> wrote in message
...
> 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.

Yeah, that should work.

> When I first arrived in Australia supermarkets were only
> open from 9 to 5 on weekdays and until noon on Saturday.

When was this ? That wasnt true in the 60s for example.

> 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.

And some are open 24/7 now.

> 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.

Yeah, tho there is no good reason for paying bills
in person either, yet plenty are silly enough to do that.