Impossible to be served by a human being in Tesco

fionajbanana

Coopdivi wrote: »

The cheapest prices, generally, tend to be in stores like Aldi and Lidl which don't, to my knowledge, have self-service tills.

Though I like these two places, they don't seem to help those customers like me that buy a few items. Some customers see me with a few items and they let me go in front of them.

I once saw a customer just buying milk in Aldi and he was queueing up for ages and no-one let him through. I thought, why couldn't he visit Iceland and he could have got home and made and drank a cup of tea in the time he was queueing in Aldi

mattyprice4004

goonarmy wrote: »

Why not use it? It slows others down-so what?

Goon army indeed - balls to others, as long as I get what I want it's fine!

keyser666

MarkBargain wrote: »

If a customer doesn't like the (lack of) service a company provides they have a right to moan on a forum like this and to choose to shop elsewhere. That's part of capitalism.

The tills have been around years, but this was the first time I had NO OPTION but to use them. Yes, I could have put my shopping back and left but I mean I could see no other tills where I could be served properly.

Auto-checkouts may suit some people some of the time, but don't force them on all people all of the time.

You did have an option, the counter at the front would have served you, I have had them do a whole basket before when I needed cigarettes and didnt want to queue twice and easily had 15-20 items

Money-Saving-King

Moglex wrote: »

An almost childishly naive view and of course one that is just about completely wrong and denies the ability of companies to become more or less popular than their competitors.

It would only be true if all the supermarkets did exactly the same thing at the same time.

In reality, it's likely that one supermarket will change to self service (or make any other change) more aggressively than the others and IF this is something that is popular or unpopular with customers the supermarket in question will be rewarded or punished accordingly.

This is basic competition theory that is well proven in practice and it's weird that any adult who considers themself even vaguely well informed is not aware of it.

That's complete rubbish to state that my view is childish & naive. I know the retail sector inside out! I'm not talking about a specific thing like self service but the idea that people think that a shop will have one less customer. They completely miss the point someone else who shops somewhere else will say exactly the same thing & shop in store the store the original person was moaning about. They just shuffle about!

The vast majority of companies that have struggled has been because they haven't adapted to the vast way the people spend and shop eg not providing click & collect services, having decent websites, using home delivery (Supermarkets).

Self service on the whole doesn't seem to be making much of an impact on Supermarkets growth. Many people like it. Asda seem to have more than others and are currently performing very well.

System

Azari wrote: »

Personally I prefer "How are you, Good thanks", to:

"Unexpected item in the baggage area"

"Please place item in the baggage area"

"Unexpected item in the baggage area"

"Stop slouching"

"Get a haircut"

"Unexpected item in the baggage area"

Self service checkouts can be so judgemental.............

Azari

Money-Saving-King wrote: »

That's complete rubbish to state that my view is childish & naive. I know the retail sector inside out! I'm not talking about a specific thing like self service but the idea that people think that a shop will have one less customer. They completely miss the point someone else who shops somewhere else will say exactly the same thing & shop in store the store the original person was moaning about. They just shuffle about!

As far as I can see, what you have quoted hits the nail on the head and you are the one missing the point.

You are correct in instances where, for example, all the supermarkets do something unpopular (e.g. put the price of milk up), at the same time.

But when one of them does something contentious and the others don't, or one does it to a greater extent, it may not just be shuffling about but there may be an overall change in market share. (Which could go either way.)

This is basic retail theory and explains one of the reasons (investment in expansion being another obvious one), why the largest trader in any category does not necessarily remain the largest trader.

Money-Saving-King

Azari wrote: »

As far as I can see, what you have quoted hits the nail on the head and you are the one missing the point.

As I said. I was making a bran new point & not commenting on anything specific eg introducing self service tills.

goonarmy

mattyprice4004 wrote: »

Goon army indeed - balls to others, as long as I get what I want it's fine!

Exactly. If i buy a rolls and you buy a kia dont come crying to me when the rolls is better.
Its offered, its paid for if you want quick and convinent shop on line. If i had one item id be quicker than a person doing the weekly shop so would you like to limit the amount of items i buy? Youre showing a lack of understanding of retail.

Exile_geordie

MarkBargain wrote: »

I try to avoid Tesco stores generally, but did go in the one opposite Liverpool Street station today to get some shopping. I noted that all the normal checkouts had been replaced by those awful automated machines, and the only person serving was at a '5 items or fewer' tobacco counter. As I had about 10 items, I had no option but to use a machine to check out. It came up with errors messages causing a red light to flash but no staff came over for some time so I was left frustrated. Some shoppers with trolleys were loading quite a bit through those machines.

When did we decides as a society that:

A) We would pack our shopping ourselves for free?
We would not employ checkout operators meaning fewer jobs for the British economy and probably therefore less tax income, a higher benefits bill and a bigger national deficit?

I won't be going back in that store.

This is not true. They are down the right hand side of the store.

But that Tesco is rammed all day, from when it opens to when it closes, they need to get people out as quick as possible so self service can be the quickest way for managing that.

Lovelyjoolz

goater78 wrote: »

They don't really sell branded goods though. It's all cheaper versions of main brand products. Plus they work the staff like dogs so employ less and keep the costs down!

Incorrect. You can buy lots of brands in Aldi & Lidl. Heinz, HP, Hellmans - they are all available.

My friend's daughter worked there throughout her Uni course and reckons they treat their staff better than Tesco do. They pay around £8 per hour rather than NMW and consistently provide full-time hours, which I'm told Tesco doesn't do.