In > posted on
Mon, 17 Jan 2005 08:29:58 +1100, Rod Speed wrote:

>
>The Ranger > wrote in
>message ...
>> Rod Speed > wrote
>>> The Ranger > wrote
>>>> Melba's Jammin' > wrote
>>>>> George > wrote
>
>>>>>> Abuse of Express X-items-or-less Lane elided
>
>>>>> Pity the checker-outer didn't speak first.
>
>>>> And get publicly reprimanded (or lose his/her job)
>>>> because the self-centered, Yes -- As A Matter of
>>>> Fact -- Your Universe Does Revolve Around Me,
>>>> "customer" chose to break an unenforceable policy?
>
>>> Mindless stuff. Of course its enforceable. No store
>>> has any legal obligation to accept a particular customer
>>> whose behaviour is unacceptible as long as that isnt
>>> done on the basis of race etc.
>
>> No store has a legal obligation to stay in business, either,
>
>No store is gunna go out of business enforcing express
>lane rules, as long as that is done sensibly and isnt done
>when the customer is only an item or two over the limit.
>
>> and negative press will assure that occurs.
>
>Complete and utter drivel. Its likely to ATTRACT
>customers to that store when they know that the
>express lane wont have arseholes that are well
>over the limit in it except when its empty etc.
>
>> Negative "stories" (experiences) are spread quicker
>> than any positive experiences by a 10:1 ratio.
>
>True in spades when the express lane limits ARENT enforced, stupid.
>
>> Every person a manager or clerk ****es off will immediately,
>> and often indefinitely, go tell a twisted tale of woe to
>> everyone (friend and stranger, it won't matter) that
>> doesn't make haste trying to get away from them.
>
>Mindless silly stuff, like the original.
>
>> And those same reluctant listeners will spread that 2nd-hand tale of
>> woe to another 10 people, personalizing it to draw in more listeners.
>
>They're MUCH more likely to spread the word that the
>express lane rules are adhered to in the particular store.
>
>> Pretty soon the store doesn't have enough customers
>> to stay open because they rigidly enforced some rules.
>
>Never said a word about rigidly.
>
>> That's why no one wants to be an
>> ogre about express lane enforcement.
>
>Never said a word about an ogre either.
>
>> They _will_ miss that customer's money -- and
>> everyone that believed her story and stayed away.
>
>And they'll gain the customers who use the express lanes and
>like to see them used only by customers who are in a hurry.
>
>>>> The only time I saw a manager move a customer with
>>>> too many items from an express lane to the end of
>>>> another line was when he was moving on to another
>>>> job. He got a round of applause from those of us in
>>>> both express lanes. (Lucky's, 8/91, White and Alum
>>>> Rock.)
>
>>> Then that is obviously why arseholes have noticed
>>> they can get away with flouting the express lane rule.
>
>> Right...
>
>Fraid so.
>
Totally agree with this post. The problem is that every
time that someone is allowed through with more than the
allowed items, especially when they grossly violate the
rule, other shoppers notice and they will do the same if
they think they can get away with it.

I can think of one possible solution, though. Stores have
various code words or numbers to alert staff of suspected
shoplifters, etc.

When a customer tries to break the maximum item rule, the
checkout clerk could politely explain that he or she cannot
authorize any exceptions to the rule, and offer to page the
manager, as only he can make such exceptions. They can then
ask the customer to wait for the manager who can sort out
the problem.

The clerk then makes an announcement "Code 13, register 6"
or something similar. The customer thinks this is a request
for the manager to attend. It is, in a way. It is a code
to request the manager to deal with a selfish asshole on
register 6, but only after a 20 or 30 minute delay.

The customer then has the choice of standing there looking
like a shag on a rock and feeling increasingly embarrassed
as others wonder why she is standing to one side without
checking out.

Alternatively, she can return the excess items to the shelf
until she gets down to the required limit, or she can check
out through a regular line, not the express line.

This should be even more effective if she has a couple of
bratty kids with her who would quickly get bored, and start
demanding tempting items found near checkouts.

Alternatively, it should also work if she had to get back to
her office job.

When I first arrived in Australia supermarkets were only
open from 9 to 5 on weekdays and until noon on Saturday. A
single person who worked the same hours often had to shop in
their lunch hours.

These days, though, we have late night shopping on Thursday
nights and large supermarkets open and close later, often
trading all day Saturday. In some localities they may even
open Sundays.

Therefore there seems to be little excuse for anyone having
to shop in their lunch hour, at least having to shop for
more than a very few items which do qualify for the use of
express lanes.

Regards,
"nilkids"