'Are the computers on lunch break?' blasts Walmart customer as self-checkout shakeup makes shopping 'infuriating' | 3V98ZFG | 2024-05-12 17:08:01
A WALMART shopper is fed up over frequently closed self-checkout lanes and is confused as to why they would not always be available.
The shopper argued Walmart self-checkouts should always be available to use since they are machines.
'Are the computers on lunch break?' blasts Walmart customer as self-checkout shakeup makes shopping 'infuriating'GettyWalmart customers made sarcastic jokes about its self-checkout consistently being closed down[/caption]
A user on X, formerly Twitter, explained their frustration with the closed self-checkouts.
"It drives me nuts when you go to a place like Walmart or anywhere with self-checkout and half of the stations are closed," Tony (@cardinalfan9633) said on X.
"Are the self-checkout computers on their lunch breaks?"
Another Walmart shopper made a sarcastic comment about the store's checkout process.
"Shopping at Walmart is usually easy until you have to checkout," they replied to Tony's tweet.
"Can be infuriating!"
SELF-CHECKOUT WOES
Many shoppers are unhappy with the number of self-checkouts kept open throughout the day at their Walmart store.
Walmart shopper Colleen shared a post on Facebook to explain her self-checkout troubles and how there were "rarely any lanes open."
"Walmart I have a huge bone to pick with you," Colleen said.
"You have removed the option to self-checkout unless you are a Walmart member."
"I am still waiting on my paycheck for working there every single time I have to use self-checkout," another Walmart customer said on X.
Someone else said, "I am going to start to bill you for my time if you can't solve these service issues."
Some Walmart stores have even started to limit who can use self-checkout.
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This is due to certain self-checkouts being reserved for Walmart+ subscribers.
A Walmart+ membership costs $98 annually.
"We continually look at ways to provide our customers with the best shopping experience and that includes adjusting the checkout area in stores," Walmart spokesperson Josh Havens told Business Insider.
'Game changer,' rave Sur La Table shoppers over deeply discounted popular cookware selling for $38 – comes in 6 colorsFans are calling a baker on a bargain "a game-changer"Getty Images - Getty
'Game changer,' rave Sur La Table shoppers over deeply discounted popular cookware selling for $38 – comes in 6 colorsFunctionality combines with sophistication in the design of this baker, featuring handles crafted for enhanced comfort, balance, and effortless lifting.Sur La Table
Known for its impeccable quality and timeless designs, Le Creuset has once again left an indelible mark with its Heritage Square Baker, a culinary gem that promises to elevate your cooking experience to new heights.
Crafted from durable stoneware featuring an industry-leading enamel interior, this square baker is a versatile powerhouse, perfectly suited for entrees, side dishes, desserts, and beyond.
Its robust construction not only withstands the rigors of everyday use but also delivers consistent, amazing results every time.
One of the hallmarks of Le Creuset's stoneware is its virtually non-porous nature, which ensures that each dish remains pristine, resisting odors, stains, and flavor absorption.
Whether you're baking a savory casserole or a delicate dessert, you can trust that the flavors will remain pure and unadulterated.
But it's not just about functionality; the Heritage Square Baker is a testament to Le Creuset's commitment to exquisite craftsmanship.
Available in a dazzling array of vibrant colors, each piece is a work of art, meticulously crafted using time-honored techniques that have been perfected over generations.
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What truly sets this square baker apart, however, is its unparalleled durability.
Fired at high temperatures for increased strength, the enamel finish resists chips, cracks, and stains, ensuring that your investment will withstand the test of time.
Practicality meets elegance in the design of this baker, with handles designed for added comfort, balance, and ease of lifting – all in six colors, including:
Pêche
White
Caribbean
Marseille
Meringue
Azure Blue (an exclusive color)
The baker makes it effortless to go from freezer to oven to table, transforming it from a functional cooking vessel to a handsome serving dish.
For added peace of mind, the Heritage Square Baker comes backed by Le Creuset's renowned 5-year warranty, ensuring that your investment is protected for years to come.
This baker is sure to become an indispensable part of your kitchen arsenal.
'GAME-CHANGER'
One satisfied customer raves, "After making dinner with my beloved new Le Creuset Heritage Square Baker on 3 or 4 or 5 occasions, I cannot believe there was ever a time when I used anything else.
"It is perfection. A game-changer. (No pun intended.) Poultry emerges with a pleasing crispness. Potatoes, shrooms, likewise ahhhhhhh….
"I do sometimes wish it had a lid when it comes to refrigerating leftovers.
"As far as baking, it is a joy — vastly superior to any other baker dish I have ever used in all my born daze."
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In other shopping news, a Walmart air fryer is currently discounted by more than 20%, and it's available for online purchase rather than in-store.
And explore The U.S. Sun's report on Amazon's air fryer, touted as a "best friend," which saw its price drop from $150 to $99.
'Hurting not helping,' says Kroger shopper as he rails against self-checkout policy – a change is 'warranted' now | 3V98ZFG | 2024-05-12 17:08:01
SELF-CHECKOUTS are once again a hot topic after a Kroger shopper urged the retailer to make a change.
Retailers are struggling to find the balance between keeping operational costs low, protecting inventory, and giving customers the option of self-service.
'Hurting not helping,' says Kroger shopper as he rails against self-checkout policy – a change is 'warranted' nowGettyKroger has been urged to make a change after one shopper said a regular issue has gone on for too long (stock image)[/caption]
'Hurting not helping,' says Kroger shopper as he rails against self-checkout policy – a change is 'warranted' nowGettyThe retailer has been accused of allowing long lines to build up unnecessarily by reducing its self-checkouts (stock image)[/caption]
As a result, a number of stores have launched trials and made changes to their self-checkout areas which have been identified as a problem area for theft.
According to a recent survey by LendingTree, 69% of people questioned believe that the self-service machines make theft easier with 15% saying they have committed theft.
More shockingly, 44% of them said they would do so again.
Now, a Kroger store in Indiana has come under fire after it reduced the availability of self-checkout registers.
"@kroger I think your store should really consider opening both self-checkout areas during peak hours at 10679 N Michigan Rd," one shopper said on X, formerly Twitter.
"You're trying your best but I think a change is warranted at this point.
"The new system unfortunately is hurting not helping."
Kroger responded thanking the customer for his feedback saying it would be forwarded to the leadership team.
After experiencing long lines at the checkout, the shopper threatened the retailer with the competition of a rival store that had just opened in the area.
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"The new competition from Edwards Food Giant doesn't seem to have sunk in," the shopper said on X.
In a picture accompanying the post, two rows of self-checkouts had been closed off.
Kroger apologized for the frustrating lines at the store but fellow customers shared their own experiences with one having lines to the back of the store.
'I buy all things,' says Costco shopper who got refund on discontinued washer & dryer – but claims they've earned it | 3V98ZFG | 2024-05-12 17:08:01
A COSTCO shopper explained how they were refunded $2,000 after returning a washer and dryer set after nearly a year.
Costco's famous 100% satisfaction guarantee policy does have a few exceptions.
'I buy all things,' says Costco shopper who got refund on discontinued washer & dryer – but claims they've earned itGettyCostco has a famously generous return policy (stock image)[/caption]
'I buy all things,' says Costco shopper who got refund on discontinued washer & dryer – but claims they've earned itGettyA Costco shopper explained how they were able to return an old washer and dryer (stock image)[/caption]
Most electronics have a 90-day return limit, but one shopper explained how they were able to take back a washer and dryer after almost a year of use.
In a thread on Reddit, the Costco member said returning the items was their last choice.
"A store manager let me return a Costco.com washer/dryer set once, $2k, that was really junk, that really I had five service calls on over my 11 months of ownership," they wrote.
"I buy all things that I can buy from Costco. We have an executive membership and I'm sure we spend $60k there a year between all cardholders."
The executive membership is the top tier at Costco and costs $120 annually but includes a free household card for family members.
Another shopper had a similar story about an expensive vacuum they bought.
"I had the Tineco wet vacuum that would keep dying with the battery within minutes a few months in. Tineco warrantied the first and then the second unit had the same issue two months in," they wrote.
"Costco came to the rescue a year after purchase. Gotta love it – if you buy something that's crap, you don't have to worry."
AN EARLY WARNING
While these shoppers had no issue returning items, that isn't always the case.
Costco keeps a close eye on how many returns shoppers make to ensure they aren't taking advantage of the lenient policy.
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But some people still push their luck.
In another Reddit thread, a shopper explained that an employee warned them about how many returns they made.
"I'm one of those frequent returners that doesn't give a f**k," they wrote in the post.
"My brother-in-law told me all the stories about people returning things years later, and he even returned his Traeger [grill] two years after he bought it."
They had returned a three-year-old beard trimmer missing some pieces and a $150 electric toothbrush in a short time span.
"Fast forward to today's return. The lady was like, 'Take this how you want, but out of the 20 things you've bought in my department, 12 have been returned,'" they wrote.
"She was nice about it, basically giving me a heads up that someone could think that was sketchy.
"I don't feel bad because I'm using the product, and if it breaks or stops working, I return it and buy another."
'I can make my own,' say Starbucks customers turning their back on chain – as ex-CEO calls for 3 changes to address rut | 3V98ZFG | 2024-05-12 17:08:01
STARBUCKS customers have revealed how the cafe chain's star has lost its shine in the face of falling profits and more competition from rivals.
Now Howard Schultz, who served as Starbucks CEO for 24 years in three different spells, has broken his silence on the coffee giant's money woes.
'I can make my own,' say Starbucks customers turning their back on chain – as ex-CEO calls for 3 changes to address rutGettyStarbucks has seen a downward trend in profits in recent years[/caption]
'I can make my own,' say Starbucks customers turning their back on chain – as ex-CEO calls for 3 changes to address rutGettyThe coffee giant has been hit by union disputes and other financial woes[/caption]
'I can make my own,' say Starbucks customers turning their back on chain – as ex-CEO calls for 3 changes to address rutAP:Associated PressFormer CEO, Howard Schultz, took to LinkedIn to offer the chain advice[/caption]
Posting on LinkedIn this week, Schultz wrote that Starbucks' stores, which have been hit by labor disputes, accusations of illegal union-busting, and declining sales globally, need to establish a "maniacal focus on the customer experience, through the eyes of a merchant."
The answer to their problems, he says, "does not lie in data, but in the stores."
Starbucks, which has over 17,000 stores in the U.S., recently experienced its first drop in quarterly revenue since 2020, with sales in North America declining by 3% in this year's second quarter, according to the chain's financial reports.
The reason behind the revenue drop, according to Starbucks' leadership, is the rise of the "cautious customer."
As inflation is running rampant in the country, consumers are forced to be more aware of where they spend their hard-earned cash.
While corporate profits now account for the highest share of national income in more than 10 years, according to the National Bureau of Economic Analysis, consumers are feeling the strain more than ever in their lifetimes.
A majority of Americans are worse off financially now than compared to before the start of the pandemic, according to Yahoo! Finance.
"Money changed," Jacqueline Phillips, a New Yorker and daily coffee drinker, told the U.S. Sun as she explained why she stopped frequenting the chain.
"The price of everything going up leaves little extra for the spoils," Phillips said. "Starbucks has become more of a treat than an everyday necessity. I can make my own latte now at 7-11 for $2 as opposed to $6 at Starbucks. Does it taste as good? Eh, but it's good enough and I can afford it."
Phillips also details how changes to how the chain gives customers rewards, now having to earn twice as many points to earn a free cup of hot coffee, turned her off from the brand.
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But it isn't just points and finances that are pushing customers away from the coffee giant.
For customers like Morgan Bissett-Tessier, a 31-year-old law school student and part-time school administrator in New York, reports about mistreatment of Starbucks employees, union-busting, and not being allowed to wear Black Lives Matter attire, despite that policy being reversed, ruined the brand for her.
"Starbucks was never a regular thing for me because it was expensive, so it was a treat," Bissett-Tessier told CBS Money Watch. "Now it doesn't feel worth it."
Last year, the National Labor Relations Board found that Starbucks violated federal labor law over 270 times since the campaign to unionize started in Buffalo, New York two years ago.
This makes Starbucks "one of the worst violators of labor law in modern U.S. history," said Clara Wheatley-Schaller, the political director for Workers United, the union representing Starbucks workers.
But despite these roadblocks causing customers to look elsewhere, Schultz believes Starbucks will recover from their recent downturn.
"Of that, I am certain," he added.
"Senior leaders — including board members — need to spend more time with those who wear the green apron," he went on.
Schultz also advises the chain to "reinvent the mobile ordering and payment platform," to "make it the uplifting experience it was designed to be."
He also says the chain's go-to-market strategy needs to be overhauled and elevated with "coffee-forward innovation that inspires partners and creates differentiation in the marketplace," saying the brand needs to "focus on being experiential, not transactional."
"We always appreciate Howard's perspective. The challenges and opportunities he highlights are the ones we are focused on," a Starbucks spokesperson said in response to Schultz's remarks.
"And like Howard, we are confident in Starbucks' long-term success," they concluded.
But is that enough to win customers back?
Diane Cantave, an activist with Long Island Jobs for Justice who helped unionize seven Starbucks locations on Long Island, including two in Hempstead – the most populated town in the country, isn't so sure.
She believes that if Starbucks were to treat their workers fairly and stop creating a name for themselves that is synonymous with illegal labor practices, maybe more customers would be willing to support their business.
'I'm going to bill you for my time,' blasts Walmart shoppers over long lines and do-it-yourself bagging self-checkout | 3V98ZFG | 2024-05-12 17:08:01
WALMART shoppers are struggling to stay loyal to the store amid growing frustrations with self-checkout.
Airing out on social media, customers say they say they're sick of bagging their own groceries and dealing with long lines.
'I'm going to bill you for my time,' blasts Walmart shoppers over long lines and do-it-yourself bagging self-checkoutSome Walmart shoppers say they feel like they're working for the store when they use self-checkoutGetty
'I'm going to bill you for my time,' blasts Walmart shoppers over long lines and do-it-yourself bagging self-checkoutWalmart has implemented a series of changes to its checkout policies in an effort to curb theftGetty
In an effort to cut back and curb theft in the wake of financial struggles, Walmart is revising its self-checkout policies.
But customers are still consistently frustrated over the same issues.
"I am still waiting on my paycheck for working there every single time I have to use self-checkout," said one customer on X, the website formerly known as Twitter.
It's common for Walmart customers to say they feel like they're working for the retailer when using the kiosks.
With 77 grocery items, I had to bag my own stuff at self checkout," one user recalled after saying they waited 20 minutes for an associate to unhook a television they were buying due to the store's anti-theft policies.
"I am going to start to bill you for my time if you can't solve for these service issues," they continued.
Walmart responded back with a post, imploring the user to provide more details on the shopping experience the retailer said it "does not want" for the customer.
But stories vary from store to store, with one user saying their local Walmart "regularly forces [them] to use self checkout due to zero cashiers."
They described their self-checkout process as "soooo slow" because they "try to show everything clear on the cameras to avoid false accusations" of stealing.
"The lack of any human cashiers is why I don't shop at Walmart anymore," another user responded to them.
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Meanwhile, another X user said their local Walmart has "no human cashiers and the self-checkout line is ALWAYS long as f**k!"
"Please hire more cashiers," pled one user in response.
Walmart has shuttered self-checkout in some locations to prevent theft, and Target has reportedly followed suit at some locations.
Meanwhile, some users say their local Walmart is still open but with a limit of 20 items.
The U.S. Sun reached out to Walmart in a request for comment.
'It's a great opportunity for customers,' says Whole Foods CEO as he announces plans to open 30 new stores | 3V98ZFG | 2024-05-12 17:08:01
WHOLE Foods has confirmed plans to largely expand its operational footprint as it makes the most of new technology and processes.
CEO Jason Buechel who has been at the helm for a year and a half has announced hopes for the 30 new Whole Foods stores.
'It's a great opportunity for customers,' says Whole Foods CEO as he announces plans to open 30 new storesWHOLE FOODSWhole Foods CEO Jason Buechel has spoken out about his pride surrounding the retailer's growth while announcing plans to add 30 stores annually to its portfolio[/caption]
'It's a great opportunity for customers,' says Whole Foods CEO as he announces plans to open 30 new storesGettyWhole Foods will continue to grow its operational footprint while introducing new store formats for those who are 'on-the-go'[/caption]
Not only that, but he hopes to see this level of expansion year on year.
"Everything from my perspective is going great," Buechel told Yahoo Finance at a conference in Califonia.
The CEO detailed how the Texas-based chain launched its 10-year vision for the company at the beginning of 2024 in which it vowed to "grow with purpose."
Buechel explained that the company would be focusing on "expanding our reach" and "serving our customers in more ways."
As well as this, the team behind the retail giant will be looking at how they can continue to serve customers while also helping the planet which the CEO said is its "higher purpose."
While discussing goals to expand, Buechel noted that the growth of Whole Foods is something he is "really proud of."
He detailed how the chain has gone from single-digit store growth to now having a goal of opening "30 plus stores a year."
In addition to this Whole Foods currently has 75 stores in development.
But talking of his annual increase of 30 or more stores, the CEO proudly acknowledged, "That's expansive growth that we have taken on."
"We are really excited about it because we've got a lot of customer interest a lot of communities that are looking for us to bring stores and I'm excited because we're going to be bringing new formats as well."
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Buechel detailed how a new version of a Whole Foods store will first be arriving in Manhattan.
The retailer announced in March that it will launch Whole Foods Market Daily Shop which is a smaller version of the usual store.
"This will allow us to open stores where we can't fit another full physical whole foods market store," Buechel said.
"This will be an opportunity for us to serve customers in a new way and I think this will be a great opportunity, especially for fill-in shops for customers."
Explaining the new format, Buechel said that larger shops may be completed once a week at an original Whole Foods store.
Then, during the week for smaller items such as milk or bread, or items on the go, the new Market Daily Shop will come in.
Regular Whole Foods customers will soon be noticing more changes that will benefit them including "seamless checkout" and lower prices.
Buechel highlighted how the cost of inflation has been "on the minds of many customers" and that as a result, the retailer has been working with its suppliers to try to limit the impact.
However, the "reality is inflation has been real," he said though Whole Foods has tried to minimize it for customers by increasing promotions.
