The advance of technology helps facilitate our lives a great deal, but do we pay a high price when it comes to relying on the machines way more than we should?
In order to speed up the process of running errands and shopping for groceries, Walmart introduced self-checkouts. What they didn’t expect, however, is to face backlash because of this decision that many of the customers consider controversial.
The self-service machines aren’t something new. In fact, they were first introduced in the 1980s to lower labor expenses.
But this service faced plenty of obstacles and customers complain to the added responsibilities.
For example, certain items may have multiple barcodes, whereas the produce, including the meat, fruit, and vegetable, typically needs to be weighed and manually entered into the system using a code, which might be time consuming for the ordinary shoppers. Other times shoppers won’t hear the “beep” confirming an item has been scanned properly.
Another issue is the increase of theft. Walmart announced that thefts at its stores has reached an all-time high.
The machines not only fall short at their purpose of making shopping easier at times, but they also make it harder for the employees they were meant to help.
Christopher Andrews, a sociologist and author of The Overworked Consumer: Self-Checkouts, Supermarkets, and the Do-It-Yourself Economy, says the system “doesn’t work well for anyone.”
He continued: “Everyone feels like they have to have it. Companies are thinking: ‘If we can just get more people on this, maybe we can start reducing some overheads.’”
What’s most, most of the customers have reported that they miss the human interaction while shopping.
Randy Parraz from Making Change at Walmart perfectly summed up customer sentiments by saying, “You can’t convince customers to do the job of a cashier just because you don’t want to pay for the work.”
Walmart decided to listen to what their customers had to say and instead of further expanding automation, the retail giant will hire additional cashiers to provide their customers with a pleasant shopping experience and service.
What Walmart and the rest of the retailers, among which Costco and Wegmans, learned is that efficiency is important but maintaining a balance with positive experiences remains crucial.
Abandoned And Trapped In Deep River, The Elderly Dog started crying When The Volunteer Approached To Caress Him
In the heart of Los Angeles, a tale unfolded that touched the souls of many—a tale of abandonment, resilience, and compassion. It began with a simple phone call, one that sparked a mission of hope and redemption for a lonely soul trapped in the depths of the city’s river.
The call came to Hope in the Paws, a beacon of light for animals in distress. On the other end of the line was a plea for help, a desperate cry for assistance for an elderly dog stranded in the labyrinthine maze of the Los Angeles River. For weeks, the community had rallied around the dog, providing what little sustenance they could offer, but they knew that without intervention, his fate would be sealed.
With urgency in their hearts and determination in their eyes, the volunteers of Hope in the Paws sprang into action. But as they approached the river’s edge, they were met with a sight that tugged at their heartstrings—the elderly dog, once proud and majestic, now reduced to a trembling, frightened creature, his eyes betraying the fear and uncertainty that gripped his soul.
Undeterred by the enormity of the task before them, the volunteers pressed on, fueled by a singular purpose—to bring comfort and salvation to this vulnerable being. With each step closer, they could hear the soft whimpering of the dog, a haunting melody that echoed through the silence of the river.
But then, something miraculous happened. As one of the volunteers extended a hand of kindness towards the dog, offering nothing but love and compassion, the trembling ceased, and the fear began to ebb away. In that moment, amidst the chaos and turmoil of the river, a bond was formed—a bond forged in the crucible of adversity and sealed with the simple yet profound language of empathy.
With gentle hands and tender words, the volunteers lifted the elderly dog from his watery prison, cradling him in their arms as they made their way to safety. And as they emerged from the depths of the river, they were greeted by the warm embrace of the community, their faces alight with gratitude and hope.
The rescue of Peggy the German Shepherd was not just a triumph of human kindness—it was a testament to the power of compassion and the resilience of the human spirit. And as Peggy took her first tentative steps towards a new life, she carried with her the unwavering support of all those who had rallied behind her—a reminder that no soul is ever truly alone as long as there are hearts willing to open and hands ready to help.
So here’s to Hope in the Paws, an organization built on the belief that every life is worth saving and every creature deserving of love. Thank you for your tireless dedication, your boundless compassion, and your unwavering commitment to making the world a better place—one rescue at a time.
And to Peggy, may your journey be filled with warmth and joy, and may you always know that you are loved beyond measure. You may have been abandoned and trapped in the depths of a river, but today, you are free—free to run, free to play, and free to bask in the boundless love that surrounds you.
This is the story of Peggy the German Shepherd—a story of hope, redemption, and the enduring power of love. And as her tale spreads far and wide, may it serve as a beacon of hope for all those who find themselves lost and alone in the world.
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