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

[Nickels]

How are you going to bolster customer service when the customers never get to see a live human being?

just because you don't have a counter doesn't mean you can't have a customer service person on site, the point of this argument was, that if you saved money on cashiers you can put more into customer service. But that's a POSSIBILITY, no guarantee that saved money will always be spent the way consumers want it (which is saving on purchases, or better service), although there's lots of incentive to do that (such as stay competitive, or do more business).

 

[MelissaWV]

How are you going to bolster customer service when the customers never get to see a live human being?

I have had more fulfilling and useful customer service experiences online than I have in person. Usually by the time I need help with an item, it's time to return it, or I was overcharged, etc., and these are all things you notice once you leave the stores. Questions like "where's the bathroom?" and "how much is this?" can be resolved with kiosks, and in many stores they already are.

 

[donnay]

If nobody owes you a job, what is the point of you complaining that there are none available? Where did you get the idea that free market equals jobs don't disappear or everybody has a job at all times? Ever heard of "job creation"? Oh, I don't mean government dumping money for you to be their task monkey, I mean finding things you can do and begging for money in return for it (ie, getting creative to solve other people's problems). I don't care what you call today's system, facts do not change that you are not entitled to a job, and the government didn't force you to not have one either.

The country of which many of us were born into and accustom to is; you are born, you go to school, you graduate school and possibly go to college and get a job. I am not saying it is right. What I am saying is that we were born into a system which require for people to be able to buy a home, buy a car and put food on the table to have a J.O.B. Without a J.O.B. you cannot use the useless FRN to buy the things you need to survive--get it?

The illusion that we have a free market is laughable at best. This country no more has a free market than China does. Both countries are regulated by their government, which makes each set of people beholden to government to survive. 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.

Frankly, I would be ecstatic if government were completely out of the picture with regards to the economy. 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.

 

[Nickels]

I have had more fulfilling and useful customer service experiences online than I have in person. Usually by the time I need help with an item, it's time to return it, or I was overcharged, etc., and these are all things you notice once you leave the stores. Questions like "where's the bathroom?" and "how much is this?" can be resolved with kiosks, and in many stores they already are.

I agree with you, lots of "customer service" questions are quick and easy. It's when you can delegate "worthy" questions that make the expereine for those who need it, much better. But hey, maybe the market just values smiles and faces for no other reasons

 

[Nickels]

The country of which many of us were born into and accustom to is; you are born, you go to school, you graduate school and possibly go to college and get a job. I am not saying it is right. What I am saying is that we were born into a system which require for people to be able to buy a home, buy a car and put food on the table to have a J.O.B. Without a J.O.B. you cannot use the useless FRN to buy the things you need to survive--get it?

I'm with you on that, our culture has duped us. I'm above it, are you? Or are you going to keep complaining for the losers?

The illusion that we have a free market is laughable at best. This country no more has a free market than China does.

So that must mean living conditions are equally as good in both countries?

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.

Frankly, I would be ecstatic if government were completely out of the picture with regards to the economy. 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?

 

[angelatc]

Not as it stands now. Government intervention/regulations throughout history have been the leading factor of people starving in a country.

I might be wrong, but I don't think JCP's cashiers are being forced out of business by government regulation alone. Of course the high cost of payroll is certainly a factor, but technology is the key to alleviating that.

 

[silverhandorder]

I love anything that saves me time and voluntary. I can choose to shop in stores like this while you boycott them.

 

[Nickels]

I might be wrong, but I don't think JCP's cashiers are being forced out of business by government regulation alone. Of course the high cost of payroll is certainly a factor, but technology is the key to alleviating that.

I'm starting to wonder, in this guy's mind, what IS NOT to blame the government for.

 

[Nickels]

I love anything that saves me time and voluntary. I can choose to shop in stores like this while you boycott them.

I am all for saving time and resources, but I also want to save money & labor as a result.

For example, I won't "go green" for a Kindle book if it only saves me $1. Unless I make $10 per hour and waiting on delivery will really cost me more than that.

 

[alucard13mmfmj]

probably easy to exploit the system and shoplift.

 

[angelatc]

I love anything that saves me time and voluntary. I can choose to shop in stores like this while you boycott them.

Yep. My husband hates the self-scanners. I love them. The only time I don't use them is when I have so much stuff it won't all fit on the carousel.

For a while, Jewel Osco had thumb scanners tied to your checking account. That meant I could ride my bike to the store without carrying a purse or even a card. I knew the privacy implications, but it was worth it to me.

 

[MelissaWV]

I am all for saving time and resources, but I also want to save money & labor as a result.

For example, I won't "go green" for a Kindle book if it only saves me $1. Unless I make $10 per hour and waiting on delivery will really cost me more than that.

Off-topic, but the main reason I use my Kindle is to save space. Buying paperbacks, having them delivered, dealing with the boxes, getting rid of the ones I don't want anymore, and storing the ones I might want to reread... is worth paying even the same price for an eBook to me.

 

[Nickels]

Yep. My husband hates the self-scanners. I love them. The only time I don't use them is when I have so much stuff it won't all fit on the carousel.

For a while, Jewel Osco had thumb scanners tied to your checking account. That meant I could ride my bike to the store without carrying a purse or even a card. I knew the privacy implications, but it was worth it to me.

nice!!

 

[angelatc]

I'm starting to wonder, in this guy's mind, what IS NOT to blame the government for.

I'm actually fine with blaming the government for everything. But when you run a business....payroll sucks. It's expensive and takes up far more capital than it should, no thanks to government rules and regulations.

Since it's the highest cost (aside from inventory, one would assume), the market naturally seeks ways to lower it.

If we had a totally free market, and the labor market overheated from all that freedom....the result would be the same. Wages would rise, and the market would seek to lower those costs.

 

[Nickels]

Off-topic, but the main reason I use my Kindle is to save space. Buying paperbacks, having them delivered, dealing with the boxes, getting rid of the ones I don't want anymore, and storing the ones I might want to reread... is worth paying even the same price for an eBook to me.

Not off topic at all. I totally see your point, you obviously value things differently than me.

I believe having the paper book gives me the freedom to resell or give away the book later when I don't want it. (most likely you will give it away because it's worth close to a buck by then).

 

[Muwahid]

Not having cashiers doesn't mean a loss in jobs, there has to be more professionals behind the scenes making sure the technology works, and it's higher paying. Anyone who believes in a free market wont argue that you shouldn't do 'x' because people will lose jobs, in fact more innovation usually means more opportunities in the future

 

[donnay]

How are you going to bolster customer service when the customers never get to see a live human being?

You talking to me? I am not bolstering this plan. I am making people aware that these agendas will help promote the cashless society grid agenda.

 

[Nickels]

I'm actually fine with blaming the government for everything. But when you run a business....payroll sucks. It's expensive and takes up far more capital than it should, no thanks to government rules and regulations.

Since it's the highest cost (aside from inventory, one would assume), the market naturally seeks ways to lower it.

If we had a totally free market, and the labor market overheated from all that freedom....the result would be the same. Wages would rise, and the market would seek to lower those costs.

I apologize for my ignorance.

But what do you mean "payroll sucks and costs too much"? Is it the taxes itself that take away capital from employees? Or the cost of preparing them? And if the latter, don't they only get complicated based on how many employees/expenses you have (which by that time, it's balanced with revenue)?

 

[PaulConventionWV]

I have had more fulfilling and useful customer service experiences online than I have in person. Usually by the time I need help with an item, it's time to return it, or I was overcharged, etc., and these are all things you notice once you leave the stores. Questions like "where's the bathroom?" and "how much is this?" can be resolved with kiosks, and in many stores they already are.

I don't know about you, but going to a store and NOT having to deal with people would make me quite depressed.

 

[Nickels]

You talking to me? I am not bolstering this plan. I am making people aware that these agendas will help promote the cashless society grid agenda.

Cashless grid means CONVENIENCE for people, it may also mean convenience for theives too, convenience is always the enemy of safety, that is a law of nature everybody is aware of.

Do you subscribe to that old "mark of the beast" conspiracy you read in Revelation?