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Self-scan grocery registers: 'a convenient option' Mail Tribune / Jim Craven Janet Nagel of Medford tries out the U-scan express line at the Fred Meyer in Grants Pass with the help of employee Teresa Gosnell. The latest in grocery store technology, the machines are the first in Southern Oregon. By SANNE SPECHT for the Mail Tribune Anyone who has stood impatiently in line watching a cashier and thought, "I bet I could do this faster myself," can put themselves to the test. Fred Meyer recently opened four self-check U-scan registers at its newly remodeled store in Grants Pass. The U-scan units, designed by Optimal Robotics, are the first in Southern Oregon. They are intended to offer customers the ability to scan, bag and pay for their purchases by themselves, at their own speed, and in relative privacy. Rob Boley, assistant vice president of customer service for Fred Meyer, said the self-scanners are a convenient option for busy shoppers with smaller purchases. "Some customers like the control of monitoring the scanning process themselves. They also provide privacy for customers for personal care products," said Boley. "And a lot of people just think they're fun. They like the interactive nature." The U-scan terminals may be fun, but a bit of patience and perseverance is required to learn their operation. Each station features a touch screen monitor, a bar code scanner, a weighing platform, bagging racks, a debit/credit terminal, a coupon calculator, a bill and coin acceptor and a bill and coin dispenser. Customers receive guidance from the machines' prompt screens in either English or Spanish. And there is always an attendant monitoring the U-scan station to help confused customers or fix scanner error. Matthew Diltz of Grants Pass, using the self-checking process for the first time, encountered some difficulties. As the Fred Meyer U-scan attendant patiently helped Diltz correct his self-check technique, he pondered the usefulness of the machines. "It's interesting, but it takes some getting used to. I think I'd have done better going to a regular line," he said. Teresa Gosnell, a longtime cashier at Fred Meyer, is now working as a U-scan attendant. She watches the units on monitors at the central terminal next to the U-scan station. Keeping a close eye on customer transactions, Gosnell says she can quickly override system errors and is ready to assist shoppers. "I can anticipate problems from my station. It's a lot easier to help the person when I've watched them during the whole transaction," she said. Store director Fred Sowers says U-scan is the latest in grocery store technology. There are currently 29 U-scan stations at Fred Meyer stores in Oregon. Of the total 133 stores throughout the five western United States, 76 already have U-scan stations. "They are primarily designed for speed. All the reasons are focused on the customer, but the benefit to the company is with the same amount of labor, a greater number of people get through the lanes. That benefits productivity," said Sowers. Sowers and Boley both said they are not taking jobs from Fred Meyer employees by replacing cashiers with machines. "Cashiers are always in demand. But if a cashier calls in sick, now we have U-scan as a backup," said Sowers. In fact, U-scan machines are designed for use by customers with 15 or fewer items. Boley said a cashier generally will complete any sales transaction faster than a customer on a U-scan unless there is a very long line at the cashier's station. "Most customers will continue to use a cashier. It's faster," said Boley. Sanne Specht is a free-lance writer living in Rogue River. Reach her at [email protected] . Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.