Which is It?

 We have spent some time in retail stores post-Christmas.  It seems in most Target retail stores there are self-checout lanes with conveyor belts that will only take credit cards for transactions.  The comments on Twitter about these check-out lanes seem to focus on the human experience of shopping in brick and mortar stores.  It seems that most like interacting with a person operating a check-out lane.  But it seems too that everywhere you go there are signs saying they are hiring.

But the crux of the issue seems to be that many people are filling out applications, but the stores are not hiring.  Maybe the We Are Hiring signs makes you believe they need more people to work there, but the fact is they do not want to pay more people to work there.  But as a shopper the sign makes you feel sympathetic if the store is a mess after Christmas and you say to yourself that they will get more people.

Everyone knows retail does not have enough people, but the retail stores seem to be unwilling to pay more people.  But as consumers shopping retail stores, we become complacent about complaining about messy stores, because we are led to believe they will get more people to work there.  And until they do the stores will be messy.  So, the Now Hiring signs are like a Jedi mind trick and it works.  We say the next time we go in they will have trained enough new people to do the work.  And the stores will be as if they just opened with everything in place.  

Well, it's just a thought.  I still think most people like interacting with a check-out person.  And I do think if customers have a perception that a store is low on staff the customers are more forgiving.  

I am smoking my Rungsted Driftwood pipe this morning with some Seattle Club Plum Pudding Special Reserve I have aged for about six months now.  I am looking forward to receiving a few English blends in the next couple of days.  And I have read some good things about Barbados Plantation.  Rum originated in Barbados and I can't wait to try that.  But this Plum Pudding Special Reserve now has a little spiciness from a little aging.  I like it even better now.  Well, those are my thoughts for today and as always, I thank you for your time and Peace to each one of you.

Dave