The advance of technology helps facilitate our lives a great deal, but do we pay a high price when it comes to relying on the machines way more than we should?
In order to speed up the process of running errands and shopping for groceries, Walmart introduced self-checkouts. What they didn’t expect, however, is to face backlash because of this decision that many of the customers consider controversial.
The self-service machines aren’t something new. In fact, they were first introduced in the 1980s to lower labor expenses.
But this service faced plenty of obstacles and customers complain to the added responsibilities.
For example, certain items may have multiple barcodes, whereas the produce, including the meat, fruit, and vegetable, typically needs to be weighed and manually entered into the system using a code, which might be time consuming for the ordinary shoppers. Other times shoppers won’t hear the “beep” confirming an item has been scanned properly.
Another issue is the increase of theft. Walmart announced that thefts at its stores has reached an all-time high.
The machines not only fall short at their purpose of making shopping easier at times, but they also make it harder for the employees they were meant to help.
Christopher Andrews, a sociologist and author of The Overworked Consumer: Self-Checkouts, Supermarkets, and the Do-It-Yourself Economy, says the system “doesn’t work well for anyone.”
He continued: “Everyone feels like they have to have it. Companies are thinking: ‘If we can just get more people on this, maybe we can start reducing some overheads.’”
What’s most, most of the customers have reported that they miss the human interaction while shopping.
Randy Parraz from Making Change at Walmart perfectly summed up customer sentiments by saying, “You can’t convince customers to do the job of a cashier just because you don’t want to pay for the work.”
Walmart decided to listen to what their customers had to say and instead of further expanding automation, the retail giant will hire additional cashiers to provide their customers with a pleasant shopping experience and service.
What Walmart and the rest of the retailers, among which Costco and Wegmans, learned is that efficiency is important but maintaining a balance with positive experiences remains crucial.
Find Out If You Have Commitment Issues by Taking This Optical Illusion Test
Optical illusions have been a source of fascination for centuries, and now they are being used to reveal hidden aspects of our personalities. This very test has become a popular way to discover our strengths and weaknesses. In this article, we will explore how it works and how it can help you determine if you have commitment issues.
The interpretation of the optical illusion personality test can vary depending on what you see first. Here are some common interpretations.
What do you see?
- If you see the cloud first, you may appear strong and resilient on the outside, but you are sensitive on the inside. This sensitivity makes you more vulnerable to heartbreak from the words and actions of others. You may find it difficult to commit to long-term relationships because of your fear of emotional pain. Mia Yilin, the creator of the video, further elaborated, stating, “You hate the idea of settling for someone and have very high standards when going into a relationship.”
- If you see the fish first, on the other hand, you may have a carpe diem mentality, understanding that life is short and precious. You are likely to seize opportunities and invest your energy wholeheartedly into things that interest you. Mia explained, “You have this mentality that since life is short, we might as well live life to the fullest.”
So, did you see the Fish or the Cloud first? Take pleasure in these puzzles as enjoyable distractions, but always bear in mind that they lack any scientific or psychological significance. Enjoy yourself and keep a smile on your face!
Now that you’ve discovered whether commitment issues are present in your life, don’t miss out on our upcoming article about optical illusions that can wake you up better than the most delightful cup of Nespresso.
Preview photo credit mia_yilin / Tiktok
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