Brico Depot Rant

[Hotrodder]

Is there anyone out there who is still renovating and/or engaging in DIY? Accessing DIY materials is not easy around here and usually entails a trip to Brico D at Morlaix or St. Brieuc. Because of the energy sapping heat in recent weeks I haven't been out shopping for quite some time. This week I went to the nearest Brico D and eventually found a few items I wanted and trudged back to the checkout. When I got there it was all changed. A mish mash of metalwork where the till lanes used to be. No active tills. While I stood there wondering what to do a woman approached me with a rapidfire question that I couldn't follow. I held up my purchases (heavy tins of paint) and asked where do I pay. Another rapid sentence and a point toward what was similar to the "self checkout" sections in supermarkets. I don't play that game. There were more staff there than I have ever seen before. One at the entrance. Two behind a desk at the end of where the tills used to be. One standing in the self checkout area (because they assume you are a thief trying to beat the system) and the one that was loitering about that spoke to me. In the aisles during my search there were six to eight either stacking shelves or moving about trying to look busy.

In the end I placed my items on the floor and made my way past the obstacles betweem me and the exit doors. Making a mental note I will never buy there again. Has anyone else noticed this change at their local branch?

[Blaze]

I've never been to Brico Depot because I've never seen one !
Our nearest Leroy Merlin has a mixture and there are always staff on hand to help if you need it. In principle we prefer to deal with a person on a till, but if the queue is too long, we go to the self check-out. We do the same in supermarkets.

[RobertArthur]

Where have all the bricoleurs gone? Good question. Here in the Nièvre promises of an even bigger Weldom, replacing the old supermarket of ATAC. The end of the old building. Promises of a more modern bricoshop, more surface, more DIY items.

I'm afraid they've shifted from almost everything you need for the DIY in the direction of petits travaux. And styling secrets for the interior design. Outside more interesting styling examples, take a seat. For the real stuff we have a PointP here in Corbigny, no problems.

And still two ordinary cash registers, the same cashiers, familiar faces.

[Blaze]

Goodness ... I've never heard of Weldom !
Just looked it up and whilst there isn't one in Saint Malo, there are others within a reasonable distance !

[curtis]

I'm sorry that you had a wasted journey.
It's not helped if you can't communicate sufficiently.
Unless you know what is going on it's unfair to accuse people of pretending to work or loitering.
I don't have a problem with the self serve it can often be much quicker and having someone present can be a bonus if things don't work. And that often happens. The supermarkets lose a lot on the self serve sections so I am happy if someone is there.

[Sparkle]

We use La Maison in our village that used to be called Point Vert (there are severalof these stores around this area) Run by very friendly local folk. We signed up to a fidelity card and collect a few discounts. We have this week received in the post a paper carrier bag that you can fill to bursting with anything you want (bar a few exceptions) and then get 15% off everything in the bag. We did this a couple of months back - OH put the biggest tin of 3V3 paint in the bag along with screws and other bits by the time he got to the till the handles gave in and the bag ripped apart - the assistant laughed and still gave us the discount Can't fault them.

[exile]

Not Bricodepot but their grown up partner Castorama:

They also have moved to self check outs but retain a few, largely unmanned, tills with a person attached. Like it seems most others I go to the manned tills.
My German card has a PIN but before it is fully activated I have to go to a branch of the issuing bank (ie back in Germany) to validate it. Until then it asks for a signature, like we did in days of yore.

On this particular day, Casto was rammed and the 2 of 5 manned tills had huge queues. I was invited to use the self service and told the assistant that my card would not work there. She insisted and pushed my trolley into the self check out area. All checked through, ready to pay and guess what, the till would not accept the card. "Well now I have lost my place in the queue, thank you. Perhaps I should drive to Leroy Merlin." She opened a manned till to take my purchases.

[Hotrodder]

Those who like self service can use them but I refuse to do it myself while someone watches to make sure I don't cheat. All they are doing is saving money by omitting the cashiers. Like having a "smart phone" in my hand 24/7, I'm not going to self-serve just to make someone else richer. I don't swallow the BS that this is progress.

[Blaze]

@Hotrodder The supermarkets in our area have a limited number of items for the self-checkout which means people only buying a few things don't have to wait behind people with a trolley full. Sounds pretty good to me. People are more likely to be attracted to a supermarket if they know they can get in and out quickly - that's good business policy.

As far as having a staff member standing there, it's not watching you don't cheat, I've always found them very helpful and patient if the machine plays up. Of course they have to keep an eye on customers - remember that just because you may not be dishonest, many people are. Supermarkets and shops lose a fortune in shoplifting. I was lucky enough to be present at a talk by a Marks & Spencer store detective - the inventiveness of shoplifters is jaw-dropping.

[RobertArthur]

@ Blaze, OK, a fight against shoplifters. After being singled out several times for further inspection at the self-checkout (too slow, too precise, not smiling?) with bystanders watching with interest, I've had enough of this service. I'd rather queue at the checkout. And I'm not afraid of smartphone use. Reason? I always have an excellent little camera with me to take pictures. Not as detailed as with the new Google Pixel 10, but enough for my snapshots (thirsty cat). Plus incidental use as a real phone or browsing the internet.