Self service...a boon or not??

[JDgreen227]

My live in GF and I were discussing this morning about how self-service has gradually infiltrated our everyday lives. Being an old fart, I can recall pumping Shell gasoline back in 1970 and earning $1.75 an hour, and then you-pump/you save gasoline came along: "Mini-service...you pump the gas, we wipe the glass...." And "World's best service...your own." And with the introduction of the Internet, self-service became a huge leap forward: Pay your heating and electric bill online, order that gadget from Amazon or Ebay, schedule your doctor appointments and required x-rays and prescription refills after logging in to AOL or Hotmail or Yahoo, or whatever....

Remember when we were told that self-service was the wave of the future? Well, it has taken me a long time to realize just how commonplace it has become, and while I heartily embrace technology...sometimes I wonder if it's a real step forward for the consumers. What is your opinion?

 

[rekees4300]

What is your opinion?

Companies love self service, it reduces their costs. Self service is fine if your have the skills to do it. I'll be damned if I can figure out how to operate those self checkouts at Krogers!

 

[brain55]

The place it can really annoy me is the bank. I was nearly escorted out of a bank one day when I was told they couldn't help me in my branch, that I'd need to use the courtesy phone.

Brian

 

[Toddao]

I don't like the self service ales at food stores or box stores, they are in business , I want them to wait on me.

 

[Coyote machine]

I don't like the self service ales at food stores or box stores, they are in business , I want them to wait on me.

Good luck with that! H. Depot mgr. told me recently that 'they' were going to tell me I couldn't return any more 'stuff', but gave no reason at all, except possibly I had their game to well figured out?!:confused3:

Service, HA! Thing of the past. Get used to it.

 

[Cat_Driver]

I took a trip up to Washington a few years ago and it was forbidden to pump your own gas - HUH, been doin it for 40 years. Nope, you can't do it. At first I was "man that's stupid" then I realized the fuel price was the same as Ca., but now there is a job created for a young person. BRILLIANT.

My thoughts are give people MORE SERVICE and you will create those entry level jobs for kids.

Least I ever paid for fuel was 0.17 cents a gallon all fluids checked, , got my oil checked, tires checked, windshield washed and a FREE set of glasses. Now people think I'm nuts telling that story.

 

[Soundguy]

some stuff I like self service. some stuff I want service.

Honestly for a gas station.. I'm fine for self service. Some of the unskilled people out there today.. well.. unskilled is actually giving them credit. those ar ethe ones that might be pumping diesel into my gasser.. or gas into my diesel.. and not knowing how to check oil or put caps back on right.. etc..e tc. etc.

Not trying to be hard on unskilled workers. .. theres PLENTY of palce for unskileld labor.

touching my stuff that runs me down the road at high rates of speed isn't one of them though..

don't even get me started about the fast oil change rip off unskileld labor tehnicians... AKAIK they either ONLY know how to round a drian plug off.. OR.. they lie and tell you it's rounde dand hand you a round one for inspection.. then they put your air cleaner box back together wrong because they don't know what the '$%#@ they are doing.. then don't tell you about it because they are stupid or embarrissed.

don't ask me how I really feel.

 

[bcp]

I took a trip up to Washington a few years ago and it was forbidden to pump your own gas - HUH, been doin it for 40 years. Nope, you can't do it. At first I was "man that's stupid" then I realized the fuel price was the same as Ca., but now there is a job created for a young person. BRILLIANT.

Oregon, not Washington.



Bruce

 

[JDgreen227]

I took a trip up to Washington a few years ago and it was forbidden to pump your own gas - HUH, been doin it for 40 years. Nope, you can't do it. At first I was "man that's stupid" then I realized the fuel price was the same as Ca., but now there is a job created for a young person. BRILLIANT.

My thoughts are give people MORE SERVICE and you will create those entry level jobs for kids.

Least I ever paid for fuel was 0.17 cents a gallon all fluids checked, , got my oil checked, tires checked, windshield washed and a FREE set of glasses. Now people think I'm nuts telling that story.

Recall back in HS I pumped gas for $1.45 an hour and the fuel (Gulf) sold at 25.9 cents for the lowest octane, we cleaned windshields and checked oil and gave stamps and if you spent enough on gas you got a free drive thru car wash (and I operated the car wash) the good old days....

 

[Looking4new]

If you are nuts Cat_Driver, then so am I.

I remember those days all too well. I was the pump jockey in the small community where I grew older (because I will never grow up). 0.35 cents/imp gallon, check your oil sir/mam? Automatically grab the squeegie and do the windshield, side windows and rear window, lights too if they were dirty.