The Vent and Rant Thread

[Deskisamess]

Originally Posted by 4691mls

I like when stores have just one line. When you get to the front of the line you get to go to whichever checkout counter is open first.

I've seen this is several retail stores, but never in a grocery store. Most of the ones around here don't have the floor space for it. The shelves are pretty close to the checkouts.

Joann Fabric's, DSW, Kohl's, have this. I think Target set up their checkouts to confound and befuddle shoppers. They are 2 layers deep, offset. So you can't tell which line people are in, or those in line block the open checkouts in front of them. It crams people together, it's horrible.

[Hitch]

Originally Posted by 4691mls

There's no item limit for the self checkout in my local store. However, for the most part people using the self checkout don't have a huge amount of groceries. Mostly people with a lot of items seem to prefer the cashier checkout.

The thing with the self-checkout is that it's somewhat self-limiting, as you have to leave the bloody items on the metal doodad. If you're me, shopping rarely and hugely, you can't do that. ;-)

(We live quite a way from the nearest grocery of any kind at all, so I tend to do pantry shopping at one store--canned and boxed goods where it's the least expensive and the most options--meat, fish and poultry, and fresh veggies at another--and then miscellaneous "gourmet items" at a third. I loathe it, but when you live far from everything, you either pay out the nose for your basics, to get decent meat/fish/poultry/veggies, or you do what I do. We can afford to pay out the nose, if we needed to, but it seems so wasteful to me, [since I'm cheap] paying 30-40% more! Self-checkout and I are barely on nodding terms...)

Hitch

[Thasaidon]

Originally Posted by Hitch

[since I'm cheap]

Hitch

Not cheap the word is FRUGAL.

It always annoys me to see people waste money by not thinking or because they just do not care. That is probably because for most of my early life I struggled on a wage that was barely enough.

[4691mls]

Originally Posted by Deskisamess

I've seen this is several retail stores, but never in a grocery store. Most of the ones around here don't have the floor space for it. The shelves are pretty close to the checkouts.

Joann Fabric's, DSW, Kohl's, have this. I think Target set up their checkouts to confound and befuddle shoppers. They are 2 layers deep, offset. So you can't tell which line people are in, or those in line block the open checkouts in front of them. It crams people together, it's horrible.

I haven't seen it at any grocery stores either. TJ Maxx has it and it works pretty well.

I agree with you about Target's setup being confusing. Once I was there during the Christmas shopping season and they actually had an employee directing customers to cashier stations. Wish they had that all the time, it was helpful.

[Hitch]

Originally Posted by Thasaidon

Not cheap the word is FRUGAL.

It always annoys me to see people waste money by not thinking or because they just do not care. That is probably because for most of my early life I struggled on a wage that was barely enough.

Frugality never goes amiss. Yeah, I know, sounds like a platitude, but the reality is, every penny you don't spend is one you have in your accounts/pockets. [Shrug].

There are some groceries that are worth paying extra to have; but for pantry staples, canned goods, brand items--it's just downright dumb to pay 40% more just so you can say you don't shop at (Kmart, Walmart, Dollar Store), etc. And yes, that allows me to shop at the butcher, instead of getting that godawful, too-lean beef that chain groceries have now. (And to go to this absurdly, ABSURDLY overpriced store/bakery to have my occasional binge of macaron cookies--not to be confused with macaroons--and indulge myself.)

Hitch

[4691mls]

Originally Posted by Hitch

The thing with the self-checkout is that it's somewhat self-limiting, as you have to leave the bloody items on the metal doodad. If you're me, shopping rarely and hugely, you can't do that. ;-)

(We live quite a way from the nearest grocery of any kind at all, so I tend to do pantry shopping at one store--canned and boxed goods where it's the least expensive and the most options--meat, fish and poultry, and fresh veggies at another--and then miscellaneous "gourmet items" at a third. I loathe it, but when you live far from everything, you either pay out the nose for your basics, to get decent meat/fish/poultry/veggies, or you do what I do. We can afford to pay out the nose, if we needed to, but it seems so wasteful to me, [since I'm cheap] paying 30-40% more! Self-checkout and I are barely on nodding terms...)

Hitch

I don't live far from the stores but I also buy different kinds of groceries at different stores. There's a cheaper store that's good for the basics but there are some things I can't get there.

[Hitch]

Originally Posted by 4691mls

I don't live far from the stores but I also buy different kinds of groceries at different stores. There's a cheaper store that's good for the basics but there are some things I can't get there.

Yes. If you're somewhat picky about a few things, or...whatever, no matter how far the stores are (well...let's be real, within limits), you'll start selective shopping. We used to have an UH-mazing meats and seafood store here, but a) it closed and b) it would now be 70+ miles from my house. My fave butcher is that same 70+ miles (sigh) and my favorite Italian deli is 45-ish. (more sighing). We've recently had a butcher open up, up here, only 12-13 miles away (nextdoor!), and I'm going to try it to see if I can avoid the "schlep" to the beef/pork store. :-) I still don't have decent seafood anywhere.

Hitch

[Rumpelteazer]

Why do many manufacturers think packaging has to be a lot bigger than the product? We see it in our store, more and more items come on blister packaging, taking up a lot of space. I know it's partly to make theft difficult, but it's getting ridiculous. And they probably also do it make their product look bigger and better than the competitor's.

Earlier this year my sister and have gotten into playing the game Carcassonne when I'm staying at her place. I got the base game with the Rivers expansion set. I had already seen that there are various "Big Boxes" which come with the base game and various expansions. For our upcoming vacation I got Big Box 3, with eleven expansion sets. And it comes in a huge box. Filled mostly with air. My sister is driving us to our destination, her car isn't big. So yesterday I packaged all the various tile sets and other playing items in zip lock baggies, labelled them and put them, the score board and manual in a bigger zip lock bag. It's now a quarter of the size of the box and I can easily put it in a bag with other things.

Most likely another case of trying to impress people with the size of the box. But such a waste of space, not just for when your traveling, but also at home. I'm seriously considering splurging and ordering a handmade wooden box/case on Etsy for the game. It's bigger than my baggies, probably about as big as the box of the Big Box, but more practical to put away and take with me.

[Uncle Robin]

Originally Posted by Rumpelteazer

blister packaging

I don't believe in the existence of Hell, but I'm hoping the Cosmos makes an exception for whoever invented blister packaging.

[Gardenman]

Originally Posted by Uncle Robin

I don't believe in the existence of Hell, but I'm hoping the Cosmos makes an exception for whoever invented blister packaging.

I am with you on that one.

[BetterRed]

Sometime back I bought some new kitchen shears, I had to use heavy duty tin snips to get at them.

[ApK]

Originally Posted by BetterRed

Sometime back I bought some new kitchen shears, I had to use heavy duty tin snips to get at them.

Hehe. Irony.

[ownedbycats]

Originally Posted by Uncle Robin

I don't believe in the existence of Hell, but I'm hoping the Cosmos makes an exception for whoever invented blister packaging.

I can't see it being much good for the environment over a cardboard box, either.

Also: I hope there's also a spot for whoever thought it was a good idea to put childproof caps on painkillers. At least my pharmacy will move it over to an easy-open container, but it's frustrating to have to ask.

[ApK]

Originally Posted by ownedbycats

Also: I hope there's also a spot for whoever thought it was a good idea to put childproof caps on painkillers. At least my pharmacy will move it over to an easy-open container, but it's frustrating to have to ask.

Err...I rather think that IS a good idea, though it is indeed wise for there to be an option.

[Uncle Robin]

Originally Posted by ApK

Err...I rather think that IS a good idea, though it is indeed wise for there to be an option.

Seconded! An option available on request for those with no no need of the childsafe function is good, but having medications difficult to access by design is sensible imo.