JC Penney to eliminate cash registers

[blue_eyes5212]

More people out of work .............just what this country needs!

Maybe I missed it, but I havent seen anyone address the issue of making sure that prices ring up the way they are marked.

 

[Bell30012]

JC Penny has been struggling for years. They are looking for any way that they can to stay profitable. Yes, that will mean that they may need to shed some employees. If they go bankrupt, it won't matter any way.

 

[cm8]

^^^ WSS

 

[Danibelle]

I imagine it would save all of a few minutes, which in the total time I take shopping isn't really going to matter to me. Its kind of like passing the slow guy so you can get to the red light faster.

I don't care what kind of scanners they use to scan the merchandise, its the lack of customer service that turns me off to the whole idea.

According to the Savannah JC Penney's, there will STILL be customer service, just in fewer areas.

 

[luvmy3]

JC Penny has been struggling for years. They are looking for any way that they can to stay profitable. Yes, that will mean that they may need to shed some employees. If they go bankrupt, it won't matter any way.

And they are struggling even more since the Apple man came to power. Maybe his goal is to bankrupt the company?

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-05-15/j-c-penney-reports-first-quarter-loss-amid-sales-slump.html

According to the Savannah JC Penney's, there will STILL be customer service, just in fewer areas.

Yes, but that still means it will be lacking.

 

[maxiesmom]

Yes, but that still means it will be lacking.

And what seems really strange is that most stores are now going out of their way to interact with customers. You can't walk in a Target or a Bed Bath and Beyond without a employee saying hi to you. Yet Penny's thinks the way to go is to cut back on customer interaction?

 

[Bell30012]

JCP is still going to be interacting with customers. They are just finding different ways to do it. I think the Levi's Denim Bar with iPads sounds like a great idea. One of my complaints is that I can never find 38 X 34 at any store. With the iPad approach, I can pick out my style and size then someone will bring it to me. Sounds good to me.

"J.C. Penney rolls out three shop concepts in 700 stores; second wave set for Sept. 1

J.C. Penney on Aug. 1, will open in-store shop concepts for three brands—Levi's, i jeans by Buffalo and The Original Arizona Jean Co.—in nearly 700 stores nationwide. To coordinate with the back-to-school season, the retailer also is offering free haircuts for kids in its salons in the month of August. "The back-to-school season presents the perfect opportunity to offer free haircuts for kids and unveil our new Shops, giving customers a first glimpse of what will soon be an entirely new retail experience," said Ron Johnson, CEO, J.C. Penney.
J.C. Penney’s second wave of branded shops will open Sept. 1, and will feature dedicated shops for Liz Claiborne, IZOD, and jcp – a new private brand dedicated to high-quality fashion basics. The Levi’s shop, dubbed the Levi's Denim Bar experience, will launch in Men's with 11 fits and 88 washes. Each Denim Bar is equipped with iPads so customers can access more sizes, styles and finishes through a virtual experience that is also available on Jcp.com/levis. The shop, staffed by Levi's Fit Specialists, will offer mobile checkout, the first time the technology has been available in J.C. Penney stores. "Now, customers can pull up a stool at one of our Levi's Denim Bars and work with a specialist to choose from a curated selection of Levi's jeans that best expresses their personal style,” said Liz Sweney, chief merchant, J.C. Penney.
J.C. Penney said its in-house Original Arizona Jean Co. line has been completely reinvented with better quality fabrics, including updated prints, washes and stitching details inherent to the heritage brand. I jeans by Buffalo, a new brand developed by Buffalo David Bitton for men, women and children, will cater to fashion-savvy shoppers who prefer modern clothing with contemporary silhouettes. It will include sportswear, outerwear, accessories and denim.
Last week, Joe Fresh, the Canadian cheap-chic retailer, announced it had entered into an agreement to roll out in- store shops next spring in approximately J.C. Penney stores nationwide. The launch is planned for spring 2013. – Chain Store Age"

 

[maxiesmom]

JCP is still going to be interacting with customers. They are just finding different ways to do it. I think the Levi's Denim Bar with iPads sounds like a great idea. One of my complaints is that I can never find 38 X 34 at any store. With the iPad approach, I can pick out my style and size then someone will bring it to me. Sounds good to me.

That is great if all you want to buy from them are Levis.

And again, this is a service that many people, especially older people, will not be comfortable using. Some of us want to be able to talk to an employee in order to get help, not have to deal with ordering on an Ipad. My parents wouldn't even have the slightest clue as to how to use one, and from what I see at the Pennys by us, they have a large older clientele. Why not just tell them they are not important to your company?

 

[Bell30012]

Some stores will have to try out new technology. If you read the quote the second wave will include more items. In the quote it also clearly stated that the customer could work with a specialist to decide what fit, size or wash suited them.

I, for one can't stand having to go through a stack of jeans looking for that one or two that will fit me. I'd much rather give an associate my selection and have them go pull it from inventory. Then have them check me out with mobile check out.

 

[elfbo]

Wow, this is going to be a pain in the behind. My sister is currently cash only, and if we go shopping at JC Pennys, Im going to have to cover her, and hope she pays me back.

I haven't shopped much at JCP since they took away the coupons, this new change will probably push me entirely out of the door.

 

[maxiesmom]

Some stores will have to try out new technology. If you read the quote the second wave will include more items. In the quote it also clearly stated that the customer could work with a specialist to decide what fit, size or wash suited them.

That is all I need, to have to tell some skinny teenager that I need a size 16 pant for my fat self.

And the problem with someone suggesting what may or may not fit is that unless they measure you, they are still guessing. Jeans all fit differently, heck the same brand same color same size can fit differently from one pair to another.

 

[Danibelle]

Wow, this is going to be a pain in the behind. My sister is currently cash only, and if we go shopping at JC Pennys, Im going to have to cover her, and hope she pays me back.

I haven't shopped much at JCP since they took away the coupons, this new change will probably push me entirely out of the door.

You will still be able to pay with cash. There will still be traditional customer service checkouts. There just will be fewer of these areas. It is mind boggling that JC Penney is going to anger the middle class with these new improvements!

 

[maxiesmom]

You will still be able to pay with cash. There will still be traditional customer service checkouts. There just will be fewer of these areas. It is mind boggling that JC Penney is going to anger the middle class with these new improvements!

How is it mind boggling? Fewer traditional checkouts means they will have longer lines. Or you can get in the new checkout line and pray the people ahead of you know what they are doing. I hate getting behind someone at the grocery store who uses self checkout and doesn't have a clue, so I really don't want that experience buying clothes. Having to decide between that and getting into one of the few "normal' checkout lanes doesn't sound like a great choice.

Less interaction with the employees, so a harder time finding someone to help you when you need it. And the ones that are there walking around will be busy trying to check people out. That all may be "new" but it doesn't sound like an "improvement". "I want to buy all these clothes. Now, do I want to get in a long old-fashioned register line, wait in line to ring everything up myself or chase down an employee and have them ring me up, and then stand there double checking and make sure everything rang up properly?"

Ick. Yonkers and Sears and Kohls and Target are looking better by the minute!