Canadian Retail Thread

[Djeffery]

Basically for the length of the pandemic up to now, I have used PC Express pickup at my local No Frills. Order online, go there at 9 on a Saturday morning and they load it into the car and off I go. Moved last week to a town a half hour away and the local No Frills here doesn't do curbside, you have to go in to get your pre-picked order. So we gave Walmart a shot. I have to say that it's handy how Walmarts have taken their former auto shops and made them grocery pickups at a few of the stores I have been by. But the big pain is that while No Frills just drops the bags in the back and off you go, Walmart brings out your order in plastic totes and the guy has to unload them item by item into whatever you have in the back (I put 4 laundry baskets there, but I saw one lady with just a pile of bags that the guy was packing). Took forever, especially since this was a "first groceries in our new house" order. I'm also very used to the brands we get from No Frills over the last 13 years.

Man, have I ever been spoiled and gotten lazy about groceries the last few years. I may give No Frills a shot with the indoor pickup, but I might decide if I'm doing that, I might as well just go back to shopping for myself too.

[MonctonRad]

Originally Posted by JHikka

The Zellers activation that i've walked past was quite literally a corner of a Bay location with a few red and white signs, some Zellers branded shelves, and...that's about it. Incredibly predictable from that company at this stage.

It's almost as if they are planning to fail. Or, perhaps a final vainglorious Hail Mary pass attempt.

[manny_santos]

Originally Posted by esquire

I visited a Dunkin Donuts in the US recently and there were no staff at the counter. They directed you to a kiosk (human interaction only provided at the drive thru). Which sucks because it takes 10 times as long to order than to just say it to a person.

I don't live there so obviously it was a one time deal. But I make a point of avoiding places where they expect you to use an order kiosk or scan your own order. Mainly because it takes way longer (the Dunkin kiosk) or the system is a total pain in the ass (self-scan at supermarkets). A year ago I walked out of a Walmart leaving a cart full of groceries behind when they told me they expected me to scan it all myself. That was the last time I ever did a grocery shop at Walmart beyond running in for a couple of items.

There is a Dollarama near me that is self checkout only... I never set foot in there and opt for the other ones instead.

I’ve heard that some Shoppers Drug Mart locations are forcing customers to use the self checkouts unless they’re paying with cash. I’ve only heard of this in Ontario.

I use self-checkout in some instances. I use it more at Walmart than anywhere else, because I got so tired of constantly being asked by the cashiers if I wanted their credit card. At Safeway I’ll use it if I have only a couple items but otherwise I’d rather go to a cashier, especially if I have produce or bakery items.

[urbandreamer]

I hate when idiots/luddites refuse to use self checkout. The tech has been around for ages - 20 years ago I briefly had a job building them. (I lost my temper watching an old friend have a melt down because she had to use them once, and proceeded to remove all the boxes from the frozen pizza etc - nuts.) The local No Frills often has 30+ ppl line up for cashiers meanwhile you can be out in minutes with self checkout. Also, since covid, it's safer to move quickly out the door and avoid interacting with often sick employees. Watch a YouTube video if the tech intimidates you. Since I tend to buy the same produce, I've memorized most of the codes.

No Frills, Food Basics, Walmart, SDM, Home Depot, Metro, Uniqlo etc - I love self checkout.

[SpongeG]

most Dollaramas have self-checkout now, I hate when I have to line up because they don't have self-checkout. I have problems with some of the Save-on-foods self-checkouts, In some of the older stores the savings card will not scan, and then I have to go line up for a cashier cause without the card price some items are just way too expensive. Overall I don't mind self-checkouts. As I may have mentioned before, in Australia almost all the stores were 90% self-checkout and at most one real live cashier, I assume it is due to the very high minimum wage they have down there, the way they set up their checkouts is very easy to navigate.

[Djeffery]

Originally Posted by urbandreamer

I hate when idiots/luddites refuse to use self checkout.

Yep, given the choice for the same level of convenience for me, I'll use the staffed checkout. But I'm not standing in a long line thinking I'm making a political statement to the company that I refuse to use those devil spawn self checkouts. There is no level of minimum wage that would stop retailers from using them. Technology improves and jobs change, and different jobs get created as a result.

[toaster]

Doesn't bother me if someone doesn't want to use self-checkout, actually it usually means there is a shorter wait for me to use the self-checkout. Older people aren't in a rush, they don't mind waiting, they like interacting with a person. Why does something like that bother you?

[MonctonRad]

Live and let live. As long as the option exists for individuals to choose either self service or traditional checkouts, then who cares?

I personally never use the self serve checkouts. This is a personal choice. Other people may have difficulty with self serve because of emotional, intellectual or physical limitations. These people should not be discriminated against.

Likewise with retailers who have elected not to allow cash transactions in their stores. This is blatantly discriminatory, and is a not-too-subtle strategy at avoiding service to the poor or unhoused who may not have banking cards or any form.

Retailers should serve the entirety of the population, not just an entitled subset thereof.

[MolsonExport]

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[MolsonExport]

Originally Posted by manny_santos

I’ve heard that some Shoppers Drug Mart locations are forcing customers to use the self checkouts unless they’re paying with cash. I’ve only heard of this in Ontario.

I use self-checkout in some instances. I use it more at Walmart than anywhere else, because I got so tired of constantly being asked by the cashiers if I wanted their credit card. At Safeway I’ll use it if I have only a couple items but otherwise I’d rather go to a cashier, especially if I have produce or bakery items.

Galen Weston has to make more money! Spare a thought for poor ol' Galen, who froze prices for three months on his No-Name products!


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[esquire]

Originally Posted by Djeffery

Yep, given the choice for the same level of convenience for me, I'll use the staffed checkout. But I'm not standing in a long line thinking I'm making a political statement to the company that I refuse to use those devil spawn self checkouts. There is no level of minimum wage that would stop retailers from using them. Technology improves and jobs change, and different jobs get created as a result.

I'm not making a political statement by refusing to use them, it's simply my desire to avoid something that is inconvenient. The store is taking something that is their problem (paying a cashier to ring up groceries) and making it my problem.

Maybe some day when the technology improves and I don't have the little red light come on for every 20th item I'd consider doing it. But it is way too wonky to make me want to use it now. Same thing with the fast food restaurants...when the day comes where I can tell a kiosk "medium coffee, 1 milk, 1 sugar", tap my card and move on then I'll use it. But the ridiculous setup where you have to navigate 10 pages just to order a coffee is one that I will happily avoid.

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by esquire

I'm not making a political statement by refusing to use them, it's simply my desire to avoid something that is inconvenient. The store is taking something that is their problem (paying a cashier to ring up groceries) and making it my problem.

Maybe some day when the technology improves and I don't have the little red light come on for every 20th item I'd consider doing it. But it is way too wonky to make me want to use it now. Same thing with the fast food restaurants...when the day comes where I can tell a kiosk "medium coffee, 1 milk, 1 sugar", tap my card and move on then I'll use it. But the ridiculous setup where you have to navigate 10 pages just to order a coffee is one that I will happily avoid.

I am with you on this one. I only use the self checkouts reluctantly and if I only have 2-3 easily scannable items. For that I have to admit they are pretty handy.

You've also touched upon an annoying thing about our era: technology that is supposed to make our lives simpler ends up making it more complicated.

Like having to open an account with your email, phone number and password just to order a bloody pizza or make a reservation in a restaurant. Or in some cases even buying a bag of pet food - in person!

[niwell]

I don't particularly like the idea of self-checkouts (or at least full replacement), but as someone who rarely shops at chain grocery stores and even more infrequently does the "big shop" I do find myself using them when available. However, the only reason is because I only have a few items and only a fraction of the actual cashier lanes are open with massive lines of people with full carts. Usually there isn't a line for self-checkout. Of course if I have beer/wine then they aren't an option, regardless of how few other items I have with me.

I would much rather order online or to make a reservation than talk on the phone though, even if it takes more time in the long run. Years in retail have given me an intense aversion to talking to anyone on the phone if I can avoid it. Totally fine with going into places in person to order / check them out just hate the phone - I find a lot of people in my age group are similar. We still remember what it was like to have to do it.

[harls]

Originally Posted by niwell

Of course if I have beer/wine then they aren't an option, regardless of how few other items I have with me.

You can buy beer or wine at a self-checkout in Quebec.. you just have to wait for the 'supervisor' person to come and wave their magic wand and confirm you aren't a kid.

[Nashe]

I'm getting faster, but I'll never be able to self-check out as fast as a cashier can. I use self checkout when 1) the lines for cashiers are long or 2) I only have a couple of items and none of them are "problematic" (produce, weird sale items).

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by harls

You can buy beer or wine at a self-checkout in Quebec.. you just have to wait for the 'supervisor' person to come and wave their magic wand and confirm you aren't a kid.

Yes, the "supervisor person" often aged 15-16 who checks that you're over 18.

One of my kids worked as a cashier in a supermarket at one time and was selling beer and wine at the age of 15.

[niwell]

Originally Posted by harls

You can buy beer or wine at a self-checkout in Quebec.. you just have to wait for the 'supervisor' person to come and wave their magic wand and confirm you aren't a kid.

Now that I think about it, it may just be a No Frills rule that doesn't allow it. I've had someone check my ID at a Metro self check-out.

[manny_santos]

Originally Posted by urbandreamer

I hate when idiots/luddites refuse to use self checkout. The tech has been around for ages - 20 years ago I briefly had a job building them. (I lost my temper watching an old friend have a melt down because she had to use them once, and proceeded to remove all the boxes from the frozen pizza etc - nuts.) The local No Frills often has 30+ ppl line up for cashiers meanwhile you can be out in minutes with self checkout. Also, since covid, it's safer to move quickly out the door and avoid interacting with often sick employees. Watch a YouTube video if the tech intimidates you. Since I tend to buy the same produce, I've memorized most of the codes.

No Frills, Food Basics, Walmart, SDM, Home Depot, Metro, Uniqlo etc - I love self checkout.

At the local Safeway, I find the cashiers to be much faster than the self-checkout. On quite a few occasions I've gone in and seen a long lineup - up to 10 people - waiting for the self-checkout while there are multiple cashier lanes open with either no lineup or only one customer who is already having their groceries scanned.

I live in a neighbourhood that skews much younger than the rest of Metro Vancouver; as a generalization I find the self-checkouts at this particular Safeway are used mostly by people under 40 while the checkout lanes are used by mostly older people.

[Ozabald]

Originally Posted by harls

You can buy beer or wine at a self-checkout in Quebec.. you just have to wait for the 'supervisor' person to come and wave their magic wand and confirm you aren't a kid.

Same with the grocery stores in Ontario which sell beer & wine; as well as the grocery stores in BC which sell wine.

[acottawa]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

It's almost as if they are planning to fail. Or, perhaps a final vainglorious Hail Mary pass attempt.

I still think there is a niche for a discount store that is nicer than Walmart and Giant Tiger, but the execution doesn't seem to work.