atropos@mac.com wrote:
> shawn <nanoflower@notforg.m.a.i.l.com> wrote:
>> anim8rfsk <anim8rfsk@cox.net> wrote:
>>> The Horny Goat <lcraver@home.ca> wrote:

>>>> Well yes but I don't actually tender my debit card till I see the
>>>> amount they're wanting me to pay for. Only a cretin would blindly do
>>>> otherwise - though 2 days ago I had enough larger items that I was
>>>> only 3/4 way through getting it off the belt and into my bag (for ex.
>>>> large packages of paper towels)
>>>
>>>I've had my paper towels delivered for years. Even when I still drove,
>>>it was a little red sports car that didn’t want me taking advantage of
>>>any discounts on large packages of multiple rolls. :-)
>>
>> I don't use enough paper towels to need to buy a large package. I
>> bought a two pack last month and it will likely last me well into
>> 2024. Same goes for the twelve pack of toilet paper I bought and
>> walked home with the other day.

I go thru them fairly quickly but use power couponing to buy enough to
last half a year or so.

>During the initial stages of the Wuhan Flu when everyone was going nuts
>for TP, the shelves at all the local stores were bare, so I had to buy
>off Amazon, which was importing it directly from China. The package I
>got was covered in Chinese writing and the rolls were smaller than
>normal but I got twice as many of them. The thing is, that TP was far
>superior to anything I've ever gotten off the shelves of an American
>store. Just a quality product. I've been buying in bulk direct from the
>ChiComs ever since.

You're probably going to get butt cancer in the future from the chemicals
they shouldn't be using to make toilet paper.

--
Let's go Brandon!

nanoflower@notforg.m.a.i.l.com wrote:
> On Thu, 16 Nov 2023 18:27:09 -0800, BTR1701 <atropos@mac.com> wrote:
>> shawn <nanoflower@notforg.m.a.i.l.com> wrote:
>>> anim8rfsk <anim8rfsk@cox.net> wrote:

>>>>I've had my paper towels delivered for years. Even when I still drove,
>>>>it was a little red sports car that didn’t want me taking advantage
>>>>of any discounts on large packages of multiple rolls. :-)
>>>
>>> I don't use enough paper towels to need to buy a large package. I
>>> bought a two pack last month and it will likely last me well into
>>> 2024. Same goes for the twelve pack of toilet paper I bought and
>>> walked home with the other day.
>>
>>During the initial stages of the Wuhan Flu when everyone was going nuts
>>for TP, the shelves at all the local stores were bare, so I had to buy
>>off Amazon, which was importing it directly from China. The package I
>>got was covered in Chinese writing and the rolls were smaller than
>>normal but I got twice as many of them. The thing is, that TP was far
>>superior to anything I've ever gotten off the shelves of an American
>>store. Just a quality product. I've been buying in bulk direct from the
>>ChiComs ever since.
>
>I started buying the Charmin Essential line of products back then and
>have just kept on buying them. Each roll is the same size as their
>other products but tend to have at least double the TP per roll. Plus
>the TP is stronger so it doesn't tear the way their normal product
>does but still feels fine on my bum. Plus it is actually cheaper than
>their regular line of products.

I only use Cotton Soft Clean toilet paper after participating in product
testing.

When visiting the folks, I disociovered they were out so I bought it for
myself and some CVS brand tp for $2. Yeah, not buying CVS brand again... it
was single ply and slightly thicker than Kleenex.

--
Let's go Brandon!

super70s@super70s.invalid wrote:

> Yeah, same with Scott Tissue's 1,000 sheet rolls.

That's one of the worst of the big-name TP out there.

--
Let's go Brandon!

On 2023-11-19 09:30:47 +0000, Ubiquitous said:

> super70s@super70s.invalid wrote:
>
>> Yeah, same with Scott Tissue's 1,000 sheet rolls.
>
> That's one of the worst of the big-name TP out there.

<shrug> Works fine for me when you fold the sheets. Also less hard on
the septic tank than the pleated Charmin stuff.

On Sun, 19 Nov 2023 04:30:47 -0500, Ubiquitous <weberm@polaris.net>
wrote:

>super70s@super70s.invalid wrote:
>
>> Yeah, same with Scott Tissue's 1,000 sheet rolls.
>
>That's one of the worst of the big-name TP out there.

What annoys me is when they advertise double and triple ply papers as
equivalent to 2x and 3x and trying to hoodwink you into thinking
you're getting that much more.

On 2023-11-15 23:38:35 +0000, shawn said:
> On Wed, 15 Nov 2023 15:34:21 -0800 (PST), Ed Stasiak
> <edstasiak1067@gmail.com> wrote:
>>>
>>> RichA
>>>
>>> I hate these f------ people. They think buying things entitles them to
>>> be treated like royalty, to be fawned over by some poor check-out
>>> person. Or they are too F------- STUPID to use even the most basic
>>> technology. Self-checkout kiosks were a Godsend, going backwards isn't
>>> a good idea.
>>> https://www.cnn.com/2023/11/13/business/self-checkout-stores-shopping/index.html
>>>
>>
>> I prefer a human cashier as it gets me out the door quicker but the two
>> Meijers I shop at never have more then two open and if there's a line,
>> this sucks, though there's always a longer line at the self-checkouts.
>
> I feel the same about preferring a human cashier. I've only used the
> self checkout a few times as the stores I shop at tend to only have
> human cashiers. It's really only Walmart where I run into the self
> checkout and I go there rarely.

I detest self-checkouts. They are utterly useless and I refuse to use them.

More and more shops here in New Zealand are stupidly installing them,
while more and more shops in the UK are sensibly getting rid of them.
:-\

The shops' morons in management decide to put them in so they don't
have to pay staff (ignoring the fact that the silly self-checkouts
likely cost them more), but the self-checkouts are much slower than a
properly trained checkout person, so that means they are getting few
customers through per hour, which means less money going into their
tills.

In article <ujhgr8$ngj0$1@dont-email.me>,
Your Name <YourName@YourISP.com> wrote:

> On 2023-11-15 23:38:35 +0000, shawn said:
> > On Wed, 15 Nov 2023 15:34:21 -0800 (PST), Ed Stasiak
> > <edstasiak1067@gmail.com> wrote:
> >>>
> >>> RichA
> >>>
> >>> I hate these f------ people. They think buying things entitles them to
> >>> be treated like royalty, to be fawned over by some poor check-out
> >>> person. Or they are too F------- STUPID to use even the most basic
> >>> technology. Self-checkout kiosks were a Godsend, going backwards isn't
> >>> a good idea.
> >>> https://www.cnn.com/2023/11/13/business/self-checkout-stores-shopping/inde
> >>> x.html
> >>>
> >>
> >> I prefer a human cashier as it gets me out the door quicker but the two
> >> Meijers I shop at never have more then two open and if there's a line,
> >> this sucks, though there's always a longer line at the self-checkouts.
> >
> > I feel the same about preferring a human cashier. I've only used the
> > self checkout a few times as the stores I shop at tend to only have
> > human cashiers. It's really only Walmart where I run into the self
> > checkout and I go there rarely.
>
> I detest self-checkouts. They are utterly useless and I refuse to use them.
>
> More and more shops here in New Zealand are stupidly installing them,
> while more and more shops in the UK are sensibly getting rid of them.
> :-\
>
> The shops' morons in management decide to put them in so they don't
> have to pay staff (ignoring the fact that the silly self-checkouts
> likely cost them more), but the self-checkouts are much slower than a
> properly trained checkout person

Oh, no way. When I use the self-checkout, I'm in and out of the store in
half the time it takes me versus when I have to stand in line and have a
cashier do it for me.

Plus, as I said before, the self-checkout eliminates the need for me to
have to endure the upsell upsell you on their g-damn loyalty programs.

Grocery stores, book stores, restaurants, gas stations, movie theaters,
doesn't matter. Every frakking one of them has a loyalty program and
will relentlessly hound you to join up every single time you go there.
Jeebus Christ, all I want to do is buy this carton of milk and get on
with my day. I'm a customer who is already *in* your store, spending
money. Can't that just be enough?

And you can't escape it online, either. Try checking out at Amazon if
you're not a Prime member and see how many times they pitch you on it
before you can complete your purchase.

The whole thing is such a scam, anyway. The grocery store raises its
prices so that they can 'lower' them again and pretend you're saving all
sorts of money by joining their program, meanwhile, when you swipe that
loyalty card at checkout, they're collecting a never-ending stream of
data on you--- what you buy, when you buy it, how often, etc.-- building
a complete consumer picture of you, which they then sell to anyone who
will pay for it so they can inundate you with advertising.

And if you're someone who doesn't want to sign up for that Orwellian
nightmare, you're forced to endure the constant

"Are you a member of our loyalty program?"

"No, I just want to buy this apple."

"But sir, you could save 25% on your first purchase when you open an
account, then 10% on every purchase after that."

"No, I'm fine, I just want this apple."

"Are you sure? Because you'll save 25 cents on this apple right away if
you join. I have the application right here. You can fill it out here or
take it home and bring it back later."

<sigh> "Can you just please ring up the apple?"

"Well, okay. But it really is a good deal. You should really consider
it. <holds up form> Last chance, it'll only take a few minutes and
you'll be ready to go."

<bangs head on conveyor belt>

BTR1701 <atropos@mac.com> wrote:
> In article <ujhgr8$ngj0$1@dont-email.me>,
> Your Name <YourName@YourISP.com> wrote:
>
>> On 2023-11-15 23:38:35 +0000, shawn said:
>>> On Wed, 15 Nov 2023 15:34:21 -0800 (PST), Ed Stasiak
>>> <edstasiak1067@gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>> RichA
>>>>>
>>>>> I hate these f------ people. They think buying things entitles them to
>>>>> be treated like royalty, to be fawned over by some poor check-out
>>>>> person. Or they are too F------- STUPID to use even the most basic
>>>>> technology. Self-checkout kiosks were a Godsend, going backwards isn't
>>>>> a good idea.
>>>>> https://www.cnn.com/2023/11/13/business/self-checkout-stores-shopping/inde
>>>>> x.html
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>> I prefer a human cashier as it gets me out the door quicker but the two
>>>> Meijers I shop at never have more then two open and if there's a line,
>>>> this sucks, though there's always a longer line at the self-checkouts.
>>>
>>> I feel the same about preferring a human cashier. I've only used the
>>> self checkout a few times as the stores I shop at tend to only have
>>> human cashiers. It's really only Walmart where I run into the self
>>> checkout and I go there rarely.
>>
>> I detest self-checkouts. They are utterly useless and I refuse to use them.
>>
>> More and more shops here in New Zealand are stupidly installing them,
>> while more and more shops in the UK are sensibly getting rid of them.
>> :-\
>>
>> The shops' morons in management decide to put them in so they don't
>> have to pay staff (ignoring the fact that the silly self-checkouts
>> likely cost them more), but the self-checkouts are much slower than a
>> properly trained checkout person
>
> Oh, no way. When I use the self-checkout, I'm in and out of the store in
> half the time it takes me versus when I have to stand in line and have a
> cashier do it for me.

The last time I was in LA, in Hollywood, I came across an amazing system. I
went with a friends wife to the grocery store, and because she was using a
check she had to go to a preapproval window over in the corner of the store
and tell them how much she was going to spend. Already I see flaws in the
system. So she tells them and we go shopping and we go to check out. The
checker tells her how much it is. She writes the amount in the first entry
box on the check and the checker tell her no that’s not right it’s actually
$.10 different or something. So she has to scratch out that number And
write the new one in and then writes the new number in the other entry
line. At which point the checker tells her oh no that’s not right it was
actually $.12 more or whatever. So she has to scratch that out and initial
it and write the new number in there. At which point the checker says she
can’t take the check because She’s changed both entry lines. can we write
another check? No because the check preapproval is tied to that specific
check number. So we have to go back to the Check preapproval window where
they tell us they can’t approve another check because it’s too soon. At
this point, I’m screaming for the manager, but he won’t do a thing. luckily
I was traveling so I had a wallet full of cash and bought the groceries for
her. But Jesus fucking Christ.

> Plus, as I said before, the self-checkout eliminates the need for me to
> have to endure the upsell upsell you on their g-damn loyalty programs.
>

Since our self checkouts require somebody to help you because they don’t
work I’m sure you’re going to get the loyalty program pitch anyway.

I should at this point say that the self check out at Home Depot actually
works right. But I’ve never seen a grocery one that works at all.

> Grocery stores, book stores, restaurants, gas stations, movie theaters,
> doesn't matter. Every frakking one of them has a loyalty program and
> will relentlessly hound you to join up every single time you go there.
> Jeebus Christ, all I want to do is buy this carton of milk and get on
> with my day. I'm a customer who is already *in* your store, spending
> money. Can't that just be enough?

Nooooo. Which is why all the restaurants have their own apps to order food
even if you’re going to have DoorDash bring it to you.

>
> And you can't escape it online, either. Try checking out at Amazon if
> you're not a Prime member and see how many times they pitch you on it
> before you can complete your purchase.

L O L I’ve been an Amazon prime member since literally week one. Mom was
forever coming to me and saying that one of her half dozen sisters
birthdays was in like 48 hours. Could we still send something and I was
forever paying surcharges for shipping Amazon prime made it possible to
actually get the stuff there, and it didn’t cost anymore other than the
annual fee.

>
> The whole thing is such a scam, anyway. The grocery store raises its
> prices so that they can 'lower' them again and pretend you're saving all
> sorts of money by joining their program, meanwhile, when you swipe that
> loyalty card at checkout, they're collecting a never-ending stream of
> data on you--- what you buy, when you buy it, how often, etc.-- building
> a complete consumer picture of you, which they then sell to anyone who
> will pay for it so they can inundate you with advertising.
>
> And if you're someone who doesn't want to sign up for that Orwellian
> nightmare, you're forced to endure the constant
>
> "Are you a member of our loyalty program?"
>
> "No, I just want to buy this apple."
>
> "But sir, you could save 25% on your first purchase when you open an
> account, then 10% on every purchase after that."
>
> "No, I'm fine, I just want this apple."
>
> "Are you sure? Because you'll save 25 cents on this apple right away if
> you join. I have the application right here. You can fill it out here or
> take it home and bring it back later."
>
> <sigh> "Can you just please ring up the apple?"
>
> "Well, okay. But it really is a good deal. You should really consider
> it. <holds up form> Last chance, it'll only take a few minutes and
> you'll be ready to go."
>
> <bangs head on conveyor belt>

That actually doesn’t happen here. You present your groceries and the
checker says do you have a bashes card and you say no and she may or may
not ask if you want one and if you say no, she grabs one of the blank
wildcards that she keeps in the cashier drawer and gives you the discount
anyway.

The cute girls never have their card with them so they have to say their
phone number aloud. I’m sure nothing can go wrong there!

--
The last thing I want to do is hurt you, but it is still on my list.

On 11/21/23 12:47 AM, BTR1701 wrote:
> In article <ujhgr8$ngj0$1@dont-email.me>,
> Your Name <YourName@YourISP.com> wrote:
>
>> On 2023-11-15 23:38:35 +0000, shawn said:
>>> On Wed, 15 Nov 2023 15:34:21 -0800 (PST), Ed Stasiak
>>> <edstasiak1067@gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>> RichA
>>>>>
>>>>> I hate these f------ people. They think buying things entitles them to
>>>>> be treated like royalty, to be fawned over by some poor check-out
>>>>> person. Or they are too F------- STUPID to use even the most basic
>>>>> technology. Self-checkout kiosks were a Godsend, going backwards isn't
>>>>> a good idea.
>>>>> https://www.cnn.com/2023/11/13/business/self-checkout-stores-shopping/inde
>>>>> x.html
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>> I prefer a human cashier as it gets me out the door quicker but the two
>>>> Meijers I shop at never have more then two open and if there's a line,
>>>> this sucks, though there's always a longer line at the self-checkouts.
>>>
>>> I feel the same about preferring a human cashier. I've only used the
>>> self checkout a few times as the stores I shop at tend to only have
>>> human cashiers. It's really only Walmart where I run into the self
>>> checkout and I go there rarely.
>>
>> I detest self-checkouts. They are utterly useless and I refuse to use them.
>>
>> More and more shops here in New Zealand are stupidly installing them,
>> while more and more shops in the UK are sensibly getting rid of them.
>> :-\
>>
>> The shops' morons in management decide to put them in so they don't
>> have to pay staff (ignoring the fact that the silly self-checkouts
>> likely cost them more), but the self-checkouts are much slower than a
>> properly trained checkout person
>
> Oh, no way. When I use the self-checkout, I'm in and out of the store in
> half the time it takes me versus when I have to stand in line and have a
> cashier do it for me.

Yeah, the argument for expedience is simple but amazingly isn't
discussed by most. That said, I can see why you'd rather discuss this
than the horseshit going on in your political party.

> Plus, as I said before, the self-checkout eliminates the need for me to
> have to endure the upsell upsell you on their g-damn loyalty programs.
>
> Grocery stores, book stores, restaurants, gas stations, movie theaters,
> doesn't matter. Every frakking one of them has a loyalty program and
> will relentlessly hound you to join up every single time you go there.
> Jeebus Christ, all I want to do is buy this carton of milk and get on
> with my day. I'm a customer who is already *in* your store, spending
> money. Can't that just be enough?
>
> And you can't escape it online, either. Try checking out at Amazon if
> you're not a Prime member and see how many times they pitch you on it
> before you can complete your purchase.
>
> The whole thing is such a scam, anyway. The grocery store raises its
> prices so that they can 'lower' them again and pretend you're saving all
> sorts of money by joining their program, meanwhile, when you swipe that
> loyalty card at checkout, they're collecting a never-ending stream of
> data on you--- what you buy, when you buy it, how often, etc.-- building
> a complete consumer picture of you, which they then sell to anyone who
> will pay for it so they can inundate you with advertising.
>
> And if you're someone who doesn't want to sign up for that Orwellian
> nightmare, you're forced to endure the constant
>
> "Are you a member of our loyalty program?"
>
> "No, I just want to buy this apple."
>
> "But sir, you could save 25% on your first purchase when you open an
> account, then 10% on every purchase after that."
>
> "No, I'm fine, I just want this apple."
>
> "Are you sure? Because you'll save 25 cents on this apple right away if
> you join. I have the application right here. You can fill it out here or
> take it home and bring it back later."
>
> <sigh> "Can you just please ring up the apple?"
>
> "Well, okay. But it really is a good deal. You should really consider
> it. <holds up form> Last chance, it'll only take a few minutes and
> you'll be ready to go."
>
> <bangs head on conveyor belt>

On Tue, 21 Nov 2023 02:07:46 -0700, anim8rfsk <anim8rfsk@cox.net>
wrote:

>BTR1701 <atropos@mac.com> wrote:
>> In article <ujhgr8$ngj0$1@dont-email.me>,
>> Your Name <YourName@YourISP.com> wrote:
>>
>>> On 2023-11-15 23:38:35 +0000, shawn said:
>>>> On Wed, 15 Nov 2023 15:34:21 -0800 (PST), Ed Stasiak
>>>> <edstasiak1067@gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>>>
>>>>>> RichA
>>>>>>
>>>>>> I hate these f------ people. They think buying things entitles them to
>>>>>> be treated like royalty, to be fawned over by some poor check-out
>>>>>> person. Or they are too F------- STUPID to use even the most basic
>>>>>> technology. Self-checkout kiosks were a Godsend, going backwards isn't
>>>>>> a good idea.
>>>>>> https://www.cnn.com/2023/11/13/business/self-checkout-stores-shopping/inde
>>>>>> x.html
>>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> I prefer a human cashier as it gets me out the door quicker but the two
>>>>> Meijers I shop at never have more then two open and if there's a line,
>>>>> this sucks, though there's always a longer line at the self-checkouts.
>>>>
>>>> I feel the same about preferring a human cashier. I've only used the
>>>> self checkout a few times as the stores I shop at tend to only have
>>>> human cashiers. It's really only Walmart where I run into the self
>>>> checkout and I go there rarely.
>>>
>>> I detest self-checkouts. They are utterly useless and I refuse to use them.
>>>
>>> More and more shops here in New Zealand are stupidly installing them,
>>> while more and more shops in the UK are sensibly getting rid of them.
>>> :-\
>>>
>>> The shops' morons in management decide to put them in so they don't
>>> have to pay staff (ignoring the fact that the silly self-checkouts
>>> likely cost them more), but the self-checkouts are much slower than a
>>> properly trained checkout person
>>
>> Oh, no way. When I use the self-checkout, I'm in and out of the store in
>> half the time it takes me versus when I have to stand in line and have a
>> cashier do it for me.
>
>The last time I was in LA, in Hollywood, I came across an amazing system. I
>went with a friends wife to the grocery store, and because she was using a
>check she had to go to a preapproval window over in the corner of the store
>and tell them how much she was going to spend. Already I see flaws in the
>system. So she tells them and we go shopping and we go to check out. The
>checker tells her how much it is. She writes the amount in the first entry
>box on the check and the checker tell her no that’s not right it’s actually
>$.10 different or something. So she has to scratch out that number And
>write the new one in and then writes the new number in the other entry
>line. At which point the checker tells her oh no that’s not right it was
>actually $.12 more or whatever. So she has to scratch that out and initial
>it and write the new number in there. At which point the checker says she
>can’t take the check because She’s changed both entry lines. can we write
>another check? No because the check preapproval is tied to that specific
>check number. So we have to go back to the Check preapproval window where
>they tell us they can’t approve another check because it’s too soon. At
>this point, I’m screaming for the manager, but he won’t do a thing. luckily
>I was traveling so I had a wallet full of cash and bought the groceries for
>her. But Jesus fucking Christ.
>

How does the checker get the total wrong multiple times? At my local
grocery store they check out each item and it gets added to the total.
Once the last item has been processed there is a total including tax
that will not change no matter how long we stand there. So if I were
paying by check I would just need to use that total price and any
error on the check would be my fault. I've never heard of a price
changing once the total was posted.

>
>> Plus, as I said before, the self-checkout eliminates the need for me to
>> have to endure the upsell upsell you on their g-damn loyalty programs.
>>
>
>Since our self checkouts require somebody to help you because they don’t
>work I’m sure you’re going to get the loyalty program pitch anyway.

The only time I used the self checkout was at Walmart and it worked.
However it did take some time to get the system to recognize what I
was buying. Can't say it was really much faster since the lines for
the regular checkout lines weren't that long.

>I should at this point say that the self check out at Home Depot actually
>works right. But I’ve never seen a grocery one that works at all.

At Home Depot I've never seen a long line so never felt the need to
try the self checkout.

>> Grocery stores, book stores, restaurants, gas stations, movie theaters,
>> doesn't matter. Every frakking one of them has a loyalty program and
>> will relentlessly hound you to join up every single time you go there.
>> Jeebus Christ, all I want to do is buy this carton of milk and get on
>> with my day. I'm a customer who is already *in* your store, spending
>> money. Can't that just be enough?
>
>Nooooo. Which is why all the restaurants have their own apps to order food
>even if you’re going to have DoorDash bring it to you.
>
>>
>> And you can't escape it online, either. Try checking out at Amazon if
>> you're not a Prime member and see how many times they pitch you on it
>> before you can complete your purchase.
>
>L O L I’ve been an Amazon prime member since literally week one. Mom was
>forever coming to me and saying that one of her half dozen sisters
>birthdays was in like 48 hours. Could we still send something and I was
>forever paying surcharges for shipping Amazon prime made it possible to
>actually get the stuff there, and it didn’t cost anymore other than the
>annual fee.
>
>
>>
>> The whole thing is such a scam, anyway. The grocery store raises its
>> prices so that they can 'lower' them again and pretend you're saving all
>> sorts of money by joining their program, meanwhile, when you swipe that
>> loyalty card at checkout, they're collecting a never-ending stream of
>> data on you--- what you buy, when you buy it, how often, etc.-- building
>> a complete consumer picture of you, which they then sell to anyone who
>> will pay for it so they can inundate you with advertising.
>>
>> And if you're someone who doesn't want to sign up for that Orwellian
>> nightmare, you're forced to endure the constant
>>
>> "Are you a member of our loyalty program?"
>>
>> "No, I just want to buy this apple."
>>
>> "But sir, you could save 25% on your first purchase when you open an
>> account, then 10% on every purchase after that."
>>
>> "No, I'm fine, I just want this apple."
>>
>> "Are you sure? Because you'll save 25 cents on this apple right away if
>> you join. I have the application right here. You can fill it out here or
>> take it home and bring it back later."
>>
>> <sigh> "Can you just please ring up the apple?"
>>
>> "Well, okay. But it really is a good deal. You should really consider
>> it. <holds up form> Last chance, it'll only take a few minutes and
>> you'll be ready to go."
>>
>> <bangs head on conveyor belt>
>
>That actually doesn’t happen here. You present your groceries and the
>checker says do you have a bashes card and you say no and she may or may
>not ask if you want one and if you say no, she grabs one of the blank
>wildcards that she keeps in the cashier drawer and gives you the discount
>anyway.

We don't get the wildcards here but we also just get asked once and
then everyone moves on.

>The cute girls never have their card with them so they have to say their
>phone number aloud. I’m sure nothing can go wrong there!

In article
<1264305635.722248955.857266.anim8rfsk-cox.net@news.easynews.com>,
anim8rfsk <anim8rfsk@cox.net> wrote:

> That actually doesn¹t happen here. You present your groceries and the
> checker says do you have a bashes card and you say no and she may or may
> not ask if you want one and if you say no, she grabs one of the blank
> wildcards that she keeps in the cashier drawer and gives you the discount
> anyway.

Around here, the cashiers just use their own personal card if I don't
have one. I don't mind a bit.

shawn <nanoflower@notforg.m.a.i.l.com> wrote:
> On Tue, 21 Nov 2023 02:07:46 -0700, anim8rfsk <anim8rfsk@cox.net>
> wrote:
>
>> BTR1701 <atropos@mac.com> wrote:
>>> In article <ujhgr8$ngj0$1@dont-email.me>,
>>> Your Name <YourName@YourISP.com> wrote:
>>>
>>>> On 2023-11-15 23:38:35 +0000, shawn said:
>>>>> On Wed, 15 Nov 2023 15:34:21 -0800 (PST), Ed Stasiak
>>>>> <edstasiak1067@gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> RichA
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> I hate these f------ people. They think buying things entitles them to
>>>>>>> be treated like royalty, to be fawned over by some poor check-out
>>>>>>> person. Or they are too F------- STUPID to use even the most basic
>>>>>>> technology. Self-checkout kiosks were a Godsend, going backwards isn't
>>>>>>> a good idea.
>>>>>>> https://www.cnn.com/2023/11/13/business/self-checkout-stores-shopping/inde
>>>>>>> x.html
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> I prefer a human cashier as it gets me out the door quicker but the two
>>>>>> Meijers I shop at never have more then two open and if there's a line,
>>>>>> this sucks, though there's always a longer line at the self-checkouts.
>>>>>
>>>>> I feel the same about preferring a human cashier. I've only used the
>>>>> self checkout a few times as the stores I shop at tend to only have
>>>>> human cashiers. It's really only Walmart where I run into the self
>>>>> checkout and I go there rarely.
>>>>
>>>> I detest self-checkouts. They are utterly useless and I refuse to use them.
>>>>
>>>> More and more shops here in New Zealand are stupidly installing them,
>>>> while more and more shops in the UK are sensibly getting rid of them.
>>>> :-\
>>>>
>>>> The shops' morons in management decide to put them in so they don't
>>>> have to pay staff (ignoring the fact that the silly self-checkouts
>>>> likely cost them more), but the self-checkouts are much slower than a
>>>> properly trained checkout person
>>>
>>> Oh, no way. When I use the self-checkout, I'm in and out of the store in
>>> half the time it takes me versus when I have to stand in line and have a
>>> cashier do it for me.
>>
>> The last time I was in LA, in Hollywood, I came across an amazing system. I
>> went with a friends wife to the grocery store, and because she was using a
>> check she had to go to a preapproval window over in the corner of the store
>> and tell them how much she was going to spend. Already I see flaws in the
>> system. So she tells them and we go shopping and we go to check out. The
>> checker tells her how much it is. She writes the amount in the first entry
>> box on the check and the checker tell her no that’s not right it’s actually
>> $.10 different or something. So she has to scratch out that number And
>> write the new one in and then writes the new number in the other entry
>> line. At which point the checker tells her oh no that’s not right it was
>> actually $.12 more or whatever. So she has to scratch that out and initial
>> it and write the new number in there. At which point the checker says she
>> can’t take the check because She’s changed both entry lines. can we write
>> another check? No because the check preapproval is tied to that specific
>> check number. So we have to go back to the Check preapproval window where
>> they tell us they can’t approve another check because it’s too soon. At
>> this point, I’m screaming for the manager, but he won’t do a thing. luckily
>> I was traveling so I had a wallet full of cash and bought the groceries for
>> her. But Jesus fucking Christ.
>>
>
> How does the checker get the total wrong multiple times? At my local
> grocery store they check out each item and it gets added to the total.
> Once the last item has been processed there is a total including tax
> that will not change no matter how long we stand there. So if I were
> paying by check I would just need to use that total price and any
> error on the check would be my fault. I've never heard of a price
> changing once the total was posted.

The cashier was an idiot, and just read the damn thing wrong. Twice.

>
>>
>>> Plus, as I said before, the self-checkout eliminates the need for me to
>>> have to endure the upsell upsell you on their g-damn loyalty programs.
>>>
>>
>> Since our self checkouts require somebody to help you because they don’t
>> work I’m sure you’re going to get the loyalty program pitch anyway.
>
> The only time I used the self checkout was at Walmart and it worked.
> However it did take some time to get the system to recognize what I
> was buying. Can't say it was really much faster since the lines for
> the regular checkout lines weren't that long.
>
>> I should at this point say that the self check out at Home Depot actually
>> works right. But I’ve never seen a grocery one that works at all.
>
> At Home Depot I've never seen a long line so never felt the need to
> try the self checkout.
>
>>> Grocery stores, book stores, restaurants, gas stations, movie theaters,
>>> doesn't matter. Every frakking one of them has a loyalty program and
>>> will relentlessly hound you to join up every single time you go there.
>>> Jeebus Christ, all I want to do is buy this carton of milk and get on
>>> with my day. I'm a customer who is already *in* your store, spending
>>> money. Can't that just be enough?
>>
>> Nooooo. Which is why all the restaurants have their own apps to order food
>> even if you’re going to have DoorDash bring it to you.
>>
>>>
>>> And you can't escape it online, either. Try checking out at Amazon if
>>> you're not a Prime member and see how many times they pitch you on it
>>> before you can complete your purchase.
>>
>> L O L I’ve been an Amazon prime member since literally week one. Mom was
>> forever coming to me and saying that one of her half dozen sisters
>> birthdays was in like 48 hours. Could we still send something and I was
>> forever paying surcharges for shipping Amazon prime made it possible to
>> actually get the stuff there, and it didn’t cost anymore other than the
>> annual fee.
>>
>>
>>>
>>> The whole thing is such a scam, anyway. The grocery store raises its
>>> prices so that they can 'lower' them again and pretend you're saving all
>>> sorts of money by joining their program, meanwhile, when you swipe that
>>> loyalty card at checkout, they're collecting a never-ending stream of
>>> data on you--- what you buy, when you buy it, how often, etc.-- building
>>> a complete consumer picture of you, which they then sell to anyone who
>>> will pay for it so they can inundate you with advertising.
>>>
>>> And if you're someone who doesn't want to sign up for that Orwellian
>>> nightmare, you're forced to endure the constant
>>>
>>> "Are you a member of our loyalty program?"
>>>
>>> "No, I just want to buy this apple."
>>>
>>> "But sir, you could save 25% on your first purchase when you open an
>>> account, then 10% on every purchase after that."
>>>
>>> "No, I'm fine, I just want this apple."
>>>
>>> "Are you sure? Because you'll save 25 cents on this apple right away if
>>> you join. I have the application right here. You can fill it out here or
>>> take it home and bring it back later."
>>>
>>> <sigh> "Can you just please ring up the apple?"
>>>
>>> "Well, okay. But it really is a good deal. You should really consider
>>> it. <holds up form> Last chance, it'll only take a few minutes and
>>> you'll be ready to go."
>>>
>>> <bangs head on conveyor belt>
>>
>> That actually doesn’t happen here. You present your groceries and the
>> checker says do you have a bashes card and you say no and she may or may
>> not ask if you want one and if you say no, she grabs one of the blank
>> wildcards that she keeps in the cashier drawer and gives you the discount
>> anyway.
>
> We don't get the wildcards here but we also just get asked once and
> then everyone moves on.
>
>> The cute girls never have their card with them so they have to say their
>> phone number aloud. I’m sure nothing can go wrong there!
>

On 11/20/2023 9:56 PM, Your Name wrote:
> On 2023-11-15 23:38:35 +0000, shawn said:
>> On Wed, 15 Nov 2023 15:34:21 -0800 (PST), Ed Stasiak
>> <edstasiak1067@gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>
>>>> RichA
>>>>
>>>> I hate these f------ people. They think buying things entitles them
>>>> to be treated like royalty, to be fawned over by some poor check-out
>>>> person. Or they are too F------- STUPID to use even the most basic
>>>> technology. Self-checkout kiosks were a Godsend, going backwards
>>>> isn't a good idea.
>>>> https://www.cnn.com/2023/11/13/business/self-checkout-stores-shopping/index.html
>>>
>>> I prefer a human cashier as it gets me out the door quicker but the
>>> two Meijers I shop at never have more then two open and if there's a
>>> line, this sucks, though there's always a longer line at the
>>> self-checkouts.
>>
>> I feel the same about preferring a human cashier. I've only used the
>> self checkout a few times as the stores I shop at tend to only have
>> human cashiers. It's really only Walmart where I run into the self
>> checkout and I go there rarely.
>
> I detest self-checkouts. They are utterly useless and I refuse to use them.
>
> More and more shops here in New Zealand are stupidly installing them,
> while more and more shops in the UK are sensibly getting rid of them. :-\
>
> The shops' morons in management decide to put them in so they don't have
> to pay staff (ignoring the fact that the silly self-checkouts likely
> cost them more), but the self-checkouts are much slower than a properly
> trained checkout person, so that means they are getting few customers
> through per hour, which means less money going into their tills.
>
At least where I am the self-checkout stations are smaller than the full
service aisles. They fit three self-checkouts in the same space as one
full service, so they have a higher customers per hour rate for same
amount of space. I don't see a problem with stores having both, give
customers the choice.

--
I've done good in this world. Now I'm tired and just want to be a cranky
dirty old man.

On 11/21/2023 4:03 AM, anim8rfsk wrote:
> shawn <nanoflower@notforg.m.a.i.l.com> wrote:
>> On Tue, 21 Nov 2023 02:07:46 -0700, anim8rfsk <anim8rfsk@cox.net>
>> wrote:
>>
>>> BTR1701 <atropos@mac.com> wrote:
>>>> In article <ujhgr8$ngj0$1@dont-email.me>,
>>>> Your Name <YourName@YourISP.com> wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> On 2023-11-15 23:38:35 +0000, shawn said:
>>>>>> On Wed, 15 Nov 2023 15:34:21 -0800 (PST), Ed Stasiak
>>>>>> <edstasiak1067@gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> RichA
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> I hate these f------ people. They think buying things entitles them to
>>>>>>>> be treated like royalty, to be fawned over by some poor check-out
>>>>>>>> person. Or they are too F------- STUPID to use even the most basic
>>>>>>>> technology. Self-checkout kiosks were a Godsend, going backwards isn't
>>>>>>>> a good idea.
>>>>>>>> https://www.cnn.com/2023/11/13/business/self-checkout-stores-shopping/inde
>>>>>>>> x.html
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> I prefer a human cashier as it gets me out the door quicker but the two
>>>>>>> Meijers I shop at never have more then two open and if there's a line,
>>>>>>> this sucks, though there's always a longer line at the self-checkouts.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> I feel the same about preferring a human cashier. I've only used the
>>>>>> self checkout a few times as the stores I shop at tend to only have
>>>>>> human cashiers. It's really only Walmart where I run into the self
>>>>>> checkout and I go there rarely.
>>>>>
>>>>> I detest self-checkouts. They are utterly useless and I refuse to use them.
>>>>>
>>>>> More and more shops here in New Zealand are stupidly installing them,
>>>>> while more and more shops in the UK are sensibly getting rid of them.
>>>>> :-\
>>>>>
>>>>> The shops' morons in management decide to put them in so they don't
>>>>> have to pay staff (ignoring the fact that the silly self-checkouts
>>>>> likely cost them more), but the self-checkouts are much slower than a
>>>>> properly trained checkout person
>>>>
>>>> Oh, no way. When I use the self-checkout, I'm in and out of the store in
>>>> half the time it takes me versus when I have to stand in line and have a
>>>> cashier do it for me.
>>>
>>> The last time I was in LA, in Hollywood, I came across an amazing system. I
>>> went with a friends wife to the grocery store, and because she was using a
>>> check she had to go to a preapproval window over in the corner of the store
>>> and tell them how much she was going to spend. Already I see flaws in the
>>> system. So she tells them and we go shopping and we go to check out. The
>>> checker tells her how much it is. She writes the amount in the first entry
>>> box on the check and the checker tell her no that’s not right it’s actually
>>> $.10 different or something. So she has to scratch out that number And
>>> write the new one in and then writes the new number in the other entry
>>> line. At which point the checker tells her oh no that’s not right it was
>>> actually $.12 more or whatever. So she has to scratch that out and initial
>>> it and write the new number in there. At which point the checker says she
>>> can’t take the check because She’s changed both entry lines. can we write
>>> another check? No because the check preapproval is tied to that specific
>>> check number. So we have to go back to the Check preapproval window where
>>> they tell us they can’t approve another check because it’s too soon. At
>>> this point, I’m screaming for the manager, but he won’t do a thing. luckily
>>> I was traveling so I had a wallet full of cash and bought the groceries for
>>> her. But Jesus fucking Christ.
>>>
>>
>> How does the checker get the total wrong multiple times? At my local
>> grocery store they check out each item and it gets added to the total.
>> Once the last item has been processed there is a total including tax
>> that will not change no matter how long we stand there. So if I were
>> paying by check I would just need to use that total price and any
>> error on the check would be my fault. I've never heard of a price
>> changing once the total was posted.
>
> The cashier was an idiot, and just read the damn thing wrong. Twice.
>
The cashier wasn't the only idiot there. :P Your friend's wife should
have looked at the total on the display. Personally I would have just
left the groceries there at checkout and walked away.

--
I've done good in this world. Now I'm tired and just want to be a cranky
dirty old man.

BTR1701 wrote:

> In article <ujhgr8$ngj0$1@dont-email.me>,
> Your Name <YourName@YourISP.com> wrote:
>
>> On 2023-11-15 23:38:35 +0000, shawn said:
>> > On Wed, 15 Nov 2023 15:34:21 -0800 (PST), Ed Stasiak
>> > <edstasiak1067@gmail.com> wrote:
>> >>>
>> >>> RichA
>> >>>
>> >>> I hate these f------ people. They think buying things
>> >>> entitles them to be treated like royalty, to be
>> >>> fawned over by some poor check-out person. Or they
>> >>> are too F------- STUPID to use even the most basic
>> >>> technology. Self-checkout kiosks were a Godsend,
>> >>> going backwards isn't a good idea.
>> >>> https://www.cnn.com/2023/11/13/business/self-checkout-stores-
shopping/inde
>> >>> x.html
>> >>>
>> >>
>> >> I prefer a human cashier as it gets me out the door
>> >> quicker but the two Meijers I shop at never have more
>> >> then two open and if there's a line, this sucks,
>> >> though there's always a longer line at the
>> >> self-checkouts.
>> >
>> > I feel the same about preferring a human cashier. I've
>> > only used the self checkout a few times as the stores I
>> > shop at tend to only have human cashiers. It's really
>> > only Walmart where I run into the self checkout and I
>> > go there rarely.
>>
>> I detest self-checkouts. They are utterly useless and I
>> refuse to use them.
>>
>> More and more shops here in New Zealand are stupidly
>> installing them, while more and more shops in the UK are
>> sensibly getting rid of them.
>> :-\
>>
>> The shops' morons in management decide to put them in so
>> they don't have to pay staff (ignoring the fact that the
>> silly self-checkouts likely cost them more), but the
>> self-checkouts are much slower than a properly trained
>> checkout person
>
> Oh, no way. When I use the self-checkout, I'm in and out
> of the store in half the time it takes me versus when I
> have to stand in line and have a cashier do it for me.
>
> Plus, as I said before, the self-checkout eliminates the
> need for me to have to endure the upsell upsell you on
> their g-damn loyalty programs.
>
> Grocery stores, book stores, restaurants, gas stations,
> movie theaters, doesn't matter. Every frakking one of them
> has a loyalty program and will relentlessly hound you to
> join up every single time you go there. Jeebus Christ, all
> I want to do is buy this carton of milk and get on with my
> day. I'm a customer who is already *in* your store,
> spending money. Can't that just be enough?
>
> And you can't escape it online, either. Try checking out
> at Amazon if you're not a Prime member and see how many
> times they pitch you on it before you can complete your
> purchase.
>
> The whole thing is such a scam, anyway. The grocery store
> raises its prices so that they can 'lower' them again and
> pretend you're saving all sorts of money by joining their
> program, meanwhile, when you swipe that loyalty card at
> checkout, they're collecting a never-ending stream of data
> on you--- what you buy, when you buy it, how often, etc.--
> building a complete consumer picture of you, which they
> then sell to anyone who will pay for it so they can
> inundate you with advertising.
>
> And if you're someone who doesn't want to sign up for that
> Orwellian nightmare, you're forced to endure the constant
>
> "Are you a member of our loyalty program?"
>
> "No, I just want to buy this apple."
>
> "But sir, you could save 25% on your first purchase when
> you open an account, then 10% on every purchase after
> that."
>
> "No, I'm fine, I just want this apple."
>
> "Are you sure? Because you'll save 25 cents on this apple
> right away if you join. I have the application right here.
> You can fill it out here or take it home and bring it back
> later."
>
> <sigh> "Can you just please ring up the apple?"
>
> "Well, okay. But it really is a good deal. You should
> really consider it. <holds up form> Last chance, it'll
> only take a few minutes and you'll be ready to go."
>
> <bangs head on conveyor belt>

Do it the easy way: find a card that someone has dropped
on the floor or out in the parking lot, then use *that*
for the discounts.

Sure, they're still gathering data, but it's not hooked
to you. They're getting false data aimed at someone else.

Nyssa, who's got it all figured out without giving anyone
any of her own personal data

In article <ujihpu$rq7q$2@dont-email.me>, Nyssa@LogicalInsight.net wrote:
> BTR1701 wrote:

>> Oh, no way. When I use the self-checkout, I'm in and out
>> of the store in half the time it takes me versus when I
>> have to stand in line and have a cashier do it for me.
>>
>> Plus, as I said before, the self-checkout eliminates the
>> need for me to have to endure the upsell upsell you on
>> their g-damn loyalty programs.
>>
>> Grocery stores, book stores, restaurants, gas stations,
>> movie theaters, doesn't matter. Every frakking one of them
>> has a loyalty program and will relentlessly hound you to
>> join up every single time you go there. Jeebus Christ, all
>> I want to do is buy this carton of milk and get on with my
>> day. I'm a customer who is already *in* your store,
>> spending money. Can't that just be enough?
>>
>> And you can't escape it online, either. Try checking out
>> at Amazon if you're not a Prime member and see how many
>> times they pitch you on it before you can complete your
>> purchase.
>>
>> The whole thing is such a scam, anyway. The grocery store
>> raises its prices so that they can 'lower' them again and
>> pretend you're saving all sorts of money by joining their
>> program, meanwhile, when you swipe that loyalty card at
>> checkout, they're collecting a never-ending stream of data
>> on you--- what you buy, when you buy it, how often, etc.--
>> building a complete consumer picture of you, which they
>> then sell to anyone who will pay for it so they can
>> inundate you with advertising.
>>
>> And if you're someone who doesn't want to sign up for that
>> Orwellian nightmare, you're forced to endure the constant
>>
>> "Are you a member of our loyalty program?"
>>
>> "No, I just want to buy this apple."
>>
>> "But sir, you could save 25% on your first purchase when
>> you open an account, then 10% on every purchase after
>> that."
>>
>> "No, I'm fine, I just want this apple."
>>
>> "Are you sure? Because you'll save 25 cents on this apple
>> right away if you join. I have the application right here.
>> You can fill it out here or take it home and bring it back
>> later."
>>
>> <sigh> "Can you just please ring up the apple?"
>>
>> "Well, okay. But it really is a good deal. You should
>> really consider it. <holds up form> Last chance, it'll
>> only take a few minutes and you'll be ready to go."
>>
>> <bangs head on conveyor belt>
>
>Do it the easy way: find a card that someone has dropped
>on the floor or out in the parking lot, then use *that*
>for the discounts.

Doesn't that assume you're going to find a dropped card?

It's easier to use a bogus name and a dedicated email account for those
things.

--
Let's go Brandon!

[snip of the incessant demands by merchants for affinity sign ups]

Many of these work fine with a phone number. Note this
does NOT need to be your real phone number.

Hence, quite a few systems have had people sign up
using various well known, popular numbers, such
as 212 636-5000 (PEnnsylvanoa 6, five thousand).

This will get you (or anyone else using that store),
the "affinity discount". It'll also wreak havoc
with their data mining.

So under no circumstances should you use the phone
number associated with, say, a former US Rep,
head to Barnes and Noble, and purchase a dozen
copies of the Joys of gay Sex.

Oh, these systems tend tpo work throughout the
regional or national network. So using one of
these common phone numbers at your local gasoline
station is worth a try.

--
_____________________________________________________
Knowledge may be power, but communications is the key
dannyb@panix.com
[to foil spammers, my address has been double rot-13 encoded]

Ubiquitous wrote:

> In article <ujihpu$rq7q$2@dont-email.me>,
> Nyssa@LogicalInsight.net wrote:
>> BTR1701 wrote:
>
>>> Oh, no way. When I use the self-checkout, I'm in and out
>>> of the store in half the time it takes me versus when I
>>> have to stand in line and have a cashier do it for me.
>>>
>>> Plus, as I said before, the self-checkout eliminates the
>>> need for me to have to endure the upsell upsell you on
>>> their g-damn loyalty programs.
>>>
>>> Grocery stores, book stores, restaurants, gas stations,
>>> movie theaters, doesn't matter. Every frakking one of
>>> them has a loyalty program and will relentlessly hound
>>> you to join up every single time you go there. Jeebus
>>> Christ, all I want to do is buy this carton of milk and
>>> get on with my day. I'm a customer who is already *in*
>>> your store, spending money. Can't that just be enough?
>>>
>>> And you can't escape it online, either. Try checking out
>>> at Amazon if you're not a Prime member and see how many
>>> times they pitch you on it before you can complete your
>>> purchase.
>>>
>>> The whole thing is such a scam, anyway. The grocery
>>> store raises its prices so that they can 'lower' them
>>> again and pretend you're saving all sorts of money by
>>> joining their program, meanwhile, when you swipe that
>>> loyalty card at checkout, they're collecting a
>>> never-ending stream of data on you--- what you buy, when
>>> you buy it, how often, etc.-- building a complete
>>> consumer picture of you, which they then sell to anyone
>>> who will pay for it so they can inundate you with
>>> advertising.
>>>
>>> And if you're someone who doesn't want to sign up for
>>> that Orwellian nightmare, you're forced to endure the
>>> constant
>>>
>>> "Are you a member of our loyalty program?"
>>>
>>> "No, I just want to buy this apple."
>>>
>>> "But sir, you could save 25% on your first purchase when
>>> you open an account, then 10% on every purchase after
>>> that."
>>>
>>> "No, I'm fine, I just want this apple."
>>>
>>> "Are you sure? Because you'll save 25 cents on this
>>> apple right away if you join. I have the application
>>> right here. You can fill it out here or take it home and
>>> bring it back later."
>>>
>>> <sigh> "Can you just please ring up the apple?"
>>>
>>> "Well, okay. But it really is a good deal. You should
>>> really consider it. <holds up form> Last chance, it'll
>>> only take a few minutes and you'll be ready to go."
>>>
>>> <bangs head on conveyor belt>
>>
>>Do it the easy way: find a card that someone has dropped
>>on the floor or out in the parking lot, then use *that*
>>for the discounts.
>
> Doesn't that assume you're going to find a dropped card?
>
> It's easier to use a bogus name and a dedicated email
> account for those things.
>
Heck, *I've* lost a card that fell out of my pocket in
a parking lot, and I've had a cashier drop my card and
lose it between the moving belt and the produce weigh
platform.

(Said cashier then told me it was too hard to get down
where it fell and told me I had to fill out a form to
get a new one...which I refused to do. The dropped card
belonged to my pop who's been gone for 20 years now.)

Keep an eye out. Eventually you'll find a dropped card
usually in the parking lot. I've found coins over the
years too. They're both easy to drop or fall out of a
pocket when digging out your car keys.

Nyssa, who stopped shopping at Walgreens when they started
the loyalty card crap

Nyssa <Nyssa@LogicalInsight.net> wrote:
> Ubiquitous wrote:
>
>> In article <ujihpu$rq7q$2@dont-email.me>,
>> Nyssa@LogicalInsight.net wrote:
>>> BTR1701 wrote:
>>
>>>> Oh, no way. When I use the self-checkout, I'm in and out
>>>> of the store in half the time it takes me versus when I
>>>> have to stand in line and have a cashier do it for me.
>>>>
>>>> Plus, as I said before, the self-checkout eliminates the
>>>> need for me to have to endure the upsell upsell you on
>>>> their g-damn loyalty programs.
>>>>
>>>> Grocery stores, book stores, restaurants, gas stations,
>>>> movie theaters, doesn't matter. Every frakking one of
>>>> them has a loyalty program and will relentlessly hound
>>>> you to join up every single time you go there. Jeebus
>>>> Christ, all I want to do is buy this carton of milk and
>>>> get on with my day. I'm a customer who is already *in*
>>>> your store, spending money. Can't that just be enough?
>>>>
>>>> And you can't escape it online, either. Try checking out
>>>> at Amazon if you're not a Prime member and see how many
>>>> times they pitch you on it before you can complete your
>>>> purchase.
>>>>
>>>> The whole thing is such a scam, anyway. The grocery
>>>> store raises its prices so that they can 'lower' them
>>>> again and pretend you're saving all sorts of money by
>>>> joining their program, meanwhile, when you swipe that
>>>> loyalty card at checkout, they're collecting a
>>>> never-ending stream of data on you--- what you buy, when
>>>> you buy it, how often, etc.-- building a complete
>>>> consumer picture of you, which they then sell to anyone
>>>> who will pay for it so they can inundate you with
>>>> advertising.
>>>>
>>>> And if you're someone who doesn't want to sign up for
>>>> that Orwellian nightmare, you're forced to endure the
>>>> constant
>>>>
>>>> "Are you a member of our loyalty program?"
>>>>
>>>> "No, I just want to buy this apple."
>>>>
>>>> "But sir, you could save 25% on your first purchase when
>>>> you open an account, then 10% on every purchase after
>>>> that."
>>>>
>>>> "No, I'm fine, I just want this apple."
>>>>
>>>> "Are you sure? Because you'll save 25 cents on this
>>>> apple right away if you join. I have the application
>>>> right here. You can fill it out here or take it home and
>>>> bring it back later."
>>>>
>>>> <sigh> "Can you just please ring up the apple?"
>>>>
>>>> "Well, okay. But it really is a good deal. You should
>>>> really consider it. <holds up form> Last chance, it'll
>>>> only take a few minutes and you'll be ready to go."
>>>>
>>>> <bangs head on conveyor belt>
>>>
>>> Do it the easy way: find a card that someone has dropped
>>> on the floor or out in the parking lot, then use *that*
>>> for the discounts.
>>
>> Doesn't that assume you're going to find a dropped card?
>>
>> It's easier to use a bogus name and a dedicated email
>> account for those things.
>>
> Heck, *I've* lost a card that fell out of my pocket in
> a parking lot, and I've had a cashier drop my card and
> lose it between the moving belt and the produce weigh
> platform.
>
> (Said cashier then told me it was too hard to get down
> where it fell and told me I had to fill out a form to
> get a new one...which I refused to do. The dropped card
> belonged to my pop who's been gone for 20 years now.)
>
> Keep an eye out. Eventually you'll find a dropped card
> usually in the parking lot. I've found coins over the
> years too. They're both easy to drop or fall out of a
> pocket when digging out your car keys.
>
> Nyssa, who stopped shopping at Walgreens when they started
> the loyalty card crap

The really stupid thing at Walgreens is that I have to enter my phone
number twice. What’s for the prescription and once for the loyalty card
points seriously, can’t you guys think of someway to have me only enter it
once? Or maybe not at all?

--
The last thing I want to do is hurt you, but it is still on my list.

danny burstein <dannyb@panix.com> wrote:
> [snip of the incessant demands by merchants for affinity sign ups]
>
> Many of these work fine with a phone number. Note this
> does NOT need to be your real phone number.
>
> Hence, quite a few systems have had people sign up
> using various well known, popular numbers, such
> as 212 636-5000 (PEnnsylvanoa 6, five thousand).
>
> This will get you (or anyone else using that store),
> the "affinity discount". It'll also wreak havoc
> with their data mining.
>
> So under no circumstances should you use the phone
> number associated with, say, a former US Rep,
> head to Barnes and Noble, and purchase a dozen
> copies of the Joys of gay Sex.

LOL!

I had a guy in line behind me ask if he could use my card and he was
absolutely shocked when I said no. But who knows what he’s going to buy
that I’d start getting coupons for? I told him just to ask the cashier and
she’d give him, the free loaner card which she did. But I still wonder if
he was up to something

>
> Oh, these systems tend tpo work throughout the
> regional or national network. So using one of
> these common phone numbers at your local gasoline
> station is worth a try.
>
>
>
>

--
The last thing I want to do is hurt you, but it is still on my list.

Dimensional Traveler <dtravel@sonic.net> wrote:
> On 11/20/2023 9:56 PM, Your Name wrote:
>> On 2023-11-15 23:38:35 +0000, shawn said:
>>> On Wed, 15 Nov 2023 15:34:21 -0800 (PST), Ed Stasiak
>>> <edstasiak1067@gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>> RichA
>>>>>
>>>>> I hate these f------ people. They think buying things entitles them
>>>>> to be treated like royalty, to be fawned over by some poor check-out
>>>>> person. Or they are too F------- STUPID to use even the most basic
>>>>> technology. Self-checkout kiosks were a Godsend, going backwards
>>>>> isn't a good idea.
>>>>> https://www.cnn.com/2023/11/13/business/self-checkout-stores-shopping/index.html
>>>>
>>>> I prefer a human cashier as it gets me out the door quicker but the
>>>> two Meijers I shop at never have more then two open and if there's a
>>>> line, this sucks, though there's always a longer line at the
>>>> self-checkouts.
>>>
>>> I feel the same about preferring a human cashier. I've only used the
>>> self checkout a few times as the stores I shop at tend to only have
>>> human cashiers. It's really only Walmart where I run into the self
>>> checkout and I go there rarely.
>>
>> I detest self-checkouts. They are utterly useless and I refuse to use them.
>>
>> More and more shops here in New Zealand are stupidly installing them,
>> while more and more shops in the UK are sensibly getting rid of them. :-\
>>
>> The shops' morons in management decide to put them in so they don't have
>> to pay staff (ignoring the fact that the silly self-checkouts likely
>> cost them more), but the self-checkouts are much slower than a properly
>> trained checkout person, so that means they are getting few customers
>> through per hour, which means less money going into their tills.
>>
> At least where I am the self-checkout stations are smaller than the full
> service aisles. They fit three self-checkouts in the same space as one
> full service, so they have a higher customers per hour rate for same
> amount of space. I don't see a problem with stores having both, give
> customers the choice.
>
>

I think the grocery store I mostly shop at has 10 permanently closed and
empty cashier lanes, then the one that they leave open, then the self
check, which is a big wide area with a couple self checks on either side.
Probably the size of two lanes. And it’s been that way now for a decade.
You’d think they’d want to reclaim some of those 10 lanes of unused space.

--
The last thing I want to do is hurt you, but it is still on my list.

In <330094712.722290094.233395.anim8rfsk-cox.net@news.easynews.com> anim8rfsk <anim8rfsk@cox.net> writes:

[snip]
>> So under no circumstances should you use the phone
>> number associated with, say, a former US Rep,
>> head to Barnes and Noble, and purchase a dozen
>> copies of the Joys of gay Sex.

>LOL!

>I had a guy in line behind me ask if he could use my card and he was
>absolutely shocked when I said no. But who knows what he's going to buy

Misc story: about six months into the serious disruptions from the pandemic
I went to Costco. The person in front of me turned out to have an expired
membership. Cashier asked if she wanted to renew and she said she didn't
have the budget for it.

I handed the cashier my basic membership card (not the credit version)
and they both used it. (Not something they'd normally accept without
lots of grumbling but... pandemic...)

The cashier warned me the other person had just bought some chicken
so I wouldn't be able to buy any for another 24 hours... Fortunately
that wasn't a problem.

--
_____________________________________________________
Knowledge may be power, but communications is the key
dannyb@panix.com
[to foil spammers, my address has been double rot-13 encoded]

On 2023-11-21 09:07:46 +0000, anim8rfsk said:
>
> The last time I was in LA, in Hollywood, I came across an amazing system. I
> went with a friends wife to the grocery store, and because she was using a
> check she had to go to a preapproval window over in the corner of the store
> and tell them how much she was going to spend. Already I see flaws in the
> system. So she tells them and we go shopping and we go to check out. The
> checker tells her how much it is. She writes the amount in the first entry
> box on the check and the checker tell her no that’s not right it’s actually
> $.10 different or something. So she has to scratch out that number And
> write the new one in and then writes the new number in the other entry
> line. At which point the checker tells her oh no that’s not right it was
> actually $.12 more or whatever. So she has to scratch that out and initial
> it and write the new number in there. At which point the checker says she
> can’t take the check because She’s changed both entry lines. can we write
> another check? No because the check preapproval is tied to that specific
> check number. So we have to go back to the Check preapproval window where
> they tell us they can’t approve another check because it’s too soon. At
> this point, I’m screaming for the manager, but he won’t do a thing. luckily
> I was traveling so I had a wallet full of cash and bought the groceries for
> her. But Jesus fucking Christ.

Cheques have been discountinued in New Zealand and can no longer be
used for anything. Even cheques sent from overseas are (or soon will
be) unusable here.

Even when cheques were able to be used, I don't think there was ever
any "pre-approval" nonsense at shops, only in the bank when getting the
cheque book account.

On 2023-11-21 16:27:00 +0000, danny burstein said:

> [snip of the incessant demands by merchants for affinity sign ups]
>
> Many of these work fine with a phone number. Note this
> does NOT need to be your real phone number.

The "Baker's Delight" bakery chain here in New Zealand (and Australia)
had a loyalty scheme were you had to use a cellphone number ... since I
have never owned a cellphone, I just used the number 123456789, which
worked fine since all you had to do was tell them the number in-store
to get the discounts and freebies. :-)

They've now changed they loyalty system (for no sensible reason, just
some moron in management making themselves look busy), and I'm not sure
how it works yet.

> BTR1701
>
> The whole thing is such a scam, anyway. The grocery store raises its
> prices so that they can 'lower' them again and pretend you're saving all
> sorts of money by joining their program, meanwhile, when you swipe that
> loyalty card at checkout, they're collecting a never-ending stream of
> data on you--- what you buy, when you buy it, how often, etc.-- building
> a complete consumer picture of you, which they then sell to anyone who
> will pay for it so they can inundate you with advertising.

Meijers here in Michigan already does that if you use a debit card,
as I get a coupon booklet in the mail every week or so with coupons
for stuff they know I regularly buy.

Never use the coupons though, as I never remember to bring them...