Ok, so... why does Wal-Mart have so many lanes if they never open more than five?

paul34 · 06-22-07, 10:06

Anyone? Anyone? I had to go today (oh dear), and I just came to a realization - 30 some lanes, but they only ever open I think about 7 at a time, regardless of how long the lines are.

What's the point of the other 23 lanes then?

Setec Astronomy · 06-22-07, 10:18

Didn't I do this thread already? The best is the Home Depot near me...I swear this is true, they started out with 24, yes, 24 lanes, of which, as you say, they never had any more than 4 open. Then they took out the first 10 or 12 lanes...and left the others numbered 13 thru 24! "Gee it isn't that this store sucks, it must be very popular, they have 24 checkout lanes and it's still crowded!" So now they have the "self-checkout" to which suicide is a viable option, and one other lane open.

BigAl3 · 06-22-07, 10:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by paul34

Anyone? Anyone? I had to go today (oh dear), and I just came to a realization - 30 some lanes, but they only ever open I think about 7 at a time, regardless of how long the lines are.

What's the point of the other 23 lanes then?

i hear you man, throw it in this thread... http://autopia.org/forum/hot-tub/742...ght=mannerisms

SDLexus · 06-23-07, 12:26

Self-checkout FTW!

Scottwax · 06-23-07, 08:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by SDLexus

Self-checkout FTW!

...except I always get stuck behind some moron who apparently had not only never used self-checkout before but is unaware technology has advanced beyond rotary dial phones.

lawrencea · 06-23-07, 09:03

When I was a kid in the 1950s a parent would give there kid a grocery list and send them to the grocery store . When he got there he would give the list to the grocer, and the grocer would get all the stuff while the kid wated. There was no going up and down iles looking for stuff. Now that was service. And with having 24 lanes and only 4 open, there should be a law ,if you have 24 lanes then you must have 24 lanes open. If you only want 4 lanes open you should have only built 4 .

bigfoot · 06-23-07, 09:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scottwax

...except I always get stuck behind some moron who apparently had not only never used self-checkout before but is unaware technology has advanced beyond rotary dial phones.

That and/or the machine decides that the item was not put in the baggin area and need to wait until the cashier, which sometimes is slower than a goverment refund, decides to come and fix it.

Setec Astronomy · 06-23-07, 09:06

Why do I hate self-checkout? Let me count the ways...first of all there is the fire horn if you make the slightest wrong move...which kind of shouts "this guy is trying to steal something!!" (at least that's the way it makes ME feel). Second, it just irks me that some bean counter thinks it's more cost effective to have one "cashier" overseeing 4 messed up checkout lanes (usually one or two of the four is out of order) and pissing off the customers (not to mention the potential piliferage; I gotta believe they lose more stuff that way than with a real cashier). Why don't they just hire some more goddam cashiers?

These stores are so messed up, one time at HD there were huge lines, etc., and one guy just said "screw it" and walked out of line and out the door without paying for his stuff. The alarm sounded and no one even noticed. I guess the checker at the door was only looking for people with bags and receipts

, so this guy must have just cruised by (I don't remember that part, he probably just walked right by the guy while he was "searching" somebody else).

paul34 · 06-23-07, 09:55

ahh sorry SA if you already made a thread like this! I just noticed it last night

Yea, normally, I prefer self check-out at places where it *isn't* too crowded... like at Lowe's. I hate HD with a passion, so I don't go there anyway

.

And yes, it would appear most people really don't know how to operate the self-checkout. It's understand the first time, but I really doubt EVERYONE uses it for the first time everytime. It seems (at least around here) that they've made the machines a bit less sensitive, and not so nazi as in "item missing from bagging area ALERT THE POLICE!!!" or anything too much anymore.

I do still dislike the "approval needed" for stuff like paint stripper. Who cares what I'm buying? None of your business. Go away!

Or the worst... when things refuse to scan, and then you have to enter the UPC manually. To make it even worse, sometimes you have multiple products of the same number... but there's no multiplicity option! You have to enter the SAME number in 2, 3, however many times. It's stupid.

ajbarnes · 06-23-07, 09:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by Setec Astronomy

and one guy just said "screw it" and walked out of line and out the door without paying for his stuff. The alarm sounded and no one even noticed. I guess the checker at the door was only looking for people with bags and receipts

, so this guy must have just cruised by (I don't remember that part, he probably just walked right by the guy while he was "searching" somebody else).

It's wrong to do, but, with my temper I probably would lose it and do the same thing.

TorchedGT · 06-23-07, 11:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by paul34

Anyone? Anyone? I had to go today (oh dear), and I just came to a realization - 30 some lanes, but they only ever open I think about 7 at a time, regardless of how long the lines are.

What's the point of the other 23 lanes then?

This is why I don't go to Wal-Mart down the street from me anymore. Several years ago I went there to buy a couple of things: razors, shaving cream & deoderant. Two check-out lines were open and atleast 20 people in each line and moving very slow. Previous times going there it was the shame situation. I got frustrated and stepped out of line and took my items and threw them down the isle I got them from.

I have never been there since.

TH0001 · 06-23-07, 12:20

You went the WalMart on East Colonial huh???? Haha