OT: Analytics and how they can help you in everyday life

[recruitsreadtheseboards]

God.......here I thought maybe I was one of the few, who had vacation/holiday time off and was shopping today in the Strip....then finish at the Pine Shopping Center at 19. Those of you who live in that area know there is a large PA LCB (liquor) store that is somewhat popular.

I thought I was getting there before the rush. I was wrong. The stock was picked through like a Bahamian shop after a hurricane. And the lines....oh the lines...this is at 2:00PM Friday afternoon.

They had two sides of cash registers checking people out. Note, if you ever see me in line, go in another line, I am the guy who sat in line behind a person paying $38 in groceries in quarters, dimes, and nickels this week (yes, this did happen). My line isn't moving. Their line is. One guy jumps lines. Me another guy refuse, figuring as soon as we jump, this line will start moving.

20 minutes haven't moved. Other line, moving swiftly. So....I look.....and I apply analytics or simple math. I count in front of me 12 people. In the other line 14 people. Alas, but they have two cash registers going, where this side has one. So actually it is 12 vs 7. I bid the guy adieu, I jump lines, and I get checked out 15 minutes before he did, even though he was ahead of me.

The moral of this story kid, math is your friend. Math works.

 

[9nationalchampionships]

That is the busiest state store in the north hills and I try to stay out of it when I need liquor. On another note: I broke my record for previous days alive today!

 

[recruitsreadtheseboards]

That is the busiest state store in the north hills and I try to stay out of it when I need liquor. On another note: I broke my record for previous days alive today!

Yeah I made a mistake. Actually the day before I bought the bulk of my alcohol purchases at the Waterworks Store in Fox Chapel I just happened to be in the North Hills and needed to get something for some recipe I was making this weekend and whoa was that a mistake.

 

[9nationalchampionships]

haha, sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do

Yeah I made a mistake. Actually the day before I bought the bulk of my alcohol purchases at the Waterworks Store in Fox Chapel I just happened to be in the North Hills and needed to get something for some recipe I was making this weekend and whoa was that a mistake.

 

[Zeldas Open Roof]

You see, drinking is a matter of algebraic ratio. How drunk you get is caused by the amount of alcohol you consume in relation to your total body weight. You see my point?

It's not that you had too much to drink. You're just too skinny.

 

[pittdan77]

I’m not that complicated. Whiskey please. Jameson is great but I’ll share whatever you pour me.

 

[recruitsreadtheseboards]

I’m not that complicated. Whiskey please. Jameson is great but I’ll share whatever you pour me.

You will or maybe not, appreciate right now what I am doing. I am done....vacation. Boom.....until like January 6th. I am sipping on Maker's Special Cask Strength 110 Proof gorging on You Tube concert footage of Red Hot Chili Peppers, Alice in Chains, REM/Neil Young, Husker Du and early U2. Life truly does not suck at this moment.

 

[recruitsreadtheseboards]

I am feeling pretty specially vindicated to learn my favorite REM song is also Michael Stipe's, Country Feedback, so folks, you need to respect my tastes, it is usually pretty good.

 

[The_Bastard_Of_Benedum]

Why don’t you start threads like the in the LR so we have something besides politics to talk about ?

 

[PittPanther44]

That’s a long post just to say that it’s better to check out if there are 2 registers for 14 people versus 1 for 12 ☺️

I thought you were going to talk about some deeper % of winning type things

 

[bayardstreet]

I have a condo in isle 7 of the PA wine and spirits store at the pine location. It’s right near the bourbon section. Interest rates were low two years ago and so I thought it would be a good investment. I get my mail delivered there and if I am tired after shopping at giant eagle or if the traffic is heavy I go to my condo and spend the night or take a nap etc. so to add to your original point about how busy it is, I never have any problems with crowds

 

[recruitsreadtheseboards]

Why don’t you start threads like the in the LR so we have something besides politics to talk about ?

Cause they are mostly a bunch of humorless bleeps there.......

 

[SoufOaklin4Life]

Not analytics
Just human behavior science

You clearly never worked a cash register .

Useful life skills
I also bag my own groceries since I’m better at it than most baggers.
Rip Kmart

 

[martingale]

Checkout is obsolete. Digital is the way to go.
I use grocery pickup and use an app called Scan & Go when I shop at Sam's Club which allows my smart phone to check me out. Scan, pay, and walk out. That includes getting spirits, wine, and beer.
Lines are a thing of the past.

 

[Faix87]

Your first mistake was assuming you were one of the only ones who were off. I swear any given Friday in Pittsburgh let alone around the holidays people either have off or take a half day.

 

[recruitsreadtheseboards]

Checkout is obsolete. Digital is the way to go.
I use grocery pickup and use an app called Scan & Go when I shop at Sam's Club which allows my smart phone to check me out. Scan, pay, and walk out. That includes getting spirits, wine, and beer.
Lines are a thing of the past.

You don't live in PA

 

[PittFamily2]

Checkout is obsolete. Digital is the way to go.
I use grocery pickup and use an app called Scan & Go when I shop at Sam's Club which allows my smart phone to check me out. Scan, pay, and walk out. That includes getting spirits, wine, and beer.
Lines are a thing of the past.

About 2% of food shoppers use your method.
How do I know that I asked one of the Giant personal shoppers clad in the green shirts who put orders together for people to pick up.
The manager said 2% of the shoppers use this method for the reasons I listed below.

Because:
You cant see all the brands or new in the store items with the digital delivery or pickup
You cant see the sale items that our in store only not in a digital circular.
Its difficult to use store or mfg coupons.

We save a lot of money using coupons.

Also in the large PA liquor stores the wine section is great so we search around for $ 50 bottles reduced to $ 15 or maybe $ 20.
Or $ 20 bottles reduced to $ 10.

Other times we buy five liquors of one brand and get $ 4 off per bottle. This is only available in store at PA liquor stores.

Lots of bargains for those who want to go to the store. Nice people too!

You cant do that digital check-out.

Many years ago I met my wife in a food store. Well after we met on the ski slope she was my racing instructor. But the payoff was after the second meeting in the food store.
Still great pick up places.
Go during the day, husbands or boyfriends are working, they just got the kids off to school, they're bored when I was single it worked great for me.

 

[martingale]

You don't live in PA

There are Sam’s Club in Pittsburgh and Walmart in Pittsburgh offers not only grocery pick up but now is testing home delivery (they will stock your pantry and fridge with your permission). Furthermore, Amazon is building stores that checkout goods and charge you as you leave the store.
As for the alcohol, change the foolish laws. Technology is making these protectionists laws even more useless.

 

[martingale]

About 2% of food shoppers use your method.
How do I know that I asked one of the Giant personal shoppers clad in the green shirts who put orders together for people to pick up.
The manager said 2% of the shoppers use this method for the reasons I listed below.

Because:
You cant see all the brands or new in the store items with the digital delivery or pickup
You cant see the sale items that our in store only not in a digital circular.
Its difficult to use store or mfg coupons.

We save a lot of money using coupons.

Also in the large PA liquor stores the wine section is great so we search around for $ 50 bottles reduced to $ 15 or maybe $ 20.
Or $ 20 bottles reduced to $ 10.

Other times we buy five liquors of one brand and get $ 4 off per bottle. This is only available in store at PA liquor stores.

Lots of bargains for those who want to go to the store. Nice people too!

You cant do that digital check-out.

Many years ago I met my wife in a food store. Well after we met on the ski slope she was my racing instructor. But the payoff was after the second meeting in the food store.
Still great pick up places.
Go during the day, husbands or boyfriends are working, they just got the kids off to school, they're bored when I was single it worked great for me.

You can do that in digital checkout. Just not with Giant Eagle.
Digital shopping is changing the entire shopping experience.

Check out SnG at Sam’s Club, Walmart Home Grocery Delivery, the Amazon Go Store. Those are examples of the future in digital retail. Giant Eagle is not.

 

[recruitsreadtheseboards]

Shopping ain't that hard.

 

[PittFamily2]

I like the scenery of shopping.

 

[martingale]

Shopping ain't that hard.

Most of these digital tools augment the brick & mortar shopping experience rather than replacing it. Why should I wait in line for checkout, deli, bakery, etc.. when I can use a digital app to replace that?
Moreover, they improve the experience. Need help in finding the Irish butter? Rather than wait for an employee, ask the app which can tell you where it is, if it's in stock, add it to your cart and potentially recommend a good wine to go with the Rack of Lamb in your cart.

Applications that reduce my wasted time (such as waiting in lines..) allow me to put more time into things I enjoy.