contest in the store to see who was the fastest cashier, and those wasted seconds KILLED ME because I was usually at or near the top, and I hated when people wasted my time. I hate to say it, but that's my wife. Drives me crazy as well. She's obsessed with getting rid of extra change.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Feb 26 2016 10:10 AM Re: Supermarket Maven Speaks

Ceetar wrote: did those images describe how this heat-sensing thing works, functionally? Thermal kinetic sensors. Cameras detect heat as light, people are hotter than checkstands and displays of Tide detergent, making it easy to distinguish or "count" them. From there you can "count" the hot things going to the deli, or the dairy section, or the exit, or in this case the check-out. Over time, and you'll see patterns that can help operators more efficiently schedule labor, but also, place things where they will best sell, manage energy, whatever. Do it over thousands of stores over time and it's even more effective. On a different note, did they explain why they're spending a whole ton of money to avoid just paying another employee? Does it actually work out better financially in the long run for the company, or only if they can pay the employees below livable wage? Doing things more efficiently should theoretically be better for everybody -- the company (more profits, high sales and market share) employees (more hours, better earning potential as results improve) and customers. Less waiting at the register ---> more frequent/larger $$ store visits --> more sales ---> more profits to the company ---> more fuel to invest in jobs/prices/customer service ---> more sales ---> more profits etc etc). KR which is doing this is a union shop in most places it operates so it's not like this is slave trade. Without exaggerating too much, it's one of the most successful companies in American history (not to go all supermarket maven on you, but retailers measure success by increasing sales at the same location over the same period year after year. If you're not growing in retail you're shrinking. Kroger has accomplished this every quarter for the last 12 years. It's astonishing, considering they did it right in the midst of a recession, amid unprecendented growth by Walmart, Whole Foods, Amazon etc. and with food now available at drug stores, dollar general, and Bed Bath and Beyond etc etc. Why? because of the thermal kinetics! (not really but shit like thermal kinetics. You're right it's expensive and one of the advantages is that competitors cannot all afford this). Beyond all that they are sort of the Moneyball of food retail -- they' make the best use of data and analytics, proprietary strategies etc). Is it much different than the NYC Whole Foods that have one line and direct you to the next available cashier by overhead monitor/announcement? These sorts of systems make it so one bad customer doesn't inhibit any of the others. Yet you can still wait 10 minutes to check out there. I am sure Whole Foods also counts customers and tries to schedule labor efficiently but they need to reapproach checkout to adapt to their massive volume and tiny size.

Ceetar Feb 26 2016 10:45 AM Re: Supermarket Maven Speaks

ahh, okay yeah that's interesting. well somewhat interesting. I'm wondering if it might be a waste of money at this junction. Could a lot of this be achieved via smartphone and NFC? Perhaps not without user opt-in which the heat stuff gets around I guess. I'd prefer the smartphone angle myself, though I know it poses privacy debates. But hell, how cool if my supermarket knew I ordered 1lb of chicken cold cuts every monday and detected me walking in and starting slicing? machine learning!

Frayed Knot Feb 26 2016 10:58 AM Re: Supermarket Maven Speaks

Lefty Specialist wrote: I hate to say it, but that's my wife. Drives me crazy as well. She's obsessed with getting rid of extra change. That alone isn't a problem; I'm usually a change-getting-ridder too. The problem comes when the fact that the purchase doesn't hit an exact round number **comes as a complete and utter surprise to folks** and only then do they even begin to commence a hunt for the loose coin at the bottom of the mondo-purse. I just keep my coins (if I happen to have any) in my pocket or, as the cashier is finishing, in my hand to quickly spit out the 3 cents, or 37 cents, or whatever makes it easier. And if it's not easy then I don't bother and will get rid of some next time.

cooby classic Feb 26 2016 11:29 AM Re: Supermarket Maven Speaks

Frayed Knot wrote: batmagadanleadoff wrote: One member of the group gets a small number of items and goes on the line. Meanwhile, the other member of the group does the rest of the shopping, which could be dozens of other items. The person already on the line is essentially reserving a spot on the line before they're finished picking up their items. If the person on the line reaches the front of the line before his/her partner has arrived, he/she simply lets the next person in line go ahead. This scam only makes sense when the supermarket is very crowded, but I've seen this scam twice the past year. I had one of those incidents once. Husband pushing the cart separates from (considerably younger) wifey who walks toward an empty check-out line as he continues shopping. I assume, seeing as how she's empty-handed, that she's simply walking through the empty line to go fetch the car, or hit the CVS across the parking lot, or whatever. But then she stops short at the cashier causing me to skid to a stop when I realize she's not just waking through. "Oh, sorry" she says, as she notices me for the first time and decides that I'm worthy of going ahead (I didn't have much). Half a minute or so later, macho-looking hubby shows up and accusingly asks me why I jumped ahead of his wife. "Umm, because she told me I could" I cleverly replied. He then apologized (twice as I recall) but it was clear that this was a regular scheme of theirs and the fact that it didn't "work" this time immediately indicated to him that *I* must have done something wrong by scooting ahead of his trophy wife. And the stupid thing was, the upside of having this stunt getting them ahead of me rather than behind would have shaved a whole 45 seconds or so off of their day. FK did they have goal?

cooby classic Feb 26 2016 11:30 AM Re: Supermarket Maven Speaks

seawolf17 wrote: Frayed Knot wrote: Fortunately my other supermarket pet peeve is dying out because no one pays cash anymore - well I do but I'm 3/4 of the way to being a fossil. It's when women who do pay in cash suddenly go diving head-first into their handbags (which of course are about the size of the one on Santa's sleigh) in a search for pennies after they're thrown into a state of shock because they're completely taken by surprise by the idea that the sum of their 27 items didn't add up to an even dollar amount. Look honey, if leaving the store with fewer pennies than you went in with is THAT important to you then have four of them at ready access in your pocket and then you'll be easily able to match any odd amount your bill comes to. But absent that minimal level of prep work, spare the rest of us the 10-minute archeological dig under the 4 cubic feet of stuff (including at least one pair of shoes) you've got in there for whatever copper Abes you can find, mmm'K? That used to drive me BANANAS as a cashier. We had a contest in the store to see who was the fastest cashier, and those wasted seconds KILLED ME because I was usually at or near the top, and I hated when people wasted my time. My mom still does this, and not just at the supermarket, lol

Frayed Knot Feb 26 2016 12:06 PM Re: Supermarket Maven Speaks

cooby wrote: FK did they have goal? Seemingly to "lay claim" to the check-out lane while it was empty until hubby returned after grabbing the final few items.

MFS62 Feb 28 2016 03:53 PM Re: Supermarket Maven Speaks

For folks who have worked at a supermarket- I get the impression that the stores put new hires and/or trainees at the "X items or less" checkout lines. I'm guessing its because the stores figure the newbies can't screw up large amounts of money if they only have to handle a few items. If so, it explains why letting shoppers with full carts onto those lines really messes things up because the newbies are overly cautious about the transactions and they also have to bag for themselves. Is this true? Later

seawolf17 Feb 28 2016 08:20 PM Re: Supermarket Maven Speaks

Nope. Well, not the case 25 years ago, anyway. Express was the plum spot, so it went to the longer-timers and/or better cashiers.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Mar 02 2016 09:25 PM Re: Supermarket Maven Speaks

Listen to the Maven tomorrow on your Marketplace morning report. At least that's what they tell me.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Mar 04 2016 09:56 AM Re: Supermarket Maven Speaks

I got pre-empted yesterday by that oil-and-gas executive who demonstrated how not to drive, but this aired this morning: http://www.marketplace.org/2016/02/29/w ... innovation

cooby classic Mar 04 2016 11:31 AM Re: Supermarket Maven Speaks

Like we already don't know how to not drive. Sheesh. Listening right now!