Being "nice" is not limited to the individual

[pardes]

An interesting item about what happened at Whole Foods when the checkout computers went down from Nick Smith's Life 2.0 blog.

[Irulan]

I don't get it. Why not just ask people to pay what they THINK they owe? Granted the use of cards makes it difficult, but I think that is more appropriate for the business model. Or, next time you come in, pay us what you think you owe when the computers are up and running. I don't follow the marketing logic, unless you get a bunch of moochers in there hopeing for the next computer glitch increases sales further down the line.

To me, giving people a chance to pay what they owe shows more faith in humanity and the overall goodness of people, than a giant giveaway.

[Mr. Bloom]

I applaud what they did, but I would have felt guilty walking out with the free food...but I would have been mad if they said they couldn't check me out without the computers ( I would have been thinking "where are the calculators???").

So, I agree with Irulan on the intermediate choices...I would have graciously returned at a later date.

[sundial]

When our stores lose power, people are asked to leave even as they make purchases. Why? The electronic cash registers can't make change and checks cannot be verified.

[SadieKate]

Depends on when the glitch occurs. If it was right after work when lines are long, people are tired and thinking about driving in a snow/ice storm, yanking around cranky kids, thinking about getting dinner on the table before heading back out for the high school basketball game, or whatever, I'm sure the store didn't want the lines slowed down as the clerks tried to hand calculate estimated cost. Besides, a lot of items no longer have marked prices but only bar codes.

I know my longterm marketing loyalty would have shot off the top of the scale and the next time I was in the store I'd contribute heavily to their holiday food drive or whatever charity they're supporting.

I think the ROI on that might be hard to calculate but still huge.

[Biciclista]

what did they do before computers? I guess they couldn't sell stuff back then. People bartered or stole?

[SadieKate]

People carried cash.

This isn't all one-sided decisions by the store.

[snapdragen]

I detest Whole Foods, but I think this was a very cool thing to do.

snap "doesn't carry cash" dragen

[SadieKate]

Where do dragons put their credit cards?

[snapdragen]

We have special pockets.

[Biciclista]

what's cash? A singer?

[bmccasland]

Once upon a time, items had prices actually marked on them, not silly bar codes. So when the lights go out, one could still add up the cost, and either pay cash or write a check.

I miss those days.... sigh...............

[yellow]

Once upon a time, items had prices actually marked on them, not silly bar codes. I miss those days.... sigh...............

On December 24, the neighborhood market (a real market, not a quickie mart) that we go to--that does NOT take credit cards, that does not use bar codes, and that has cash registers that the checkers punch the numbers in to--will close its doors for ever. We are heartbroken, as we love this market, which has been in business for 86 years. It smells like a market. It has a real butcher/meat counter and steaks are hand cut to order. The proprietor, Bill (whom we all knew) recently passed away and while his family worked in the market with him and could keep it going, they are ready to move on.

I suspect there are several others out there still, but they will disappear as their proprietors move on.

[OakLeaf]

People carried cash.

And tax returns were filed by people with pencils who had to do all their calculations either by hand, or on a machine that was separate from the ledger that kept the books.

Sales tax was calculated on the spot by cashiers who had to hand-separate taxable from non-taxable items.

Recordkeeping, as much as the sales transactions, is impossible when computers are down (or would take way too much time for people to stand in line). And the IRS doesn't much care for approximations and guesses.

[smilingcat]

Back when...

When cashiers told you that the total was $2.16 and you gave $2.25, they could tell you how much change to give you. Today's kids are sooo confused. or worse if its $9.35 and you give them $10.50 Oh wooowwww hooollld onnnn. why are you giving me $10.50 instead of just the $10.00 bill

sheesh.

I'm just wayyy too jaded to believe in pay what you thinkyou owe us. Engineers I work with are so &^%%$ cheap, they'll pay maybe 25% of actual worth if that.

Or maybe my outlook is somewhat jaded for living in NYC during the '78 brownout. local KFC's metal grate in front was torn off and place ransacked. So did the stereo store. Several of grocery stores also had their metal grate torn off and place ransacked. And furniture store too. Most desired items being hauled/carted away was mattresses, box springs. People were too poor to have a nice bed or were sleeping on the floor. only place untouched was the local pizzaria. I've seen local police taking a thick envelope under the counter from the proprietor.

Then my partner also had the pleasantries during Rodney King incident. She had a warehouse where she did manufacturing of gift items. One of the people patrolled the roof with a high-powered rifle to keep looters away.

Oh then there is her cousin who had just come back from 'nam and was working the beat as LA cop during WATT riot. yesserrie. He was in the midst of it. Ex-marine trying to return to civilian life as a rookie police dealing with the WATTS riot.

We also hate whole food. My partner had a jar of change so she tried to pay for it in change only like $5.00 worth of bill and the cashier gal made a scene and refused to accept her change. Mostly quarters. Store manager refused it too. So she walked out without the item but all the change in her pocket. so WE REFUSE TO SHOP THERE!! They can go to ^%$$&.

smilingcat