An interesting item about what happened at Whole Foods when the checkout computers went down from Nick Smith's Life 2.0 blog.
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12-20-2008, 01:32 PM #1
Downhill into Paradise
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Being "nice" is not limited to the individual
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12-20-2008, 01:37 PM #2
Don't worry, be happy!
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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.
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12-20-2008, 01:43 PM #3
f/k/a Mr. S.
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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.Last edited by Mr. Bloom; 12-20-2008 at 01:46 PM.
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12-20-2008, 01:46 PM #4
gravel grindess
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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.
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12-20-2008, 01:55 PM #5
Inner Geekette
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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.Frends know gud humors when dey is hear it. ~ Da Crockydiles of ZZE.
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12-20-2008, 02:53 PM #6
I LIKE BIKES
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what did they do before computers? I guess they couldn't sell stuff back then. People bartered or stole?
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12-20-2008, 03:03 PM #7
Inner Geekette
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People carried cash.
This isn't all one-sided decisions by the store.Frends know gud humors when dey is hear it. ~ Da Crockydiles of ZZE.
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