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Show i Ream's offers new computer age grocery shopping t ' tin ) ' t $ ma ' A I ' I" I' J - - 1 I si " ' ;v - rt ' pi I id I ' i ?! The latest in state-of-the-art self-serve self-serve check-out equipment is not only in operation at Ream's Super Store in American Fork - but was developed there. J. R. Jolley, Ream's owner, and his son-in-law, Neldon Johnson, designed the sophisticated equipment equip-ment and they have now obtained a copyright on it. Mr. Jolley said the equipment, which includes a video screen, keyboard and scanner, was put into operation eight months ago and "is proving popular with most of our -customers - especially the youngsters who aren't afraid of computers." (1 The children then usually gel Mom ipr Dad to go to the self-service 'computer unit so they can operate it. After their parents see how easy it is to operate they are hooked. "We still have our conventional check-out stalions for individuals who don't want to use the new self-service self-service units," Mr. Jolley said, adding they don't plan to give these up. He explained a customer brings his or her basket to the check-out station, placing it on a mat on the floor to one side of the scanner. The video screen acknowledges the presence of the basket and tells the customer what to do. An item is then taken out of the basket and the product number passed over the scanner. After the "beep" indicating it has been registered, the item is placed in a second basket already on the other side of the unit. If a mistake is made, it can be corrected by summoning a clerk located nearby to assist. In the same way, if a shopper finds she (or he) has more items than cash, an item can be taken off. If a "six-pack" of something is purchased, the scanner registers this - or it registers only five of the six if necessary. Currently most produce items have to be weighed by a clerk and a product number placed on them before they can go through the scanner. "We have a bottle neck here but in a store built around the machine, all your produce would be prepackaged pre-packaged and there would already be a number on it," Mr. Jolley ' commented. If an item can't be scanned for some reason, the video screen tells the customer to manually type the product number in to record it. Once all the items are scanned, you make out your check, or get your cash ready, get your coupons ready and pay the clerk. You receive a slip listing every item purchased and the cost. After paying the bill, you bag your groceries yourself. Mr. Jolley said when prices change on an item, the change can be made at the central station and registered in less than a minute. Mr. Jolley said the system is a boon to inventory taking. When in complete operation store managers can put in how much inventory they want on an item and when it goes below this, the item will automatically be ordered. Presently clerks can take inventory in-ventory by using a portable scanner instead of counting the items individually in-dividually as in the past. Mr. Jolley said the new system has the capacity to handle 95,000 separate items. Why do customers like it? One said because of savings -prices are marked up only 6.8 percent in comparison to up to 10 percent at check-out counters with clerks. Another said because of the ease in use. Still another liked it just because it was "something new and different." Computer assisted grocery shopping is fast, easy and makes self-service shopping fun. d Mr. Jolley said the system also tightens store security, especially "up-front" security, because every item is on inventory and you know which item is down, even by one can or whatever. .VIA" Although the system is only iB 'ft operation in American Fork at the present time, Mr. Jolley has been ; contacted by other groceries and W other businesses interested in 8e' learning more about it. i Al |
