The conceptual problem with self service checkouts

I have come to realise that there is a major problem with the concept of self service checkouts in supermarkets.

When I come to a conventional till, with conveyor belts each side of the scanner, I can place the products on the first conveyor in the order which I wish to pack them in the bags.  For example I always try to pack bread last, as you can end up with a ruined loaf if it is underneath something heavy.  This also applies if there are ‘solid’ items each side, as when you carry the bags the ends pull in and compress everything from how it was packed.

With a self scan checkout you do not have the space to lay out the products in how you wish to pack them, and if you try to re-arrange them when packing, then it affects the scales and repeatedly alarms, requiring the duty member of staff who patrols the tills to come and clear the error.

About 10 days ago I was in a queue for the ‘traditional’ basket only till, when a member of staff asked me if I would use the automatic till.  I said I would as long as it did not keep causing problems.  I then had, in 1 bags worth of shopping, 6 error messages, and I was not messing around with the scales – I was digging things out of the basket in the order I wished to pack them, which was difficult in itself!

So, these are my conclusions on self service checkouts – probably fine for 5 or 6 items, but for any more, in their current layout anyway, impracticable.

Your reciept is in the bag.

This weekend I have been carrying out one of my least favourite tasks – shopping. 

I have decided that I want to get to be as famous  / rich as the ilk of Michael Jackson, so that when I go shopping I don’t have to put up with hoardes of people in my way!!  Even with getting there early and being in as soon as the shops open, it was still hassle.

The most annoying bit to me is when the staff at the till take it upon themselves to put your reciept in the bag.  Why would I want the reciept on the bag?  Personally, and I assume the same with most people, bags tend to either get binned or put in a pile/drawer to be re-used, then never do before beign thrown out.  I try to keep reciepts in my wallet, then transfer into a little drawer I have for them at home.

Being cynical (as I always am), I believe this is done purposefully so the customer is less likely to have the reciept if it is put in the bag, therefore being advantageous to the company if there is a problem with the purchase, or an exchange is wanted.

At the least I would prefer to be givn the option ‘Would you like the reciept in the bag’ rather than a statement that it will be put in the bag, so I at least have an option.

I have also in the past given someone a present without realising that the reciept was still in the bag – not an ideal happening.

Hopefully by the end of this week, my Christmas Shopping will be done (but I dare say this will not be the case), and I won’t have to brave the shops until this time next year.

Better be safe than sorry

I know it’s a drum often beaten, but sometimes I feel the health and safety / compensation culture has gone a step too far.

Take for example the allergy advice on this salmon I bought recently:

The Election – just underwhelmed really

For the past few months I have been actually kind of looking forward to the election and the media circus that goes with it.  In a sad way I actually enjoy the media going a bit overload on politics, if only because you see politicians sqwirm.

But now it’s here, I’m pretty underwhelmed by it.  I’m beginning to think all of the main parties are pretty much the same.  I’m beginning to think I shall base my vote on the actual people standing in my constituency, and who will best represent the needs of the public.

The whole debate about  the leaders, and their policies (which they don’t seem very keen to actually discuss very much) seems a bit irrelevant really, as with the state of the economy whoever gets in is going to have to make drastic savings on public spending.

The more I think about the whole set up, the whole political ‘party’ organisation is far from ideal.  If only everyone were Independents!!

I think the best outcome for my opinion would be a hung parliament where all the main parties, and maybe some of the others such as the Nationalists (although it gets messy here) form a coalition government.  My only fear about this is that the politicians would spend more time arguing than getting on with the proper business of running the country.

I also believe that irrespective of which party wins the election, there is only so much they can do to influence the business of government.  Each of the departments are such huge organisations, I cannot see that they will all suddenly change the way they operate – it would take months, probably years, and take massive amounts of bureaucracy!

The Madness of the British Airways Strike

I can’t claim to know a lot about the airline industry – in fact very much at all – but I can’t understand the decision of British Airways’ staff to strike.  I don’t know the details of the disagrement, I just cannot see stirking as being in anyone’s interest!

Are they not aware we are in a recession, and their company are losing money hand over fist?  If British Airways is to survive, it obviously needs to change, and the strikes are going to alienate any loyal or other customers they have.

I can’t speak for everyone, but most people in the industry I work in have had salaries reduced or at the best frozen for three years while the cost of living has escalated like a runaway train.  Yet, in the main, although we moan, we realise there are plenty who have been made redundant, and are glad not to be unemployed.  However it appears the British Airways staff seem to be ignorant of these facts!

I would imagine the staff would be better off negotiating a settlement with management, or they will end up in a position where BA, or more likely a ‘partner’ brought in to save the company, will impose drastic changes on them with a lump it or like it approach, as I cannot see the company becoming profitable in it’s current guise.

Customer Service

I must be getting old.

Twice today, whilst out partaking in my least favourite pastime of shopping, I recieved what I deem inadequate service!

Currys was the first place to test my patience, and I really ought to know better having had ‘issues’ there in the past.  I had looked through the boxes of the products on the shelves, and could not find the answer I wanted, so asked a member of staff.  Firstly, I found his manner to be unsuitably familiar.  After asking him about the products I found he then started to read the boxes, so obviously had no more knowledge than me of them!  After a few minutes he obviously realised he was lost, as he gave me a dismissive answer and walked away!  I had to call him back to query the answer he gave me, saying it contradicted the information on the Currys label on the shelf, at which point he admitted he was wrong!

After leaving Currys, I tried my luck at Debenhams.  Here the staff were even less knowledgable about the products. During a discussion, which involved two members of staff, I had to point out the product references.  After deciding that I would purchase an item, the two assistants continued their discussion between themselves, which was obviously highly amusing to them.  Somehow, the PIN machine was displaying the instructions in a different language, which the two assitants bickered about which of them had done it as a joke!  I would consider that a pretty serious item to be messing about with!

After this episode I decided I had had enough and came home.  Shopping is never fun at the best of times, but today was awful.

So, am I becoming a grumpy old man, or has customer service truly become worse over the years? 

Is it because I am generally in a bad mood anyway when shopping that things annoy me that wouldn’t otherwise?

I don’t think so, because I quite enjoyed earlier visits to Poundland, a book shop, Clarks and Wilkinson.

Happy St Piran’s Day!

Just a quick note to wish everyone Happy St Piran’s Day.

Not organised this year, would have liked to have had a pasty (a proper one) and some heavy cake, but don’t unfortunately.  Not too worried about the lack of Mead though!

Royal Mail – stuck in the past or futuristic?

Last week I recieved a letter.  Not unusual in itself, although pleasingly it was not a bill!

Anyway, after opening it, I happened to concentrate on the envelope:

 

Now, I am aware that at certain times of the year, or for special occasions, Royal Mail add a relevant slogan or image to the ‘frank’ which is applied over the stamp. 

Adding a message encouraging the sending of Valentines Cards is a sensible marketing tool I would think.

It struck me this envelope must have been delayed, as it was well past Valentines Day by the time I go the letter. So I had a second glance, and literally laughed out loud!

 

Now, I am unsure if Royal Mail are simply a bit behind the times, or decided that the campaign worked so well they would leave it there for next year!!

BBC Winter Olympics Snowboard Cross Coverage

I admit to being a bit of a sports maniac.  I’ll probably watch any sport before other types of television.  I ameven beginning to find I actually enjoy the sport better on Television than physically being there in some occasions, but for experiencing the occasion believe it is still better to be there.

So, the BBC’s coverage of the Olympic Cross last night.

I must point out I have never watched this sport before, but I could spot major errors.

For a start, why do the BBC need to keep showing repeats?  Their coverage of the Mens Downhill had only finished a couple of hours before, so they decide to show highlights?  I could understand if it was of the British guy, who went after the original coverage finished, but they saved that for later on in the programme.

To begin the coverage of the snowboarding, the two ‘commentators’ did a piece to camera.  For some reason they were wearing ski goggles.  Perhaps the only route to the commentary box involved high speed racing?

The female commentator had never taken part in this discipline, and appeared to have spoken to some of the riders last week, as she commented a number of times.  That is obviously research.  She mumbled in the background, talked over the co-commentator and even shouted when something happened outside the window of the commentary box, whilst we were watching a replay.  “I was looking out the window” she confirmed – now that is professionalism.

Filling the sections between the racing they had Clare Balding and Kerrin Lee-Gartner, who it transpired both knew very little about the sport.  A fact they didn’t bother trying to hide.

We had occurences of the male commentator quoting a Canadian as being in the lead, who was not even in the race.  We were informed a Russian had crashed out when in actual fact he was still there in 2nd place.  Many times they did not appear to know who was who.

Had they actually practised commentating on such an event prior to this?  Sometimes I wondered if these two ‘experts’ has ever seen the sport at all before, judging by the level of excitement they worked themselves into during every race.  We knew the male one had as he mentioned (just a few times) he had raced against one of the competitors once.  He seemed quite upset when this guy crashed out, moments after talking up his chances.

To cap it all, as soon as the competitors crossed the line for the final, the BBC cut to  Balding, who ended the programme.  No views of the winner being congratulated, no confirmation there was no disqualifications, no general review of the competition.

The event was quite fabulous.  I had not seen it previously, but would definitely watch it again.  But the coverage was appalling.  I would say the event was worthy of a mainstream channel, but the BBC’s effort was definitely not.

I imagine with the quick turnaround of legs it would be hard to keep up, and with the colours of the vests / start gates seemingly bearing no relation to the running order it would be a bit confusing, but surely they knew the format prior to the day?  A simple bit of preparation with sheets ready for each race with just names to fill in would surely have been beneficial.

I feel the event would have been far better served by using an experienced sports commentator, even if they did not have encyclopedic knowledge of the event.  Can’t imagine Barry Davies, Paul Dickenson, Matt Chilton or even John Motson getting so many competitors confused.

Winter Olympics – a lack of spectacle

I have to confess, although I have concerns over the financial aspect of hosting the Olympics, I am looking forward to 2012 as a sporting event.

I was surprised by the lack of build up the Winter Olympics therefore recieved until the last week or so, being as it is fairly relevant to London 2012.

With the olympics having been in full swing now for 2 days, I have lost any enthusiasm about the event.

Maybe I am comparing it to summer olympiad, where the coverage is full of stories of multiple events happening all at the same time, and medal ceremonies occuring at a rate of knots.  Maybe I have failed to consider the Winter Olympics has a far smaller amount of events than it’s big brother?  Maybe the very sad death of the luge competitor in training has tainted the spirit of the event? Or maybe the events are starting at only a trickle, and we shall get into full swing in due course.

Being a weekend, I watched some Olympics coverage on the BBC this afternoon.  I have now turned on to the evening’s ‘Live’ coverage, which so far is a lot more talking about what may happen than any action.  While the actual sports coverage they have shown was repeated from earlier today.

There has been so much media coverage of negative aspects of the games, from the Canadians not allowing access to other nations for training, to controversy over people selected for the torch relay, and the weather being unsuitable. 

I am hoping that the momentum picks up a bit, and will provide some much needed inspiration for the people of London, and the UK as a whole, to get behind 2012.