Outsourcing at the drive-thru

[MouseWife]

Originally Posted by Cadaverous Pallor

As someone who works with self-checkout technology, I don't see this as an insult to my station. It would be an insult to everyone's intelligence if these jobs that have been rendered so simple anyone can do them still required salaried people to do them.

I've probably posted this before. I love it when I get a patron who comes to the desk and says "I came to you because I want you to keep your job." I smile, scan their card with one hand and pull their stack of books onto the pad with the other. After 2 seconds, I push the books back. "Due in 3 weeks." They blink and sputter, saying, "is that it?" Yes, yes it is.

It's easy for me to say, since there are still plenty of tasks at the library that require my help. But while I hate it when anyone loses their job, I'd also not want to pay for salaries when the jobs really aren't necessary.

I understand the self-checkout technology, and I also use it. I guess I should have said I feel insulted when my lead talks about replacing the cashiers. As a threat.

I also have had the guests who say they would not like the self-check out as they want to see people like me there, have a nice word and a smile. With the cut back of staff, people have come up to me quite upset saying they had no one to help them find something and they wouldn't be back. I guess I like old fashioned customer service myself. I love visiting the small towns and enjoy the rapport.

iSm~I hear you on the fact that regular people can ring themselves up. I'm not a cashier by 'trade', I came by it mostly as a dare. I feel I can be a bit objective as I am more of a shopper, or, even, looking at it from the customers point of view and how to best serve and please them. I really don't see it as a plus to get rid of the front line of service. While people can do it, I come across a lot of people who would rather not. It amazes me, sometimes, but, some people barely know how to shop, let alone pay.

I wouldn't call cashiers expensive labor....and, of late, they've cut the amount quite a lot, very little time to do the other tasks they have for us.

But yes, that it what I meant~they won't realize that they need to pay people to have people shop. I actually sometimes wonder how stores exist, what with on line shopping.

We have one of those two lane McDonalds~I've experienced mix ups. Aw man, a bummer when the line is so long at In & Out that they have someone in the parking lot taking orders!!!