Menopause Matters Forum
General Discussion => This 'n' That => Topic started by: annieb on June 21, 2023, 08:36:03 AM
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Visited the new M&S store in Llandudno yesterday and found that their cafe and clothing department all have self-service checkouts. No option for counter service and a PERSON.
If someone hadn't been actually using the self-service checkout in the cafe (due to the way they were positioned and the angle we approached from) we initially wouldn't have seen it was there. Didn't find it too difficult to use to be fair but then hubby and I are computer-savvy. As we drank our tea we noticed that at least half the people arriving at the cafe were confused by the system and had to be helped by a member of staff. One couple (elderly people) tried to go to the counter to order (there was actually a till tucked away there) and were escorted to the self service and told how to use it. Another couple walked away in frustration.
Downstairs to the clothing dept - again all self service. I figured it out but I'm sure my elderly but pretty sharp mother would not have done so without help - it said on the screen to TYPE in the barcode but there was a scanner there and hate to think what it will be like in there at Christmas.
The only contact I had in the clothing dept was a member of staff approached me (as I as looking a bit confused initially) and said "Hello Madam, are you paying by card?" I replied yes and she pointed at the machine. That was the total interaction!!!!
Interested to know what everyone's thoughts are on this. Personally I'm not too bothered as am used to self-checkout but would prefer to be served by a person and really my main concern is that lack of social interaction. I owned a shop years ago and we had many older people who would just come in for a chat (some never bought anything). I feel that sometimes you just need a short exchange of pleasantries when you are out and about and this is definitely missing in M&S now.
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I won't use shops or car parks that don't accept cash or has a person at the Till. End of. This is discrimination against the elderly though there is no legal term for 'elderly'.
Humans need jobs. Companies need customers. If they alienate me then I go on line = loss of shops in the high street. The public are being harassed into using this type of system which isn't actually a 'service'. Also a person has to stand there to help others who are confused. So why not have that person on a till?
Once the tourist industry realises that footfall has dropped and shops are closing due to not enabling the public to spend as we want in car parks ..........
I haven't had a swipe card for security reasons. The antique trade relies on case over the counter for an instant spur of the moment sale otherwise potential customers walk away.
So there :meltdown: well you did ask ;-)
How was the weather in Llandudno?
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;D I did ask ;D. As hubby says - there should be an option. If you go into Tesco or Sainsbury you can choose self-service or real person / cash or card.
Weather was amazing. Wet and overcast when we left home and dark clouds over Snowdon but sun came out as we came into Llandudno and had a glorious day. Not too hot and a cooling breeze from the sea . Fish & chips for our supper sitting on the front at Colywn Bay. What more can you ask for
;D Apart from a proper checkout in M& S
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They're not listening https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2023/05/24/marks-spencer-self-service-tills-clothing-homeware/
Taz x :(
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This might be a better link https://www.chargedretail.co.uk/2023/02/13/marks-and-spencer-tills/
Taz x
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I agree Annie. Our local M and S, to be fair, have the self-service checkouts as well as traditional till (and the small coffee shop has a person to serve) so so far so good but I fear that it will move towards the “minimal interaction” with customers model. I think that’s not good at all. My mother would have no chance of managing in this situation. Banks have been going that way for some time too. Discriminatory and, frankly, the true meaning of customer service is disappearing fast! And I’ll tell you something else about M and S………
They don’t give you a saucer with your cup of tea or coffee now 🙄. I want a saucer :cuss:
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;D. Mum always wanted a saucer even with a mug ::). Where does 1 put one's spoon :o
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I don’t think we have any car parks round here that accept cash (except Asda). You have to use the ring and go app. It’s really good to be fair, you can add extra time on without going back to your car.
I always use the self service checkouts as I hate queueing
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I don't have that type of mobile. I'm not going to spend out money simply to satisfy the 'modern' way of paying.
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We noticed the lack of saucer too!! I know this sounds a bit OCD but it just looked to me as though they had forgotten to send out a saucer as the cups looked like teacups not mugs. Just odd!
I'm not sure about the rest of you but I'm getting thorough sick of being told to download the app. I do now have a fancy phone but get a bit confused with it. When I get into a car park I just want to pay and not have to download an app to be able to park.
On the other hand as littleminnie says these apps do have their upside. Would just like there to be a choice.
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I think we should have a choice between cash or card/phone/app but I must admit I very rarely need cash where I am. I love the carparks where I can use an app purely as I now don't keep paying for more than I need. When we were visiting places before we'd put a few hours on but often returned early. Now we put the minimum and just top it up as we need. Our local pub only takes cash so we now call money 'beer tokens' as that's the only place we use it 🤣
Taz x
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My grandparents and FinL went to War to give us choice >:(
I think that women in particular when using an app to pay at a car park can be vulnerable. Putting coins into a slot means that we are less likely to have the phone snatched whilst trying to pay!
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You don't have to go to a machine. You just pay from the car and then you can top it up from wherever you've gone to. Much safer than standing by a machine putting coins in a slot I think. I like using RingGo the best.
Taz x
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And you don’t get wet queuing to pay ;D
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I'd rather get wet ;D
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And you don’t get wet queuing to pay ;D
Exactly! 😁
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Personally I'll always choose a self checkout option as I hate the way most cashiers just throw stuff into bags willy nilly, usually with the lightest stuff at the bottom and the heaviest stuff on top >:(
It also makes it easier to check that prices are correct, I don't have to make inane conversation with someone who can't understand me, and with so many businesses having trouble finding staff it allows them to operate.
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Sometimes the staff are glued to their ear sets rather than engaging with customers - we pack our own goods .........
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I always use the scanners and scan as I shop
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I see that over 20 Councils have decided to make their car parks non-cash >:(. that'll cut foot fall!
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Or perhaps not........
Many do not want to stand outside in the elements to feed coins into an (often malfunctioning) ticket machine.
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Or perhaps not........
Many do not want to stand outside in the elements to feed coins into an (often malfunctioning) ticket machine.
Then the coins won’t stay in the machine and you don’t have any more. >:(
I hardly use cash any more, pay for everything by card.
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It's about taking away choice. It's about alienation. Ageism ..........
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This has turned into an interesting discussion and I can certainly see the benefits of self-service checkout especially when you only have a few items. Or don't feel like talking to anyone. (been there!!) . I told hubby about the parking fees app and he's really into that kind of thing.
However it put me in mind of when we first moved to our current home. My husband travelled for work and could be away for a week or 2 at a time. I was setting up a new business and in the waiting for planning permission stage so had no job to go to. I hadn't got to know anyone in the village and was too far from family for easy visits. Some weeks the only face to face interaction was in our local shops. (No Whatsapp in those days) It's surprising what a difference it made to how I felt when I'd had a brief chat at the checkout or even exchanged small talk with people in a queue. This is really what concerns me about all this self service stuff. AND as CKLD says M&S have taken away the choice and geared the whole thing to computer savvy folk.
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That's 1 issue that AgeUK try to educate the Government about regarding these self service ideas which are fast becoming 'non options'. Some people speak to a person once a week at their shop or store. And I am not savvy enough to cope with apps :-\ :-X
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My mum would never have coped with self check outs or apps, and she also loved the daily conversations she had with staff at the tills. This is a poor move for a lot of old folk. Plus I wonder how many jobs it will do away with. That is one reason I have held off of using them. And I also do believe it is important to be given a choice. I wonder if M&S will come to regret this move given a lot of older people shop there.
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Since lockdown more have shopped on line. So the companies may well find themselves unable to meet their rents ! then what ;)
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Interesting thread.
As I said to my dad who cannot/will not use a mobile or self service facility of any type - he is now clearly in the minority.
The majority are doing it (happily or not...) That's where we're at.
Can't say I love all this self service myself. But.. I do wonder if there is always something comes along that the 'older' generation fail to adapt to.. supermarkets all those years ago, for example...
Every generation brings new changes. ;)
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Keep your 'older generation' comments to yourself - takes 1 to recognise 1 ;D
I feel 16. And I don't want to be told what to do!!!
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I wish I felt 16 CLKD. ;D
Unfortunately, I'm on this forum because most days I feel 80 years old :o pah.
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Oh I'm 90 most mornings in that my head doesn't want to wake up >:(. However, once I've eaten breakfast and depending on what's happening in the week, usually I'm about 16 ....... in my head. Thighs however don't follow that fast ;D
I don't want to fill my head with any more technology. I'm out of bed, what more do they want :D