Shaw's

Marty gives an online attaboy to the guy he spotted doing the Macarena in the baking aisle at the Allston Shaw's when the song came on the PA yeterday:

... Who knew people still knew how to do that one?

Spatch details just how bad these things are:

... I'm not sure who designed the checkout points of purchase at Shaw's supermarkets, but I'm willing to bet it was a friend of the lowest bidder who designed the Charlie Card machines. There are so many stupid little user interface problems with things that it's amazing any actual currency-based commerce is conducted successfully there on a daily basis. I think we'd be much better off going back to the bartering system, only I'd hate to be out of chickens when I need to buy more toilet paper. ...

Oh, yes, he also wishes to have a word with the idiot who designed the self-checkout lanes at Shaw's.

Earlier:
The world's most annoying credit-card devices.
Why the Shaw's card readers suck.

Marc Stober, a programmer, concludes that the problem with those stupid card readers at Shaw's and Star Market is not stupid programming but bad hardware:

... Theoretically you can touch "Yes" on the touchscreen - I've actually gotten this to work before they started with the tape and notes–but the touchscreens are so flighty that it hardly ever reads your response (or reads it as "No"), so the only reliable way to complete the transaction is to use the Enter button. ...

He also discusses problems with Stop & Shop's card readers.

Earlier:
The world's most annoying credit-card devices.

Chris sides with Whole Foods Markets in the whole only-in-Massachusetts Thanksgiving Blue Laws controversy:

... Thanksgiving or no, is there any doubt that one would rather work there than at a Shaw's? Or a question for those who think the blue laws are a lefty, stick-it-to-the-bourgeoisie provision: Which is worse: shopping somewhere on a national holiday or being so price sensitive that you encourage companies to squeeze every ounce of wage from their workers?

Earlier:
He says: Boycott Shaws

Borderline says stay away from Shaw's one day over the next month for ratting out Whole Foods Markets over its proposed Thanksgiving opening (surprise: We still have some Blue Laws):

... Never mind that the Blue Laws are a relic from a different age, and that there thousands of ancient laws on the books that are never enforced, either through official ignorance or deliberate inaction. Whole Foods wanted to stay open, was willing to pay its staff extra to come in on that day, and many consumers in Newton and Waltham may have wanted to go there to buy a last-minute something for Thanksgiving dinner. ...

One suspects Dan will not be joining in, since he finds Whole Foods trying to force employees to work on Thanksgiving pretty obnoxious.