Print this story | E-mail story | This story has 1 comment Add your own | iPod friendly
Self-check gains in Fergus Falls
Published Monday, May 21, 2007
Self-checkout for people who make purchases of smaller items at Home Depot in Fergus Falls has been popular for consumers the past two years. Now, that concept is spreading to other businesses in Fergus Falls.
SunMart has a sign inside its supermarket that says a self-checkout center will commence May 30.
“Here at Home Deport we’ve definitely had a good response with self-checkout these past several months,” Assistant Manager Larry Kolstad said. “This service is meant for smaller items — and not larger ones such as windows and doors. For those items we urge customers to still go through the regular checkouts.”
Self-checkout for the smaller items is relatively easy. A welcome sign directs people to the information that takes consumers through a step-by-step process.
First, a customer scans the item, such as a $1.89 bottle of hand sanitizer. Next, the consumer has options to pay — including cash, credit card, in-store credit cards or gift cards. If questions arise, a nearby and regular check-out Home Deport employee can help — because the self checkout information appears on a screen at the employee’s work station as well as at the self checkout aisle itself.
“Self checkout with smaller purchases is an easy way for our customers to buy the things they need, scan their own items and make a quick type of payment,” Assistant Manager Kolstad said. “Some people who were at first a little apprehensive to try it (self checkout) were surprised to see how easy the process really is.”
Self-checkout aisles allow Home Depot — in Fergus Falls and at other Home Depot stores across the nation — to deploy an average of two cashiers to the floor to restock shelves or sell larger items like appliances and kitchen cabinets. Company executives said this type of new technology has played a big role in Home Depot's ability to sell more and increase productivity.
Four self-checkout systems take the space of three traditional checkout aisles and eliminate the need for two cashiers (one stays to help customers with the automated checkout terminals).
“It’s a win-win situation, for Home Deport and the customer,” Kolstad said.
Comments
The Daily Journal is happy to host community conversations about news and life in Fergus Falls and the surrounding area. As hosts, we expect guests will show respect for each other. That means we don't threaten or defame each other, and we keep conversations free of personal attacks. Witty is great. Abusive is not. If you think a post violates these standards, don't escalate the situation. Instead, flag the comment to alert us. We'll take action if necessary. It's not hard. This should be a place where people want to read and contribute -- a place for spirited exchanges of opinion. So those who persist with racist, defamatory or abusive postings risk losing the privilege to post at all.Posted by smiley55 (anonymous) on May 22, 2007 at 3:22 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I have shoplifted items for years at the Home Depot in Fergus Falls. Who needs a new fangled scanner when you can peel a bar code off an item and slip it into your'e coat and take it home without paying?
Post a comment
(Requires free registration.)