A Store Without a Checkout Counter? JCPenney Presses on with Retail Revolution

[Nickels]

Wow, I honestly thought more people would value human interaction more. I guess I was wrong.

Then I think you can make a good customer service person, there's your calling

 

[Nickels]

Yeah that's me I spend all day online researching how everything can hurt me.

lol exactly!

 

[Nickels]

This society is becoming very reclusive. Now with all the technology, no one has to meet anyone face to face--just keyboard to keyboard. Sad really.

So a country without technology is better? I think that's what I suspected of you in the beginning, your beef is ultimately with technology and convenience.

 

[PaulConventionWV]

This society is becoming very reclusive. Now with all the technology, no one has to meet anyone face to face--just keyboard to keyboard. Sad really.

Which is exactly what I mean. People just don't care anymore how secluded their lives are, shielded from the difficulty of having to *gasp* talk to people. Who cares how uneventful your life is as long as it's convenient and "saves time." I'm not someone who constantly strives for convenience. Unlike some, I'll take the few extra minutes to sort out human errors or talk to the people behind the counter. I used to be one.

 

[PaulConventionWV]

I don't mind human interaction, but I don't crave the interaction that a large number of retail associates provide. I wouldn't mind hovering salespeople if they could actually give me selection advice.

For example, I'm at the jewelry counter. I am fashion impaired, but wanted to buy something that would look nice at a wedding. I asked the staff at the counter for a suggestion. I told her the type of neckline it was, that it was an upscale night wedding, and she could see my face. She said "Oh, anything will go fine. Let me know if you want to see anything."

What I wanted was a girly-girl to help a tomboy out. Instead, dead space. And no sale, either. I really don't mind replacing her with an auto-matron.

Suit yourself. I guess we're just two different types of people.

 

[MelissaWV]

Which is exactly what I mean. People just don't care anymore how secluded their lives are, shielded from the difficulty of having to *gasp* talk to people. Who cares how uneventful your life is as long as it's convenient and "saves time." I'm not someone who constantly strives for convenience. Unlike some, I'll take the few extra minutes to sort out human errors or talk to the people behind the counter. I used to be one.

I don't think you get it. Buying a pair of shoes should not be an all-day event. I know approximately what size I wear, I know what style I need, and I will go grab a few and try them on if I'm "allowed" to. This is why stores have mostly gone to having the shoe boxes out and available, now, instead of some person trying to earn a commission by going back to "see if I have this in your size." When I can do that, rapidly, I can spend time with people I know.

Not wanting to sit around chitchatting with a shoe specialist does not make me antisocial. It makes me want to spend more time with people whose company I value so much that I will absolutely kick myself for not spending more time with them when they die. I don't think that, at their funerals, I will be saying "Man oh man if only I had spent less time with mom and had, instead, had a much longer shopping experience with that lady who seemed to know nothing about the clothing she was trying to sell me."

 

[PaulConventionWV]

Then I think you can make a good customer service person, there's your calling

Thank you for the low-grade insults. Really, it just adds so much to the conversation.

 

[Nickels]

No, I didn't mean it took capital away from the employees. I meant it tied up capital that the business could use in other places. But yes - payrolls taxes are expensive. It's not rocket science, but they vary by city, state, township, county, village. And a lot of times the taxes are assessed based on where the employee lives, not simply where the business is located.

And the minutiae - People don't always work their whole 40 hours, or they work more than 40 hours. THey forget to clock in, they forget to clock out. They take vacation days, they take sick days, they come in late, they go home early. They get tax liens attached to their checks, they get child support deducted. They get reimbursed, they get raises, they get bonuses, they get commissions.

There's a reason that ADP exists.

Again, my ignorance. But can't employers work out voluntary agreements to simplify the process?

For example "Every minute counts, we add up all the minutes, then round to the nearest hour every pay day".
"Forgot to clock in? Your problem, unless we have a camera to prove it" (In fact, if we have a camera, we don't need you to clock in)
"No overtime bonuses, but if a task doesn't get done after a certain period, we'll find somebody that'll do it"
These might not be perfect solutions, but if the math hurts you so much, wouldn't these work?

 

[Nickels]

Thank you for the low-grade insults. Really, it just adds so much to the conversation.

I apologize, because I was really complimenting you, wasn't sarcastic.

 

[Nickels]

I don't think you get it. Buying a pair of shoes should not be an all-day event.

It is if you're a woman.

 

[Nickels]

What question?

So that must mean living conditions are equally as good in both countries (China and US)?

Both countries are regulated by their government, which makes each set of people beholden to government to survive.
Ok, so what country is NOT regulated by their government? Can you tell me? Or more importantly, can you tell which country is wealthier or preferable to live as a result of "lacking regulation"?

If we had a truly free market, the government would only step in, insofar as, if a product or business injured a person or persons.
Not interested in your speculative "If we had a truly Scotsman utopia", give me a solid example if you can.


But the Marxist/Leninist had taken over a long time ago and have been able to perpetuate an illusion of free market. Just check out the Communist Manifesto, if you do not believe me. ....
so this country was wrong how long ago?

these questions, do you know the answers?

 

[PaulConventionWV]

I don't think you get it. Buying a pair of shoes should not be an all-day event. I know approximately what size I wear, I know what style I need, and I will go grab a few and try them on if I'm "allowed" to. This is why stores have mostly gone to having the shoe boxes out and available, now, instead of some person trying to earn a commission by going back to "see if I have this in your size." When I can do that, rapidly, I can spend time with people I know.

Not wanting to sit around chitchatting with a shoe specialist does not make me antisocial. It makes me want to spend more time with people whose company I value so much that I will absolutely kick myself for not spending more time with them when they die. I don't think that, at their funerals, I will be saying "Man oh man if only I had spent less time with mom and had, instead, had a much longer shopping experience with that lady who seemed to know nothing about the clothing she was trying to sell me."

I never said you were anti-social. You just don't seem to care much for meeting new people or having experiences that are outside of your little circle of associations.

 

[MelissaWV]

It is if you're a woman.

I am, and it shouldn't be. Luckily Rack Room Shoes has their shoes buy-one-get-one-1/2-off, which allows me to make my purchase of two pairs of New Balance sneakers every few years at reduced cost. I am in and out of the store in about 10 minutes. It is plain to see whether or not they have my size, and I don't have to ask anyone to please go see for me It is heavenly.

 

[PaulConventionWV]

I apologize, because I was really complimenting you, wasn't sarcastic.

Apology accepted.

 

[donnay]

Yeah that's me I spend all day online researching how everything can hurt me.

Why did you take that as a personal affront? I was talking about society, as a whole. I agree with you on your above post: "Now, when I go to a farmer's market, I love the interaction and service I get, particularly in discussing where the food came from and possibly picking up tips for storage and use. Those questions are NOT best answered by a machine."

I couldn't agree more. I even +rep you for that. Oh well.

As I said earlier, technology can be a good thing as long as it stays in the right hands. It concerns me when I see too many people depending upon the technology for their everyday lives. Kindle/Nook/E-Book, I can see this technology becoming the modern-day book burning at some point. Guess I am old fashioned in that way, I like to have tangible things to reference, rather than turning on a electronic device to search for something that may have been arbitrarily scrubbed because the owners of the Kindle/Nook/E-Book decided that it was not in my best interest to have. I have already witnessed this happening to people I know.

 

[Nickels]

I am, and it shouldn't be. Luckily Rack Room Shoes has their shoes buy-one-get-one-1/2-off, which allows me to make my purchase of two pairs of New Balance sneakers every few years at reduced cost. I am in and out of the store in about 10 minutes. It is plain to see whether or not they have my size, and I don't have to ask anyone to please go see for me It is heavenly.

if only more people think mathematically.

 

[MelissaWV]

I never said you were anti-social. You just don't seem to care much for meeting new people or having experiences that are outside of your little circle of associations.

Yeah... because I don't want to talk to "customer service" people at the mall. Oooookay. I'm sure you know ALL about me! I worked customer service as well, and frankly the creepy people that wanted to talk to me all day were the ones I liked least. If you like to consider yourself the height of social charity because you talk to some roving customer service person in a department store (keeping them from doing their other jobs), more power to ya.

 

[PaulConventionWV]

So that must mean living conditions are equally as good in both countries (China and US)?

Both countries are regulated by their government, which makes each set of people beholden to government to survive.
Ok, so what country is NOT regulated by their government? Can you tell me? Or more importantly, can you tell which country is wealthier or preferable to live as a result of "lacking regulation"?

If we had a truly free market, the government would only step in, insofar as, if a product or business injured a person or persons.
Not interested in your speculative "If we had a truly Scotsman utopia", give me a solid example if you can.


But the Marxist/Leninist had taken over a long time ago and have been able to perpetuate an illusion of free market. Just check out the Communist Manifesto, if you do not believe me. ....
so this country was wrong how long ago?

these questions, do you know the answers?

I asked "What question?" because your post didn't have a question in it, even though you asked me "Why not just answer the question?"

Then you retort that simple question with "So that must mean living conditions are equally as good in both countries?"

No, I never said that. I simply asked what question you posed since the post in which you told me to answer the question didn't contain a question.

 

[Nickels]

As I said earlier, technology can be a good thing as long as it stays in the right hands.

And I agreed with you on that. But you had to ask "how can we agree when you're under illusion".

It concerns me when I see too many people depending upon the technology for their everyday lives.

It concerns me when I see kids growing up not knowing how to camp and hunt.

Kindle/Nook/E-Book, I can see this technology becoming the modern-day book burning at some point.

By book burning you mean censorship? or just being paperless?

Guess I am old fashioned in that way, I like to have tangible things to reference, rather than turning on a electronic device to search for something that may have been arbitrarily scrubbed because the owners of the Kindle/Nook/E-Book decided that it was not in my best interest to have. I have already witnessed this happening to people I know.

Nothing wrong with that, you have your preferences. But I am sorry to tell you that if the market decides to get rid of paper books, you'll have a harder time finding new books in print. Just like you will have a harder time today finding vinyls, vhs, tapes, cds.

 

[moostraks]

I don't think you get it. Buying a pair of shoes should not be an all-day event. I know approximately what size I wear, I know what style I need, and I will go grab a few and try them on if I'm "allowed" to. This is why stores have mostly gone to having the shoe boxes out and available, now, instead of some person trying to earn a commission by going back to "see if I have this in your size." When I can do that, rapidly, I can spend time with people I know.

Not wanting to sit around chitchatting with a shoe specialist does not make me antisocial. It makes me want to spend more time with people whose company I value so much that I will absolutely kick myself for not spending more time with them when they die. I don't think that, at their funerals, I will be saying "Man oh man if only I had spent less time with mom and had, instead, had a much longer shopping experience with that lady who seemed to know nothing about the clothing she was trying to sell me."

We are on absolute opposite poles on this but probably shop with a similar attitude in many respects. I don't want to spend all day trying things on and getting false compliments. I generally know what I am looking for and want to price check or get it and leave. However, I do not want to have a thumb scan or have my wallet scanned for my debit card to pay purchases. If I need a restroom or to ask a question on an item I don't want a kiosk with an FAQ section. Different strokes for different folks, except your way will be pushed because the goal is control- a cashless system is a system that will guarantee a better return for those in power and the larger retailers. I hope I die before this is widely popular.(knock on wood...)