JC Penney to eliminate cash registers

[DisneyAndRedSox]

I agree...I just will not use them.

I was just at Lowes and only self serve was open. I rang my item (firewood for the fire pit) and it wouldn't let me continue due to the weight being off when placed in the bagging area. I waited and waited for help, but the associate was helping others with scanning issues. I finally threw the firewood in my cart and had customer service ring it. The associate who rang it up said they are removing the self serve in a month. Not sue if all lowes, it may just be b/c it is a high theft area of the city where I was shopping.

 

[FINFAN]

I'm all for technology but I'm realistic enough to know that 60% of the people out there are not,I have an aunt who I've tried to convince to stop using checks at the grocery store.I see progress but she's clearly the type of person that if she walked into JC Penney and encountered this would probably put the merchandise back and never step foot in the store again.

yep, that's what I thought of...my mom or any elderly customer (who, by me, is a good portion of our JCP) or my Dad if he were still alive...would not shop there any more if it were only self check-out. Throw in the no cash issue and you may as well just hit the bancruptcy button now. Not to mention all the reports of ID theft at self -checkouts through the years...the elderly may not be as sharp about their privacy as others and it's a shame to change what is a staple store , an anchor at most malls..and have such a drastic change. I guess if they maybe bring their catalogue option back to a full resource again, it may help a little....but I am stretching there.

 

[chigirl]

I was just in our JC Penney this morning. They are doing some renovations, but the thing I found the funniest was what was written on several signs : "Companies coming" Huh? If they mean "Company is coming" then it should be Company's. I can't figure out what else they might have meant, but it's just a strange sign to begin with and was posted on the temporary walls put up around the work being done. I'd love to know who approved those signs.

LOL, even Google wants to change it to Company's when I search. I came up with nothing except stories about the "Company".

ummm, it is companies coming, meaning the plural of company as in Levis, Izod, etc...companies. It is a play on words. Not Company, like guests. So the sign is correct...unlike Walmart that has "10 items or less", versus "fewer".

 

[NYCDiane]

Incidentally, I don't think everything's truthful here.
Grocery stores DO accept coupons at the self-check outs.

The self checkouts absolutely DO accept coupons. The only ones you may have an issue with are the "free" coupons where the person overseeing the self checkout will have to come over and key in the coupon.

Also, self checkouts take cash as well as credit/debit cards. (to a previous poster).


I also highly doubt JC Penney (or any other store) will totally go "self check out". Half the idiots who try to use them now can't use them. Could you imagine if they're FORCED to use them?? (to several previous posters)

 

[Elmo9607]

The self checkouts combined with no cash would be a total disaster for JCP. You just can't take their demographic and suddenly expect them to be all giddy over this. I work retail as a cashier at a hardware store...our customer base is a mix of young and older people. However, a LOT of the older people pay cash, and the ones that don't often have trouble with their credit/debit cards. Throw in the fact that a lot of times they don't have a lot of patience, and you have a recipe for disaster. Of course, I know not everyone is like this, I'm just drawing from some experiences.

I myself don't mind self checkouts at the grocery store or WalMart. But they have no business being in a department store. Having employees walking around with phones to ring people's clothes on is absolutely ridiculous.

I did some shopping there for Christmas presents and got some great deals by buying on sale and using a coupon. I haven't made a single purchase since they changed their pricing, and I know nobody else in my family has either.

 

[Elmo9607]

I don't think JCPenny's knows their customers, and that will be it's demise.

The mall I visit is located in Aurora IL. I often take time, before or after our photo visit to look around. A majority of the people shopping in the store are Spanish speaking Mexicans who pay with cash. On more than one occassion I have translated a quick more complicated question for one of the customers. I find it unlikely that these customers will get a debit card and learn the new technology just to keep shopping at JCPenny.


These are just my observations.

You wouldn't happen to be talking about Fox Valley Mall would you?
If so, then yes, I wholeheartedly agree with you, although I can't see anyone switching over to credit or debit just to keep shopping there.

 

[luvmy3]

There is still the option of having a salesperson check you out. The sales people will have phones that have the RFID scanner built in.

I refuse to purchase anything where someone scans my debit or CC with their phone. The phone belonging to a large corp doesn't make me want to either.

 

[Bell30012]

Apple Stores have scanned customer's credit cards on an iPhone or iPad forever. What is the difference if the rep scans it on a device by the cash register?

Some people will not like this change. Others will love it. RFID tags will simplify things so much that I'm going to shop there. I wish every retailer would go to RFID tags.

 

[luvmy3]

Apple Stores have scanned customer's credit cards on an iPhone or iPad forever. What is the difference if the rep scans it on a device by the cash register?

Some people will not like this change. Others will love it. RFID tags will simplify things so much that I'm going to shop there. I wish every retailer would go to RFID tags.

Well first of all I don't really care what Apple has done forever since I have never and probably will never purchase anything from one of their stores. Not every retailer has to adopt Apple's way of doing things anyway
As far as RFID scanners you are right they do simplify things, including theft of CC numbers. I'm not comfortable lending my financial information out for that technology. I'll stick to traditional magnetic strip scanning machines, or good old fashioned cash.

http://www.forbes.com/sites/andygre...ards-can-be-read-through-clothes-and-wallets/

 

[Bell30012]

Actually the RFID tags I was referring to would be on the merchandise instead of the current scan tags. With RFID tags you can ring up an entire customer's order in just seconds deactivating the security tags at the same time. The RFID that you are worried about are the ones that are on credit cards like the Disney Chase cards.

Putting RFID tags on all the items sold in JC Penny would allow you to quickly tally up the total for your buggy. Then pay via a quick pay terminal. One day, before long cash will be obsolete. People always resist change. There were those that wanted to continue using the horse and buggy after the automobile came along.

 

[luvmy3]

Actually the RFID tags I was referring to would be on the merchandise instead of the current scan tags. With RFID tags you can ring up an entire customer's order in just seconds deactivating the security tags at the same time. The RFID that you are worried about are the ones that are on credit cards like the Disney Chase cards.

Putting RFID tags on all the items sold in JC Penny would allow you to quickly tally up the total for your buggy. Then pay via a quick pay terminal. One day, before long cash will be obsolete. People always resist change. There were those that wanted to continue using the horse and buggy after the automobile came along.

You mentioned being able to check out because the employees will have RFID scanners in their phone in a previous post. I assumed by the they will "check you out" you meant by taking your payment, which is why I responded that I wouldn't allow anyone to scan my card with their phone. Clearly we are talking about different things.
I don't have a problem with using scanners to scan my items, but if you aren't going to allow me to pay with cash if I want, then clearly you don't care about me as your customer, and that is why I think JCP is way off the mark with this idea.

 

[Spacepest]

I don't see this working out very well for JC Penny.

I worked at a business that decided to save costs by getting rid of all but two of our registers and going to the self check out/RFID route, plus laying off some of our cashiers. The two physical cash registers that were left were for those "few customers who wanted to pay in cash."

This is what has happened so far:

3/4 of the people can't figure out how to use the self checkout properly. Many people never even read what is on screen in front of them so completely miss when an item doesn't scan.

Customers are extremely slow when it comes to ringing up their own items. Many large families will let their small children try to ring up the items, enter their credit/debit details, slowing down the line greatly.

Many elderly and disabled individuals are physically unable to ring up their own items.

The two real, human operated cash registers left always have a huge line for people wanting to pay cash. Oddly enough, this line with trained cashiers always moves faster than the self checkout lines.

Customers frequently break the self check out stations--by "touching" (more like hitting and pounding) the touch screens too hard, breaking the keypads, putting gum on the manual laser scanners, trying to steal the receipt printer paper, and occasionally unplugging the machines altogether.

The stations frequently malfunction--guests pay for their items, the RFID security tags in them don't deactivate, and the customer sets off the alarm, upsetting them because they legitimately paid for the item.

Then there are those special breed of customers who "pretend" to pay for the items at the self checkout, but are really trying to steal them. They go through the motion of scanning the items, bag them, and then try to walk out the door.

Between items being accidentally missed by the checkout and deliberate theft, our store has managed to have an average of $40K worth of increased shrinkage each week since the stations were installed.

And all those cashiers that got laid off? Half of them had to be rehired a couple months later to monitor the "self checkout" registers due to all these problems.

 

[penn19]

I was in Nordstroms last week buying shoes. The salesperson helped me! And then whipped out her scanner to ring me up. Swiped my credit card, whipped out a bag and emailed me my receipt. Right in the middle of the department. No register necessary.

I haven't seen anything in the media about them implementing this. They just rolled it out. I think that's what Penneys should have done. Just roll it out. I think the media looks for sound bites to whip people in a frenzy.

I am not saying this new idea will work or not. I mean I hope it does. I hate to think of more people out of work.

 

[sunshinehighway]

I despise self checkout. I'm often forced to use it at the grocery store because they never open an express lane anymore.

The worst is if you have kids with you. Kids love to touch stuff. It messes with the bagging area sensors or whatever. After hearing "unknown item in bagging area, please remove item" because someone put their hand in the wrong spot, I just want to leave the store.

One time my self checkout wouldn't work because the lady at the one next to me let her kid sit between them. It messed mine up. Of course it was a big hassle and so annoying.

 

[4HppyCamprs]

I like self checkout at the grocery store. Too many clerks cant figure out that frozen goes with frozen and not canned goods and please dont squash or throw my 2.99/lb fruit. That said I do not like the idea of self checkout at JC penney at all. I used to shop there A LOT because I found really good deals for the kids but then they went to fair and square and while it is okay it is just okay. I prefer the new model where the registers are all at the front of the store but I want those registers staffed by people!

 

[RitaE]

Well, at least I won't have to refuse to "Save whatever % and open up a credit card!!!!" numerous times before I'm allowed to pay.



I don't mind self-checkout as long as it works. Those stores with the goofy weight sensors that put you in a holding pattern if something is 4 ounces off etc I won't use. If you want me to do employee work for you as a customer, then you're going to have to knock off the accusing me of being a thief every 40 seconds of the process.

 

[Ciao Mickey]

I was in Nordstroms last week buying shoes. The salesperson helped me! And then whipped out her scanner to ring me up. Swiped my credit card, whipped out a bag and emailed me my receipt. Right in the middle of the department. No register necessary.

I haven't seen anything in the media about them implementing this. They just rolled it out. I think that's what Penneys should have done. Just roll it out. I think the media looks for sound bites to whip people in a frenzy.

I am not saying this new idea will work or not. I mean I hope it does. I hate to think of more people out of work.

Are you saying the salesperson had to carry empty bags on her person?

 

[penn19]

Are you saying the salesperson had to carry empty bags on her person?

Nope. She rang me up, saw that I had 2 boxes of shoes and walked over to the cashwrap to brought back the appropriate size with her. Took her 30 seconds maybe to do that.

 

[Ciao Mickey]

This is such a goofy idea.

How can they possibly stop theft?

Where do you go to return an item?

Does this mean that a person has to remove the ink thingy and bag their own items?

Can you imagine having to wait behind someone who has to ring up, remove and fold?

 

[Ciao Mickey]

Nope. She rang me up, saw that I had 2 boxes of shoes and walked over to the cashwrap to brought back the appropriate size with her. Took her 30 seconds maybe to do that.

You can't compare Nordstroms with JCP. Especially their shoe department (which I love ). They have one the best staffed shoe departments I have ever come across.

I found my experience at JCP to be different. I had to hunt down a salesperson and many of the registers were closed.