An Andy Rooney Moment

I stopped by a CVS branch near UM to buy a couple of things and as I walk out I realize the check out area now has been completely taken over by scanners and a single minder that will help you through the process if you are technologically challenged or are underage and want to buy beer or wine I guess.  They may agree you are over 21 or they may not care and just swipe their card for you, affirming you are 21.

This is the ultimate answer for customer service.  Provide no customer service and you check your self out.

I realize I'm getting old.  But I do shop on line and buy stuff from Amazon and have used other websites as well and enjoy sending packages to myself, I'm not a complete Luddite.

There is something in a personal touch these days that is going out the window as stores realize they can almost do away with sales clerks and cut back on baggers because more than a few folks now think it is normal to bag your own groceries.

Some MBA probably did a study somewhere to justify this idea.  Ironically, somewhere at the bottom of the receipt there is that 800 number to call and take a survey.  Are you going to complain about how well you bagged your own groceries?

Which reminds me of a really choice moment when the computers went down at the local Chipoltes Mexican Grill.  The whole process ground to a halt, customers couldn't scan their plastic, the cash register didn't open, and the line stopped.  I watched as the poor manager, just couldn't quite manage.  The computer reset button didn't work and the back up plan was to call the home office 800#.

I like CVS generally and except for the lines, I like Chipolte, and at most places I can avoid self service check out, I think I'd rather help the clerks keep their jobs for a little longer.