Detroit CVS Stores Getting "U-Scans"

[DetroitDad]

This had to have been added in the past week or so. The 24 hour CVS on Warren and Brush, in Midtown, now has a bank of U-scan machines. While I'm not happy about losing the face to face customer service, it does seem to have solved the issues with excessively long lines.

[Russix]

I've stepped into what I thought was the end of the line before there only to be told politely that the line continues quite abit down one of the aisles.

[CLAUDE G]

I've stepped into what I thought was the end of the line before there only to be told politely that the line continues quite abit down one of the aisles.

I have had that happen to me a few times, and I had the manager try to tell me the end of the line was 3 times longer than I thought it was. I said to him that he needed to open more registers if the line was this long, and the responce was he was short of staff that day [[Although I didn't see him working) . I put my purchases on the shelf in the aisle right in front of the manager, and walked out of the store.

I'll tell ya, some of these people who go to drug stores drive me insane with the amount of time they waste at the register...

The got to spend 5 minutes looking for their special shopper discount card...

They got to make sure the item they bought is in the flier so they can get the discount. If it doesn't scan, then they want to see a manager or won't buy it

Then when you thought it was bad enough they write a check to pay for $5 worth of groceries.

Yea, im all for the U-Scans. Im tied of going in there for a bottle of cough syrup and spending 20 minutes in line dealing with the billshit.

[Bearinabox]

Im tied of going in there for a bottle of cough syrup and spending 20 minutes in line dealing with the billshit.

God, don't get me started on Bill and his bowel control issues.

[wolverine]

God, don't get me started on Bill and his bowel control issues.

Ha, you got me thinking of the incidents where some customer is requesting assistance in one of the aisles by pushing the button.

"Assistance is need in the anti-acids aisle"

4 minutes later

"Assistance is needed in the anti-acids aisle"
"Assistance is needed in the anti-...."
"Assistance is needed....."
""Assistance is...."

Okay already, quit pushing the button!

[DetroitHabitater]

about a year and a half ago CVS came to a corktown meeting and said that it would build a store on the north west corner of MLK/Trumbull/GrandRiver.....nothing ever happened. I assume it died. Anymore info out there?

[Huggybear]

See how long that lasts in that store...

[Meddle]

Worst idea they ever came up with for retailers.

Not a wise idea for customers at all.

[kraig]

They seem to work well at Meijers, Kroger, Home Depot, Lowes and Costco. What's the big deal?

[Meddle]

For one thing, we need more jobs, not less.

[DetroitDad]

For one thing, we need more jobs, not less.

I agree, but what they did was improve productivity, and passed that savings on to the customers, possibly with the hope that it will put them at a competitive advantage.

[DetroitPole]

I agree, but what they did was improve productivity, and passed that savings on to the customers, possibly with the hope that it will put them at a competitive advantage.

Okay, do we have anything besides corporate doublespeak to back this up? When I worked at Farmer Jack, they were introduced in 2000. Since then, grocery prices have skyrocketed. I know there are obviously plenty of other factors, namely fuel [[buying local would help this) but the U-Scans sure don't seem to make a dent in what I have to pay.

People who use those things are chumps. You realize when you go to these stores much of the markup is for having an employee there to help you and ring you up and bag your groceries for you, right? I guess if you want to do more work for yourself and pass the savings on to the company, who can then go and cut their staff even further, then by all means!!!

When they started there were four U-Scans for each clerk manning them [[which was always hell). Now there are 10 in some cases. They told the union they wouldn't eliminate jobs, heh.

We lament the loss of our manufacturing but remember Farmer Jack? Well, those were union jobs too. Those cashier ladies [[and men, but they were primarily older ladies at my store) could be earning $14/hr in a few years and work good shifts with seniority. A lot of them depended on that. Now, you're lucky to earn $14 anywhere, and you'll be earning $8/hr at best at Wal-Mart. It's cliche but we've raced to the bottom, folks. Keep scanning and bagging your own groceries and drive off in your import.

As an aside, virtually every time I've waited in line with a small item, people with large amount of groceries will let me go in front of them. You know, it probably helps if you don't sit there and cuss about the line or scowl at people or whatever. I'll sure as hell never use U-Scans though.

[East Detroit]

People who use those things are chumps. You realize when you go to these stores much of the markup is for having an employee there to help you and ring you up and bag your groceries for you, right? I guess if you want to do more work for yourself and pass the savings on to the company, who can then go and cut their staff even further, then by all means!!!

And how about the cart corrals?

[Gistok]

People who use those things are chumps.

Hey chump, how's that self serve gas station working out for you???

And for God's sake don't use a credit card at the pump... go inside and pay the cashier first before pumping gas... we need to keep them working as well.

If you want to pay 10-15 cents extra for full service gas stations... there's a few in Grosse Pointe and St. Clair Shores I can point out to you....

I hope you're still dialing "0" for the operator to make all your phone calls for you?? We want to keep as many operators employed as possible.

This silly thread keeps reappearing in different variations about every 3 months....

For those who have problems with the U-Serves... here's a tip... only pick up one item at a time to scan, and then place in the bagging area... don't be holding 4 yogurt containers in one hand thinking that you'll speed up the process.... you won't!

While many of you are loathe to use new technology and prefer to stand in line while the people in front of you are sorting thru their coupons to give to the cashier before they ask the cashier for a pen to write their checks.... the rest of us will spend our 2 minutes at the U-Serve... and get on with the rest of our lives....

I too used to work for the food retail workers union 876... doesn't mean I'm not sensitive to their issues.... but really... when I was a cashier, we rang out each item on the register by hand... there weren't any scanners. Does that mean we should avoid stores with scanners as well??

We're not the Amish... so this "selective" use of only "some" technology is rather hypocritical....

P.S. DetroitDad, I'm not admonishing your initial post... but these threads always seem to go off on illogical tangents...

[rid0617]

I refuse to use U-scan. I will not work for free and am not training for a part time job. Grocery prices are already high enough, why should I work for free so a store manager can get a bigger bonus. Give me a discount for checking out myself and we'll talk about it.

[DetroitDad]

Hey chump, how's that self serve gas station working out for you???

And for God's sake don't use a credit card at the pump... go inside and pay the cashier first before pumping gas... we need to keep them working as well.

If you want to pay 10-15 cents extra for full service gas stations... there's a few in Grosse Pointe and St. Clair Shores I can point out to you....

I hope you're still dialing "0" for the operator to make all your phone calls for you?? We want to keep as many operators employed as possible.

This silly thread keeps reappearing in different variations about every 3 months....

For those who have problems with the U-Serves... here's a tip... only pick up one item at a time to scan, and then place in the bagging area... don't be holding 4 yogurt containers in one hand thinking that you'll speed up the process.... you won't!

While many of you are loathe to use new technology and prefer to stand in line while the people in front of you are sorting thru their coupons to give to the cashier before they ask the cashier for a pen to write their checks.... the rest of us will spend our 2 minutes at the U-Serve... and get on with the rest of our lives....

I too used to work for the food retail workers union 876... doesn't mean I'm not sensitive to their issues.... but really... when I was a cashier, we rang out each item on the register by hand... there weren't any scanners. Does that mean we should avoid stores with scanners as well??

We're not the Amish... so this "selective" use of only "some" technology is rather hypocritical....

P.S. DetroitDad, I'm not admonishing your initial post... but these threads always seem to go off on illogical tangents...

Neh, it's okay. I must have selective memory for not remembering many of them. Your post above, though, is logical and comedic gold.

[DetroitPole]

Hey chump, how's that self serve gas station working out for you???

And for God's sake don't use a credit card at the pump... go inside and pay the cashier first before pumping gas... we need to keep them working as well.

If you want to pay 10-15 cents extra for full service gas stations... there's a few in Grosse Pointe and St. Clair Shores I can point out to you....

I hope you're still dialing "0" for the operator to make all your phone calls for you?? We want to keep as many operators employed as possible.

This silly thread keeps reappearing in different variations about every 3 months....

For those who have problems with the U-Serves... here's a tip... only pick up one item at a time to scan, and then place in the bagging area... don't be holding 4 yogurt containers in one hand thinking that you'll speed up the process.... you won't!

While many of you are loathe to use new technology and prefer to stand in line while the people in front of you are sorting thru their coupons to give to the cashier before they ask the cashier for a pen to write their checks.... the rest of us will spend our 2 minutes at the U-Serve... and get on with the rest of our lives....

I too used to work for the food retail workers union 876... doesn't mean I'm not sensitive to their issues.... but really... when I was a cashier, we rang out each item on the register by hand... there weren't any scanners. Does that mean we should avoid stores with scanners as well??

We're not the Amish... so this "selective" use of only "some" technology is rather hypocritical....

P.S. DetroitDad, I'm not admonishing your initial post... but these threads always seem to go off on illogical tangents...

Ah, the tide of progress.

Maybe you're right. I mean, who really cares anymore? Why try? As if the consumer has any power to vote with their dollar.

Why should I buy American-made products when children in Asia can make things much cheaper? To do otherwise would be absolutely draconian.

Why go to the neighborhood market? It's overpriced. It's outmoded. I can go to a big box and get my junk much cheaper. These large retailers are vastly more profitable and widespread, therefore they must be the way of the future.

The farmers' market on my corner? What a bunch of hippie bullshit! Why, I can get any type of produce I want from any corner of the globe at the bigbox right up I-94. It doesn't make sense to shop at the farmers' market. It is as if people were longing for a simpler time when people shopped in their neighborhoods and supported outstate farmers. How quaint! How naive!

It is comforting to know that despite the immense flaws of the U-Scan system, you still embrace it wholeheartedly. Even if you take out all the technical problems, you cannot replace human interaction. Would you believe I actually know my bank tellers [[yes, they still exist)? Sorry I can't quantify that for you. I hope you are soothed by the sweet, sweet pillow talk of the U-Scan lady voice. When you're feeling really kinky, do you select the Spanish option?

No, we don't have to be Amish. We can do what we can where we can and when we can. We can be responsible consumers. I don't fault someone for using a U-Scan with one item in a hurry. However to embrace something so flawed and devastating wholeheartedly or unquestioningly is foolhardy.

Your example of ATMs pretty much speaks for itself, though being on the verge of non sequitur. They have definite pro's and con's: They are nice when you're not at a bank. However, when I'm at a bank, I find a teller far preferable. Besides not having a pulse and earning a wage, ATMs have eaten my card, and I have forgotten my card. If not for the security guard, who also has a pulse and a wage, I would have left my card in the beeping machine. Being human, in a rush, and making a huge mistake as humans do, I didn't respond to the incessant beep of the ATM but rather the security guard who called my name. I've encountered ATMs that don't have any money, or deny my transaction for cryptic reasons. Though I know you are not one to stand in the way of progress, I remember when tellers were at EVERY WINDOW. Sentimental stupidity, I know, wanting Americans to have jobs.

[East Detroit]

For one thing, we need more jobs, not less.

Magnificent valor, Meddle!

[wolverine]

It's everywhere at CVS and Walgreen stores now. I like my job, and I'm sure they want to keep theirs so I try to use the micro-sized counter they have with the cashier. But most of the time now it's no longer staffed because they are assisting impatient customers with the machines.

The customers aren't stupid, it's the fact that many overfill the bagging area with packages of pepsi or milk cartons. As you set them on the ground, the machine is already panicking that the item is not in the bagging area.

According to one of the clerks, 98% of the customers at my local Walgreen stores walk, bike, or take transit. Hardly anyone drives and there is no parking. It doesn't help that our bagging methods are sloppy, and the way the bags are arranged on the self checkouts make double bagging a hassle for heavy items, so they risk breaking on the walk home. It was far easier when there was a clerk. Also, at least you didn't feel rushed to check out when it was the clerk who customers behind you could get mad at. Jeez, I'm sorry if I like to place my items in the bag a particular way.

I agree, but what they did was improve productivity, and passed that savings on to the customers, possibly with the hope that it will put them at a competitive advantage.

Savings passed to customers? B.S Like what, 10 cents per $30 spent. That means I save 50 cents a month at Walgreens or CVS. Oh joy!

[DetroitDad]

It's everywhere at CVS and Walgreen stores now. I like my job, and I'm sure they want to keep theirs so I try to use the micro-sized counter they have with the cashier. But most of the time now it's no longer staffed because they are assisting impatient customers with the machines.

The customers aren't stupid, it's the fact that many overfill the bagging area with packages of pepsi or milk cartons. As you set them on the ground, the machine is already panicking that the item is not in the bagging area.

According to one of the clerks, 98% of the customers at my local Walgreen stores walk, bike, or take transit. Hardly anyone drives and there is no parking. It doesn't help that our bagging methods are sloppy, and the way the bags are arranged on the self checkouts make double bagging a hassle for heavy items, so they risk breaking on the walk home. It was far easier when there was a clerk. Also, at least you didn't feel rushed to check out when it was the clerk who customers behind you could get mad at. Jeez, I'm sorry if I like to place my items in the bag a particular way.



Savings passed to customers? B.S Like what, 10 cents per $30 spent. That means I save 50 cents a month at Walgreens or CVS. Oh joy!

Time savings, not money savings. I can only guess as to why they would only staff so many cashiers during busy times, but they did not take any away when the u-scans came, or so it seems for now. Instead, they have one of the three cashiers overlooking the five u-scans, meaning that the same employees can now handle seven customers at a time, instead of three. The proof is in the elimination of lines, based only on my initial visits.

What is more, supposedly when it is not peek time, they still have the same amount of cashiers, they just close some of the u-scans.

[Meddle]

I agree, but what they did was improve productivity, and passed that savings on to the customers,

Wrong.


I could go into a litany of reasons, but I will not use these lanes. Period. At HD, I'll go to the outside garden register, the lumber/contractor counter, or grab a manager to ring it up. If there's an error, it going to be on them, not me.

Same thing at KMart. They always have at least one lane and the service counter available. The U-check lanes were always empty here while people waited in line for a tended lane. Last I saw, they had blocked off the U-check lanes. I don't know if they even still work or not.

According to one of the clerks, 98% of the customers at my local Walgreen stores do not reach them by car, but walk, bike, or take transit.

Wait for the next generation of these monstrosities. You'll walk through a lane with a full cart of groceries without unloading it. Scanners will pick up the RFID chips in each item and present a total sale amount. Then they'll scan an RFID chip in your credit card while it's still in your wallet and charge the amount. If there's a pricing error, you're screwed trying to get it corrected after the fact. The technology is already available and has been tested and demonstrated. The chips are already in use in many products and charge cards. It's the same general technology in use by some states for truck weigh stations and toll booths where you drive though without slowing down. It's also used by Mobil [[or was) for their passive payment system MobilPass [[if I remember the name right).

[DetroitDad]

Wrong.


I could go into a litany of reasons, but I will not use these lanes. Period. At HD, I'll go to the outside garden register, the lumber/contractor counter, or grab a manager to ring it up. If there's an error, it going to be on them, not me.

Same thing at KMart. They always have at least one lane and the service counter available. The U-check lanes were always empty here while people waited in line for a tended lane. Last I saw, they had blocked off the U-check lanes. I don't know if they even still work or not.




Wait for the next generation of these monstrosities. You'll walk through a lane with a full cart of groceries without unloading it. Scanners will pick up the RFID chips in each item and present a total sale amount. Then they'll scan an RFID chip in your credit card while it's still in your wallet and charge the amount. If there's a pricing error, you're screwed trying to get it corrected after the fact. The technology is already available and has been tested and demonstrated. The chips are already in use in many products and charge cards. It's the same general technology in use by some states for truck weigh stations and toll booths where you drive though without slowing down. It's also used by Mobil [[or was) for their passive payment system MobilPass [[if I remember the name right).

I actually agree with you, in that I think we are losing something along with face to face human interaction. Even the idea that these things reduce lines isn't concrete. Meijer probably has the most operating u-scans out of anywhere I have been. They have really taken things to an extreme at Meijer, as the cashier tending to the many u-scans seems to have too many machines to watch, and if you have a problem, you can sometimes end up waiting a very long time.

The biggest issue I see with having u-scans at a retail pharmacy like CVS, is that tobacco, certain party items, alcohol, and many OTC medications now require identification to be checked by a cashier, leading to waits while waiting for the cashier to make rounds to check identification and help out people who are having other problems.

[Meddle]

Im tied of going in there for a bottle of cough syrup and spending 20 minutes in line ...


Go to the smaller neighborhood stores instead of the mega chains. They'll appreciate your business.

[REL]

Im tied of going in there for a bottle of cough syrup and spending 20 minutes in line ...

Go to the smaller neighborhood stores instead of the mega chains. They'll appreciate your business.

Quote of the day!

As for me, I hate those stupid U-scans. Whenever I use them at the grocery store, the recorded voice always accuses me of not putting the item in the bagging area, pauses, and then requires.... what? An actual employee. In the meantime, I have to stand there at a standstill. And every time I buy wine, I have to wait for an employee to come over to verify my ID, too. It would be quicker with an actual employee, and I would gladly pay a small premium on my groceries to create more jobs. You get what you pay for, folks.

[CLAUDE G]

Im tied of going in there for a bottle of cough syrup and spending 20 minutes in line ...


Go to the smaller neighborhood stores instead of the mega chains. They'll appreciate your business.

I wish I could, but the big box stores ran all the mom and pop places out of business.