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Technology Stocks : Applied Materials No-Politics Thread (AMAT) -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: FR1 who wrote (640)	11/25/2001 11:13:46 PM
From: frozenchosen	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 25522

I spent a week in Kmart last night ,in the U-scan line. The line was much shorter than the human check out lines. The reason, even though all four U-scan computers were down. The clerk that oversees them was checking out customers by hand. She had to run over to an adjacent check stand to weigh the produce. Once I realized the situation I started to leave and go to a regular line. The woman behind me convinced me to bear it out. She said the other lines were even slower :( A department manager was working on the U-scan machines. He finally rebooted one. When the Windows NT screen appeared, one of the customers proclaimed, "Oh no, the blue screen of death!" I finally checked out with the one working machine. It didn't work to well. I had to scan each item several time before it would take, except the motor oil. These machines are about six weeks old, and made by NCR. They really didn't seem ready for prime time. They seemed to require plenty of maintenance and had noticeable down time. However, a competitor down the street has the IBM version. They seem to work like you describe: "It doesn't take holidays, get sick, sue you, etc, etc. All the attributes of a computer." BTW - I go to Kmart 'cause it makes me feel good. When I look at the other customers and employees. It makes me feel rich. It makes me feel thin. It makes me feel intelligent.

To: FR1 who wrote (640)	11/26/2001 8:09:44 AM
From: Timetobuy	Respond to of 25522

I'm talking about when all of those items including laser color scanners/printers are bundled for the masses, not at the mid level price range. I've heard about the self scanning system from a friend who saw it several years ago out west in use. It didn't really catch on. Maybe it was before it's time. Grocery stores are union. They are going to resist this if it takes their jobs. I guess it could work. I'd prefer to go to a person though. I don't want to get in line behind someone who can't scan quickly or has an item or two that won't scan or complains the price is wrong while I wait around for some clerk to help out that is also helping several other lines. What would happen to produce? Do they put a upc scanner on each apple?

To: FR1 who wrote (640)	11/26/2001 11:05:42 AM
From: Kirk ©	Respond to of 25522

New Technology There is no scientific reason supermarkets can not replace check out people with robots. Nice comments on DVD-RW and flat screens... but I don't agree with the above statement. It will be a long time before I trust a robot to bag my fresh meat and vegetables along with a loaf of bread and a gallon of milk. Perhaps what we will have is the robot doing more of the scanning while the "checker" becomes more of a bagger and "handles coupons and mis priced items"? Weekend observation: CostCo has a feeder/bagger and a checker. We got though a long line in good time. I was impressed. My guess is these people don't make minimum wage. WalMart and HomeDepot. Often have LONG, LONG lines and -3 sigma IQ types at the checkout. I've been to HD where there were clerks walking the floor looking for people to help while everyone waits in two HUGE lines for someone to get a price right on a nickel screw. I want to shout "give them the damn screw as the goodwill will be worth 100 times the nickle!" They need better cross training so MANAGERS can run the register. Unlike Safeway, these places seem to place too much importance on who helps the customer do what. At my local Safeway, I often speak to the store manager and his staff as they help at the checkout... probably why I go back. Lines HAVE improved greatly at our local Walmart since they have more people to select from to employ. as to OPMR: "Who is the competition and what are the barriers to entry?" I think the numbers of shares short at 38.6% is telling you there is competition.