More horrors from the check-out line

I’m not usually a Jewel shopper – generally I frequent Dominick’s and Oakton Market – but I stop in occasionally when a Jewel is more convenient. Yesterday was one such day, when after a visit to the Target on Howard in Evanston I stopped into the Jewel in the same mall. There I discovered something that seems designed to make modern life even more aggravating – TV screens running non-stop commercials at the checkout lines. While I waited to pay I was obliged to watch ads for the new Curious George movie and a revolutionary razor that has 37 blades, if I recall correctly. This “entertainment” is evidently in place at other Jewel stores as well, as a friend tells me they have them at the Wilmette store also. These TVs are large and loud and headache-inducing; though I realize that there are some who accept any sort of TV, anywhere, I can hardly believe that most people would welcome this shrill commercial intrusion into one’s personal space (I could be reading People magazine in peace, after all). I’m guessing that the company’s hope is that people will tolerate these annoying machines without much complaint while Jewel rakes in the ad revenues. The cashier gave a sad sigh when I asked if the noise bothered her, and when I talked with the store manager about them he shrugged unhappily (the TVs’ installation was not his decision, needless to say), indicated that there had been other complaints, and suggested that I contact the company to let them know how I felt. So I did, sending off an email yesterday to www.jewelosco.com. I told them that I will strenuously avoid shopping at Jewel as long as these TV screens are in place. I’d urge LTH readers who feel similarly affronted to let Jewel know it – after all, this has to be even more infuriating (it is to me, anyway) than slow check-writers. And, as opposed to the sluggish customer ahead of you in the check-out line, this is something that vocal consumers might actually be able to do something about.

Keep in mind that Jewel is about to change hands, so a Quixote-esque campaign might be a waste of time at this point. I'd wait for SuperValue to take over before making an attempt to change anything at the stores.

Yeah, they've got them at the Jewel near me, as well.

Honestly, they don't bother me. I was used to these things from Caputo's in Elmwood Park, where they're showing commercials for the store constantly. The content they're airing at Jewel is just funny in a I-can't-believe-they're-cooking-that kind of way.

It's actually not that difficult, when the checker is distracted or bagging the person in front of you or whatever, to just reach up and pop the little power button, then pretend you never budged from examining the gum offerings. I've done it two or three times. Fight the Man!

That said, Jewel does seem to be on a crusade to make shopping as unpleasant as possible through aggressive upselling. Incidentally, don't buy the clementines there. I didn't think it was possible to make a sour clementine, but Jewel's eagle-eyed produce buyers found them. I'm sure they're picked to last while traveling by tramp steamer around the Cape of Good Horn, rather than for flavor.

mmm, what about the even larger TV's they have hanging in produce and over by the meat counter? All in my local store seem to be tuned in to Food Network with a news crawl at the bottom.

stevez wrote:Keep in mind that Jewel is about to change hands, so a Quixote-esque campaign might be a waste of time at this point. I'd wait for SuperValue to take over before making an attempt to change anything at the stores.

Actually, this might be just the right time to make a fuss. If the new management gets wind of a lot of complaints on this issue, they have the opportunity to make it clear to customers that they've "felt our pain" and that they intend to make shopping at the "new" Jewel a much more enjoyable and peaceful experience. And as to the other TVs throughout the store, yes, I was irked by them too, but decided to focus my ire on the ones located at check-out, where I couldn't walk away.

Wow - who would have thought that Jewel would concoct another reason for me not to shop there? I thought the long-as-hell checkout lines (at the Milwaukee-Ashland location) and the prohibition on wheeling the carts to your car were sufficient, but TVs? Now, I'm done for sure.

as if we needed more reasons to not shop at jewel... Personally, it was enough for me the day I visited and the entire meat cooler was turned off and people were picking through the warm meat... then the "self checkout" travesty... then the "extreme value" where the checkers get fired if they don't ask you if you want to buy some stupid product-of-the-day when you check out... now this...! I haven't actually seen these, as i really do try to avoid jewel.. they're just as expensive as gourmet grocery stores, so i'd much rather be at trader joe's or whole foods any day...

BUT, perhaps you should invest $16 in a "TV-B-Gone" ... http://www.tvbgone.com/cfe_tvbg_main.php ..wouldn't that be hilarious??? it turns virtually ANY tv off with the push of a button (it takes up to 45 seconds to go through all of the possible code combinations, but supposedly it is a really good product and actually work). plus think of all the other fun you could have with it...

its a little cheaper to buy it here btw: http://www.thinkgeek.com/gadgets/electronic/755e/

aschie30 wrote:...and the prohibition on wheeling the carts to your car were sufficient, but TVs?

Not sure I understand. How do you get your purchase to your car if you have more than a few bags?

Bill/SFNM

Bill/SFNM wrote:

aschie30 wrote:...and the prohibition on wheeling the carts to your car were sufficient, but TVs?

Not sure I understand. How do you get your purchase to your car if you have more than a few bags?

Bill/SFNM

Ah, you do understand.

kl5 wrote:
Ah, you do understand.

You've got to be kidding.

Too many carts being "borrowed" by those who live nearby?

Bill/SFNM

Such is city life.

dddane--just HAD to have that tv-eye-putter-outer. Tried to order online, but when they said "Please choose a province" and I chose a province, they then said "Please choose a province", which I did, and then they said "Please choose a province" which I did...

Finally I *got* it: The geeks on the ThinkGeek site hadn't a clue how to code their computer to send something to Canada.

So I called them and left a vituperative msg on their answering device.

Still and all, I *gotta* get me one of those. I'm going to leave behind me an endless series of closed eyes in supermarkets, airports, waiting rooms, ... oh boy!! Quelle joie!!

Geo

Geo wrote:
Still and all, I *gotta* get me one of those. I'm going to leave behind me an endless series of closed eyes in supermarkets, airports, waiting rooms, ...

... and restaurants.

Imagine knocking Al Jazeera off the tube in a cabbie joint!

-ramon

I was a fan of the self-checkouts at first, but they began to crash so often and have so many error messages that I'm afraid to use them any more. I finally wrote Jewel an email complaining after one of the machines wouldn't read my credit card and then demanded ID for *cash* because the purchase was over $50. If I have to call an employee over to type in my ID, it's not worth doing the self-checkout.

They seem to have fired or lost all my favorite cashiers and baggers, too. It bothers me especially that they've cut back on the baggers who are special-needs people. A lot of them seemed to enjoy working there. I used to feel that providing those jobs was at least one thing positive that the big supermarkets did.

bibi rose wrote:They seem to have fired or lost all my favorite cashiers and baggers, too. It bothers me especially that they've cut back on the baggers who are special-needs people. A lot of them seemed to enjoy working there. I used to feel that providing those jobs was at least one thing positive that the big supermarkets did.

Yes, this is among the reasons I will not use the automatic checkout.

I'm all for efficiency, but the replacement of people by machines that provide poorer service which requires more effort on the customer's part is an insidious evil.

The self serve check out lanes work for me because the extent of my Jewel shopping is usually buying one or two emergency items that I forgot to get elsewhere. The lines are always so long at the attended check out lines that for only a couple of items, the self serve is usually quicker. If I actually did any serious grocery shopping at Jewel, I'd probably never use them, though.

For those intereseted, here's the relevant part of the reply to my email that I received from corporate Jewel:

"We apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused. Consumer response to the program has been overwhelmingly positive. Customers have told us that the network is an easy way for them to learn about special promotions and offers in the store. Customers have also said that they especially enjoy watching the network while waiting in line at the checkout."

Again, for those who don't enjoy Jewel's "network," I'd urge you to let them know. At least then they wouldn't be able to claim that consumer response has been overwhelmingly positive (well, I know they still might, but we would know the truth.)

I refuse to use the self checkout - when I have been encouraged by store personnel to do so my reply is "will you give me a discount for checking out my own groceries, then bagging them and finally recording the payment". Of course the answer is "no". My response is "then it's not worth me doing all the work for cost savings".

ToniG wrote:For those intereseted, here's the relevant part of the reply to my email that I received from corporate Jewel:

"We apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused. Consumer response to the program has been overwhelmingly positive. Customers have told us that the network is an easy way for them to learn about special promotions and offers in the store. Customers have also said that they especially enjoy watching the network while waiting in line at the checkout."

Again, for those who don't enjoy Jewel's "network," I'd urge you to let them know. At least then they wouldn't be able to claim that consumer response has been overwhelmingly positive (well, I know they still might, but we would know the truth.)

Long Live the New Flesh

Barnew wrote:I refuse to use the self checkout - when I have been encouraged by store personnel to do so my reply is "will you give me a discount for checking out my own groceries, then bagging them and finally recording the payment". Of course the answer is "no". My response is "then it's not worth me doing all the work for cost savings".

It actually does cost more if you use the self-checkout line and don't have the Jewel loyalty card. If you're using a staffed checkout line and you don't have the card, the cashier will always punch in a code to give you the discounts. That isn't an option at the self-checkout. So you are being penalized for using them.

Barnew wrote:I refuse to use the self checkout - when I have been encouraged by store personnel to do so my reply is "will you give me a discount for checking out my own groceries, then bagging them and finally recording the payment". Of course the answer is "no". My response is "then it's not worth me doing all the work for cost savings".

I do the same and add how I find it odd to be encouraged to essentially put them out of work. I try very hard not to use them as I feel like doing so is encouraging corporate to eliminate jobs.

[/quote]
It actually does cost more if you use the self-checkout line and don't have the Jewel loyalty card. If you're using a staffed checkout line and you don't have the card, the cashier will always punch in a code to give you the discounts. That isn't an option at the self-checkout. So you are being penalized for using them.[/quote]

There is always an attendant at my Jewel's self check out who will swipe Jewel card for you if you don't have one, you have to ask.

Then all you have to deal with is the fact that it locks up every other item and accuses you of stealing.

. . . Consumer response to the program has been overwhelmingly positive.

If this statement is true -- and I seriously doubt that it is -- my faith in humanity has been weakened just a bit further.

=R=

Well, my professional question to any company saying that would be, "Do you mean from your current customers, or from the ones it drove away?"

The alternative was a sharp stick in the eye

"Ma'am, would you rather:

A) put a hard working checkout person out of work by checking out your own groceries; or

B) have a sharp stick shoved in your eye."

The real surprise was that it was almost a tie

Mike G wrote:Then all you have to deal with is the fact that it locks up every other item and accuses you of stealing.

That happened to me too! The red light's flashing and it said something along the lines of "There's a discrepancy. Please notify an attendant." The attendant refused to come anywhere near me (I guess a guy buying garlic bread and bell peppers at 10 on a Saturday night is a guy you don't want to mess with) so I finally just shrugged, paid, and left.

Bob S. wrote:It actually does cost more if you use the self-checkout line and don't have the Jewel loyalty card. If you're using a staffed checkout line and you don't have the card, the cashier will always punch in a code to give you the discounts. That isn't an option at the self-checkout. So you are being penalized for using them.

Have you ever encountered someone at Jewel that REFUSED to let you "borrow" the jewel card to get the savings? I did once and almost walked out... but instead I started punching in my phone # (which actually should be on file because I really DO have a card...but for some reason they recorded it wrong so it doesn't work)... after punching the same "wrong" number in twice she finally gave in. I wanted to ask for her manager but i was in a hurry...

But what's even worse from these corporate greedmongers is the employees at actual Alberton's stores. I've been shopping at Albertson's in the Orlando area several times and they never allow you to "share" cards. its really annoying, and a perfect reminder that the card isn't for OUR benefit, rather for theirs. one time I was in line and asked for a card.. the bagger reached over to hand the cashier his card. the cashier says "i'm sorry, you can't do that" and gave him his card back. i said some choice words to the uptight cashier and walked out, leaving my hours worth of grocery shopping sitting in her belt and went across the street to Publix. On another incident in their liquor store (seperate) the cashier had a line the size of texas... I waited my turn, asked for a card...when she said no i asked for a signup form and sat and held up her line while I filled out every bloody detail..

dddane wrote:But what's even worse from these corporate greedmongers is the employees at actual Alberton's stores. I've been shopping at Albertson's in the Orlando area several times and they never allow you to "share" cards. its really annoying, and a perfect reminder that the card isn't for OUR benefit, rather for theirs. one time I was in line and asked for a card.. the bagger reached over to hand the cashier his card. the cashier says "i'm sorry, you can't do that" and gave him his card back. i said some choice words to the uptight cashier and walked out, leaving my hours worth of grocery shopping sitting in her belt and went across the street to Publix.

Well, the reason they give you the discounts for having a preferred card is because they use the data they collect from it, so I can see from the store's standpoint why they don't want you to share cards. Shared cards can skew or invalidate the data collected.