OT: Shoprite changing self serve to be 20 items or less

[mildone]

Not in Hillsborough or Skillman or Somerville

Yeah, I heard about that. Seems there’s some guy in that area who has been stealing basket hard carts. So they got rid of the basket hand carts. Then he started stealing stuff using bags in the self checkout lanes. So they changed the bagging rules in that area.

They say to be on the lookout for a guy who always has grass stains on his pants and is often muttering incoherently about “equity”. They figure he’s a disgruntled shareholder.

 

[Ty Webb]

There's minimum 3 people supervising the front self scan at Flemington Ty. Perhaps the system did lock but I am only telling you what I was told. So the system locked itself and then the FE mgr brought over the SM and told him I was stealing. Is THAT really a significant point?
And thinking about this more IF I had 4 boxes of pasta I would hold three in the left hand while scanning the 4th 4 times before putting in the bag. Now for the love of God I'm not saying I have never screwed up and put something in early not realizing it hadn't scanned but that is not the point of my story. It's how a system is flawed, people make mistakes, and how people sometimes assume and make accusations. I'm sure it is frustrating for them but they should be better trained to handle such system.
They ruined part of my shopping experience. I'll never self scan in that store again. But as I've said I've replaced that with supporting the working cashiers and that is always a nice experience in itself.

I'm fully aware that many people suck and steal things.

Again, I might be wrong but even in this situation, the system may lock automatically. I believe it's set up to scan and item and then recognize the item in the bagging area. So I couldn't hold three boxes in my hand and then try to swipe the 4th box four times.

Any time you have an automated system there is going to be times when it gets stuck or goes wonky. What happened to you seems way over the top and can see why you may never use self check out again.

 

[DHajekRC84]

I never made the claim the story you were talking about was false nor untrue. I explained or attempted to make you ( and those Christian beliefs) realize ALL … even those store employees in their attempts to stop the theft… and it goes on everyday we’re doing their job. So no you were missing the point then same as when I asked nicely don’t message me about anything and you do it anyway. I have only put a few of them on ignore. You are not one of those Dennis. Sorry for the incident at the Shop Rite but this is what allowing people to steal at random has created. The saddest part is most that have done this don’t really need to steal contrary to MSM shills. They are no more entitled than any of us. Stay safe and well. BTW: there are many avenues in which people can get food, shelter , medical help and counseling but most do not want it. There are many reasons why.

okay Bob. We don't disagree. I tried to explain that. I messaged you back to try and clear the air on this. Other than feeling like I was not totally forth coming I am 100% on board with your POV. (I'll leave you alone now).

 

[greenknight]

Shoprite is changing all of their self checkout lines to 20 items or less. I find that irritating. I got so used to self serve and I'm fast. If I make more can can sale purchases, I will have to wait in line with a person doing the check out. I can't figure out why they are changing all the lanes, most people get 20 or more items. The 20 or less lanes will be empty.

I support the people checking out that have a job & need the money. I'm not getting it any cheaper doing it myself GOTTA LOVE GREED

 

[newell138]

I worked at a Grand Union as a teenager. And anyone that had the produce fridge cleanup would find a case of PBR outside the back door waiting for them by the store Asst Manager. Lol

And the times I had to stop stocking and help on register, was always funny. I never had any idea what have the fruits and veggies were…so, if I didn’t know it, I use put them in the bag no charge.

Hard to imagine nowadays that every item had a price sticker on them. It was up to the cashier to type in the price of each item as it went across the conveyor and into your bag.

 

[RUBOB72]

It’s no problem Dennis. If it was not resolved for you then either talk to this store manager or call customer service at corporate and explain what occurred. I’m sure there have been complaints made about issues with self checkout registers. The company adhere’s to now and always has been keeping customers happy, safe and keeping prices as low as possible. I shop at many chains and others are worse at the registers, items available and trying to keep a shopper coming back. That’s the last I will offer on this subject.

 

[RUBOB72]

Hard to imagine nowadays that every item had a price sticker on them. It was up to the cashier to type in the price of each item as it went across the conveyor and into your bag.

Price stickers… you talking about scan codes # ‘s … the process is actually quite simple for my wife… not for me😜

 

[yesrutgers01]

Hard to imagine nowadays that every item had a price sticker on them. It was up to the cashier to type in the price of each item as it went across the conveyor and into your bag.

Price stickers… you talking about scan codes # ‘s … the process is actually quite simple for my wife… not for me😜

he is talking back in the day we didnt even know what a scan code would mean...had to put price stickers on everything. And at the register- you looked for the sticker and put in the price...The first upgrade I saw at register is when they made you start entering product type and then the price. Everything manual. And if it is 62.51, there was no where to enter what they gave you to pay so, it just popped open and you had to figure out manually what to give them back- no paying by credit card either. Cash, check or foodstamp.

 

[DJ Spanky]

Aw, gee, I get here and Dennis and Bob have worked things out: where's the drama in that? How am I supposed to be entertained? You guys are really letting me down!

C'mon guys, let's get it on!

They replaced our ShopRite about 3-4 years ago, moved it about 1.5 miles down the road on Hamburg Turnpike. Knocked down and moved into the old Wayne Hills Mall. The new store is bigger (more on that later) and more accessible. See, the old store you used to be able to make left turns into, but then Passaic County in their infinite wisdom put a cement barrier down the middle of the road (complete overkill) and eliminated the left turn. Now you have to go through 2 traffic lights, make a cloverleaf turn and come back through those 2 traffic lights.

So the old store has sat vacant: originally Amazon Fresh was going to move in there, but those plans fell through. They're currently doing work on it, and I've heard an Aldi is going in there. Not sure if that's a good or bad thing for the area.

Anyway, back to the "bigger" store. First off, they finished off the floor in these polished cement colored slabs (they may actually be cement, who knows) that just give the place an institutional feel. Second, they appear to have the same number of aisles and have not increased their selection at all. For example, in the old store to make room for other items they had shrunk the baking section - it's still the same size, with a very limited selection of items. Third, the aisles go back about two thirds of the way, then they have a huge open section between the ends and the butcher section on the back wall. They'll pile pallets there for stocking the shelves and for extra stock, which makes no sense to me. Fourth, they built 4-6 self-check out lanes which are full length with a belt, then a square section with, I believe, 12 self-check kiosks. And other than peak times on the weekend, their regular checkout aisles are rarely attended. I stop in there after work and maybe 3 are open. And they never have an express lane open. I much prefer using a manned checkout, but with so few cashiers the wait for that is long than it takes me to get my items. Obviously this is intended. And there is no one directing traffic in that square section, although at the exit there are usually 1-3 people there to help if there are problems. So I really don't see how they can be monitoring theft at that point.

 

[greenknight]

he is talking back in the day we didnt even know what a scan code would mean...had to put price stickers on everything. And at the register- you looked for the sticker and put in the price...The first upgrade I saw at register is when they made you start entering product type and then the price. Everything manual. And if it is 62.51, there was no where to enter what they gave you to pay so, it just popped open and you had to figure out manually what to give them back- no paying by credit card either. Cash, check or foodstamp.

Lol I didnt work in supermarket but did retail auto store. I was the price gun guy....cant tell you how many times the price label stuck to another bottle or can and when I was manually doing invoice by hand with calculator. I had to go look at one of bottles on shelf for the price. Our cash register stayed open and when you were busy you just threw the money on top and made change.

 

[DHajekRC84]

Lol I didnt work in supermarket but did retail auto store. I was the price gun guy....cant tell you how many times the price label stuck to another bottle or can and when I was manually doing invoice by hand with calculator. I had to go look at one of bottles on shelf for the price. Our cash register stayed open and when you were busy you just threw the money on top and made change.

Old school theft. Sometimes they'd put a more expensive sticker over a lessor previous price and folks would just pull off the higher one.
Others would take a cheaper sticker and pull it off and put it on another more expensive item.

When I worked for Frito Lay NY law required every item tagged by price sticker. I'd have to gun hundreds of bags per stop sometimes. What a PITA.

 

[RUBOB72]

he is talking back in the day we didnt even know what a scan code would mean...had to put price stickers on everything. And at the register- you looked for the sticker and put in the price...The first upgrade I saw at register is when they made you start entering product type and then the price. Everything manual. And if it is 62.51, there was no where to enter what they gave you to pay so, it just popped open and you had to figure out manually what to give them back- no paying by credit card either. Cash, check or foodstamp.

Unless you go back to when I first worked part time at Good Deal supermarkets ( most won’t know this NJ chain ) at age 16 for one of Wakefern / Shop Rite ‘s original founders. You can’t fathom the positive changes which have occurred in the past 65 years in the food industry.

 

[greenknight]

Old school theft. Sometimes they'd put a more expensive sticker over a lessor previous price and folks would just pull off the higher one.
Others would take a cheaper sticker and pull it off and put it on another more expensive item.

When I worked for Frito Lay NY law required every item tagged by price sticker. I'd have to gun hundreds of bags per stop sometimes. What a PITA.

Got one better I'd go with my best friend to buy suits & clothes I think in Secaucus. For the life of me cannot remember the name of store but they used to write the prices on tags in different colors. He would bring every color marker and write his own prices at GREAT DISCOUNT and get away with it every time....I think it was Syms. Actually I'm 100% certain it was Syms

 

[newell138]

Got one better I'd go with my best friend to buy suits & clothes I think in Secaucus. For the life of me cannot remember the name of store but they used to write the prices on tags in different colors. He would bring every color marker and write his own prices at GREAT DISCOUNT and get away with it every time....I think it was Syms. Actually I'm 100% certain it was Syms

Friggin Sy Syms and his commercials

 

[RUBOB72]

Got one better I'd go with my best friend to buy suits & clothes I think in Secaucus. For the life of me cannot remember the name of store but they used to write the prices on tags in different colors. He would bring every color marker and write his own prices at GREAT DISCOUNT and get away with it every time....I think it was Syms. Actually I'm 100% certain it was Syms

Many clothing retailers did that same exact thing 50’s -60’s- 70’s . Syms was not the first To do so but he had good discounts .

 

[DanRU]

he is talking back in the day we didnt even know what a scan code would mean...had to put price stickers on everything. And at the register- you looked for the sticker and put in the price...The first upgrade I saw at register is when they made you start entering product type and then the price. Everything manual. And if it is 62.51, there was no where to enter what they gave you to pay so, it just popped open and you had to figure out manually what to give them back- no paying by credit card either. Cash, check or foodstamp.

My 1st job in the late 70's was at a Bradlees where I'd sometimes have to help out cashiering. For each item rung up, I had to type in the price and a 6-8 digit merchandise code. If someone was paying with Visa or MC, there was a book at each register that contained the card numbers of invalid cards and I'd have to search the book to ensure the customer wasn't using a stolen or cancelled card. Then it swiped through a "machine" with carbon paper in it that imprinted the card information on 2 pages - one for the customer and one for the store to submit for payment. It took forever to ring up someone that was buying a basketful of clothes for their family and you can imagine how long the lines got around Christmas time.
And for everyone with a smart phone today, when I was young in the 60's, my neighborhood still had "Party lines" where the phone lines were shared by several households. It was common to pick up the landline phone to make a call and find one of your neighbors was using the line so we'd hang up and try again in half an hour.

 

[Lerxst72]

Regarding self-checkout, to me, it seems Target has become the worst. Usually a store that's been retro-fitted, only has 4 self checkout kiosks, and no more than 1 employee manned traditional lane open.

I can't tell you how many times I've walked out of a Target, after having just walked in and noticed the checkout line stretched over 40 persons long.

East Windsor, Brick and Howell are three examples of locations I've walked out of w/o even shopping.

 

[greenknight]

Many clothing retailers did that same exact thing 50’s -60’s- 70’s . Syms was not the first To do so but he had good discounts .

Oh he did he took like 60 & 70% discounts cannot believe he never got caught

 

[greenknight]

My 1st job in the late 70's was at a Bradlees where I'd sometimes have to help out cashiering. For each item rung up, I had to type in the price and a 6-8 digit merchandise code. If someone was paying with Visa or MC, there was a book at each register that contained the card numbers of invalid cards and I'd have to search the book to ensure the customer wasn't using a stolen or cancelled card. Then it swiped through a "machine" with carbon paper in it that imprinted the card information on 2 pages - one for the customer and one for the store to submit for payment. It took forever to ring up someone that was buying a basketful of clothes for their family and you can imagine how long the lines got around Christmas time.
And for everyone with a smart phone today, when I was young in the 60's, my neighborhood still had "Party lines" where the phone lines were shared by several households. It was common to pick up the landline phone to make a call and find one of your neighbors was using the line so we'd hang up and try again in half an hour.

Haha had to do the same with credit card and then call 800# for approval. Forgot about that

 

[yesrutgers01]

Haha had to do the same with credit card and then call 800# for approval. Forgot about that

Glad I was doing grocery back then, I don't believe anyone was taking CC back then.

What is weird- it wasn't that long ago when CC at Gas Stations almost never happened. It was only back with those Seinfeld commercials where he would go a penny over and not worry about it.

On a different subject- the whole tipping thing has gotten out of hand- stopped at a BK drivethru for a coffee the other day- forget the total but I was due back .28 and the kid at the window asked if I wanted change back. WTF?

 

[Jimpeg]

in another 5 years technology costs will continue to be decrease and you will start seeing more widespread adoption to visually scan everything on your self checkout....its already done in small scale with <10 items in corporate food courts...also the Sphere in Las Vegas has it for beverage checkout,,,

 

[greenknight]

Glad I was doing grocery back then, I don't believe anyone was taking CC back then.

What is weird- it wasn't that long ago when CC at Gas Stations almost never happened. It was only back with those Seinfeld commercials where he would go a penny over and not worry about it.

On a different subject- the whole tipping thing has gotten out of hand- stopped at a BK drivethru for a coffee the other day- forget the total but I was due back .28 and the kid at the window asked if I wanted change back. WTF?

Yes and the $7.00 I'm overpaying

 

[bac2therac]

Old school theft. Sometimes they'd put a more expensive sticker over a lessor previous price and folks would just pull off the higher one.
Others would take a cheaper sticker and pull it off and put it on another more expensive item.

When I worked for Frito Lay NY law required every item tagged by price sticker. I'd have to gun hundreds of bags per stop sometimes. What a PITA.

Can i ask you why Fritos are $5.99 a bag and across the board higher priced than any other snack

 

[greenknight]

in another 5 years technology costs will continue to be decrease and you will start seeing more widespread adoption to visually scan everything on your self checkout....its already done in small scale with <10 items in corporate food courts...also the Sphere in Las Vegas has it for beverage checkout,,,

Actually I'm in the electrical industry and 3 or 4 yrs ago had sales summit and product will be scanned as soon as you pick it up off shelf thru phone I know back then the technology 5G and is thru the light fixtures. You put it back it gets taken off automatically. I forget whether you pay at checkout or if you automatically pay on phone and you just walk out. At the time they were live testing in a few whole foods locations. I'm sure its changed a little since them with more tech advances but that is the future

 

[greenknight]

in another 5 years technology costs will continue to be decrease and you will start seeing more widespread adoption to visually scan everything on your self checkout....its already done in small scale with <10 items in corporate food courts...also the Sphere in Las Vegas has it for beverage checkout,,,

Since the invention of the internet how we handle hard cash is archaic. Cash will be phased out 100%.

 

[mdk01]

Actually I'm in the electrical industry and 3 or 4 yrs ago had sales summit and product will be scanned as soon as you pick it up off shelf thru phone I know back then the technology 5G and is thru the light fixtures. You put it back it gets taken off automatically. I forget whether you pay at checkout or if you automatically pay on phone and you just walk out. At the time they were live testing in a few whole foods locations. I'm sure its changed a little since them with more tech advances but that is the future

What happens if you don't have your phone with you when you shop?

 

[RUBOB72]

Can i ask you why Fritos are $5.99 a bag and across the board higher priced than any other snack

The entire Frito Lay Corp. chips and snacks business is controlled by … take a guess .

 

[rufeelinit]

Since the invention of the internet how we handle hard cash is archaic. Cash will be phased out 100%.

I thought we were headed that way but you still need to provide the right incentives and a surcharge on using a credit card or a discount for cash (as those charging the surcharge prefer to call it) has me spending more cash versus using a credit card than ever the last 20 years. I will say I have no idea what to do with coins anymore.

Also didn't Amazon try out a concept in smaller food stores where there were not going to be cashiers but they would only carry a limited # of SKU's and there would be some type of scanning device that would total up your bill on the way out. I don't think that worked out too well as it also permitted too much theft.

Realistically, until there is more of a deterrent to low level theft, either prices will need to be raised to cover the higher cost of theft or technology advances will need to be able address this better.

 

[LotusAggressor]

They should all take cash or credit

I once saw someone pay with a sandwich bag full of quarters at a self checkout. There are limits.

 

[DHajekRC84]

Can i ask you why Fritos are $5.99 a bag and across the board higher priced than any other snack

Well I stopped working for them in 1992 but I can only offer you this. When you have a 60+ market share you can act like a gorilla and just recently a major retailer in Europe (Carefour?) Kicked them out for their extreme pricing.

I'm very loyal to my past employers with the exception of them. Their prices are crazy high and I actually like the Clancy's brand at Aldi's more ( for half the price).

 

[Jimpeg]

Since the invention of the internet how we handle hard cash is archaic. Cash will be phased out 100%.

there is part of our society (6% in 2022) that is unbanked.. and pay all goods in cash...until that is solved cash will continue to be used...also was at 7-11 bought 3 drinks and thought i would buy a pick-6, didnt realize you cant charge for a lottery ticket on credit card...and dont forget cash only at your local dispensary....

 

[RUBOB72]

Well I stopped working for them in 1992 but I can only offer you this. When you have a 60+ market share you can act like a gorilla and just recently a major retailer in Europe (Carefour?) Kicked them out for their extreme pricing.

I'm very loyal to my past employers with the exception of them. Their prices are crazy high and I actually like the Clancy's brand at Aldi's more ( for half the price).

They ( Frito Lay) control almost all of the US snack market. Clancy’s much cheaper and suits my snack craving …

 

[tom1944]

The Shop Rite in Jackson has at least 4 and sometimes 5 employees at the self-checkout. It seems to me if they closed self-checkout and just had 4 more lanes open it would be more efficient and less theft.

 

[tom1944]

I once saw someone pay with a sandwich bag full of quarters at a self-checkout. There are limits.

I fill a cup with change every month and the first shop rite visit of the following month I empty it in the change bucket at self-checkout.

I only do that if it is slow and there a lot of open registers.

 

[tom1944]

I think Paramus still has them, though not beyond the checkout section.

Jackson SR just got some back about a month ago. Much less then they had but at least some.

 

[fg7321]

Shoprite is a Big PITA with their digital coupons and that is a big part of the slowdown then they make you buy $20 worth of stuff to get the coupon to work.

Just make the price work for everybody and make the customers happy.

 

[RUBOB72]

You can buy less … you can but more…nobody is twisting your arm… that PITA company has been highly successful not by accident . 70 years … 11 northeastern states …370 stores … the largest( co -operative chain with 50 + individual owners under the Wakefern banner. You would do well to know exactly what you are talking about. The Can Can sale has been around since 1971. It is and has been copied by numerous other supermarket chains.You also know ( their margin is minimal) people who have this nonsense understanding that supermarkets are the reason for the price increases are just uneducated on the subject. Those 4 Jewish business men in 1948 established a company with hard work ethic and business acumen.. So unsurprising how uninformed you are.

 

[Ty Webb]

Shoprite is a Big PITA with their digital coupons and that is a big part of the slowdown then they make you buy $20 worth of stuff to get the coupon to work.

Just make the price work for everybody and make the customers happy.

So I have ShopRite Price Plus Number/Account.

Those digital coupons are weird to me. If I have a Price Plus Number, just give me the discount. No need to go into the app or my account and click a digital coupon. Just automatically apply all coupons to my account and if i happen to buy an item that has a coupon, give it to me.

Its weird how some things are automatically discounted if you have a Price Plus but others you have to click/add the coupon to your account. Unless I am doing something wrong here with my account. Granted, it's not like I am saving a ton here and I probably miss a ton of discounts because I either just miss them or don't care/too lazy to go clip the coupon.

 

[DJ Spanky]

Those digital coupons are weird to me. If I have a Price Plus Number, just give me the discount. No need to go into the app or my account and click a digital coupon. Just automatically apply all coupons to my account and if i happen to buy an item that has a coupon, give it to me.

Completely agree, it's like they want the card holders to become engaged on a whole other level. At least they're better than Stop & Plop: if you're in the store and there's a digital coupon for something you don't have on your card, you can go to the service desk and they'll add it to your card. Stop & Plop won't do that.

 

[dconifer]

there is part of our society (6% in 2022) that is unbanked.. and pay all goods in cash...until that is solved cash will continue to be used...also was at 7-11 bought 3 drinks and thought i would buy a pick-6, didnt realize you cant charge for a lottery ticket on credit card...and dont forget cash only at your local dispensary....

That's cool, as long as the cost of cashless processing is shared, or at least is transparent.

When I ran my boardwalk water ice shop, there were so many people who howled when I started passing half the credit card processing fee onto them. Hey, if you want your utopia of cashless transactions, Mr. Customer, it's on you as well as on me...