I hate grocery shopping. I’ll try just about anything to minimize the time I waste in grocery stores. So I was delighted when I recently encountered Stop & Shop‘s new Easy Shop system. (ed. 13-Mar-2009: The system is called Scan It!, not Easy Shop, in our area.)
All you need to do is swipe your customer card at a kiosk, pick up a hand scanner (ergonomically designed, high contrast color screen, made by Motorola), collect a few empty bags (paper or plastic or, for you greenies, use your own reusable bags) and go hit the aisles. Scan your items as you shop and load your bags the way you want them loaded. Along the way, the scanner periodically spams you with relevant special deals that might interest you. And when you’re finished, the scanner quickly uploads its list to the register. A quick credit card transaction and you’re out the door!
Naturally I was interested in what others had to say about the new system, and I wasn’t surprised to find that many (most?) don’t like it. After all, out here on the Web we love to complain! (Google “Stop & Shop” and “Easy Shop” and see for yourself.) One of the big complaints seems to be that it would put cashiers out of work. Do you really presume to think that by assuming a tiny bit of inconvenience you can preserve someone’s position? Besides, I love to talk to anyone and everyone and I have not met a single cashier yet that actually likes their job. Other users don’t care for the random audits, feeling like they’ve been singled out. I don’t know what triggers an audit and I’ve only used the system once (no audit), but I don’t know how else they could detect shrinkage or ensure customer honesty.
There is an RFID-based system being developed – I think it’s being tested in Germany – whereby you simply load up your cart and push it out the door. No hand scanning is necessary and your entire order is tallied en masse as you exit, billed automatically to your credit card. It sounds intriguing but I think we’re safe for a while.
Oh and before you ask, yes, I have tried Peapod. The service is well worth the fee, but the product selection is… suboptimal.
You could be right, it might not be worth the the trouble. But then again, for just a few items you might want to try just carrying a bag. That’s what I do when I’m on the Harley and have a just few things to pick up. It lets me pack my own carrier for the ride while I shop. Then it’s pay, leave, bungee and go. Double the time savings: at the register and no need to repack to ride.
But see http://blog.timeoff.org/rick/2009/04/07/revisiting-scan-it/ for more of my experiences with the system.
ScanIt! goes live in my local store tomorrow (4/6).
Given that I walk to the store, buy about 5 items tops, the scanner doodad just seems like an extra thing to juggle.
Increased complaining on your part … simple. You’re turning into a grumpy old man. :D
Heh, when Google’s Chrome browser goes tits-up that’s the error dialogue – “Aw, snap!” – I wonder if it’s a coincidence…
Funny you should mention my complaining, though. I’ve noticed that I seem to be complaining more and more lately, and I don’t particularly like it. I’m usually more of an upbeat kind of guy. Life’s pretty good, plenty have it way worse off than me (for which I’m plenty grateful, BTW).
Maybe it’s the weather. This winter has been… trying. There I go again.
I wonder when this will hit my local Stop & Shop? Peapod is out — food stamps won’t pay the fee.
Now I’ll have a new quandry — whether I’d rather play cashier at the self-checkout or play laser tag against vegetables?
BTW, in Connecticut, food stamps are now known as S.N.A.P. — Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. Yes, folks, your tax dollars, hard at work, paid a committee to rename food stamps with no other changes to the program! (I put this here so it looks like Rick complaining instead of me :-)