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☆ People are going crazy over how this self-checkout pronounces 'organic bananas'
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-08 | by ( Alexandra Bacon | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

TikTok users are reveling in how a Stop & Shop self-checkout pronounces "organic bananas." AdvertisementThe robotic voice of a Stop & Shop self-checkout has the internet cracking up in how it pronounces "organic bananas." The company even commented on the video, saying: "We just feel really passionately about ~organic bananas~." The comments on the organic bananas video spurred the user to post more TikToks of the self-checkout pronouncing different products. "Organic bananas" has, at least, provided some respite from self-checkout security and given social media users a laugh.

Persons: —, Everett, bok choy, They've Organizations: Service, Business

☆ Boeing’s Starliner launch delayed for valve replacement
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-08 | by ( Ashley Strickland | Jackie Wattles | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —The long-awaited first crewed mission of Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft will be delayed for more than a week after engineers identified an issue that halted launch preparations on Monday. Starliner’s next opportunity to lift off on its maiden voyage from NASA Kennedy Space Center in Florida is at 6:16 p.m. Veteran NASA astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore had already taken their seats aboard the Starliner capsule when the operations team called for a scrub Monday night about two hours before launch. NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore, right, and Suni Williams will remain in quarantine until the launch. Terry Renna/APWilliams and Wilmore have each ventured to space on two previous journeys aboard the NASA space shuttle and Russian Soyuz missions.

Persons: Starliner’s, Suni Williams, Butch Wilmore, Tory Bruno, Bruno, Williams, Wilmore, SpaceX’s, Terry Renna, Bill Nelson, “, Butch, Suni, Nelson, —, ” Williams Organizations: CNN, NASA Kennedy Space Center, Veteran NASA, United Launch Alliance, Atlas V, NASA, Cape Canaveral Space Force, Kennedy Space Center, Boeing, International Space Station, Russian Soyuz, Mercury, Gemini, Apollo Locations: Florida, Russian, United States

☆ Boeing’s Starliner set for historic astronaut launch after delays for years
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-25 | by ( Jackie Wattles | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

CNN —After years of delays and a dizzying array of setbacks during test flights, Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft is finally set to make its inaugural crewed launch. “This is history in the making,” NASA Administrator Bill Nelson said of the upcoming Starliner mission during a March 22 news conference. Missteps riddled a Starliner test flight the prior year, leaving NASA and Boeing officials scrambling to figure out what went wrong. SpaceX’s Crew Dragon has been flying routine trips ever since, carrying NASA astronauts and even paying customers and tourists. On May’s inaugural crewed flight, Boeing will instead use a “perfectly acceptable mitigation” that should prevent the valves from sticking, Nappi said in March.

Persons: CNN —, Suni Williams, Butch Wilmore, ”, Mark Nappi, “, we’ve, Ken Bowersox, SpaceX’s, Bill Nelson, “ We’re, Boeing’s Starliner, Bob Behnken, Doug Hurley, Steve Stich, we’re, ” Nappi, Stich, Nappi, — Williams, Wilmore, —, ” Wilmore, Williams Organizations: CNN, NASA, International, Boeing, SpaceX, International Space, Alaska Airlines Locations: Florida, —, Starliner’s

☆ Now you can put your Botox on Affirm
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-24 | by ( Katie Notopoulos | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Buy now, pay later company Affirm is starting to offer loans for elective cosmetic procedures. Advertisement"Buy now, pay later" company Affirm has identified a new category for growth, according to a new report from Reuters: elective medical procedures like Botox, nose jobs, and even dental treatments. Buy now, pay later options like Klarna and Affirm have become ubiquitous at checkouts on e-commerce retail sites for some time. I know: It can be hard to sympathize with someone who's using lip filler they can't afford by putting it on Affirm. But go back to what it's actually being used for: "cosmetic treatments, dental services, medical devices, and veterinary procedures."

Persons: It's, —, Klarna, Pat Suh, Affirm's, BNPL, it's Organizations: Service, Business Locations: San Francisco

☆ I shopped at Trader Joe's daily until Aldi won me over. I finally understand why people love the chain so much.
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-24 | by ( Kate Collins | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Read previewBefore I shopped at Trader Joe's, I was never loyal to any one grocery store. That's why when I worked near Trader Joe's, I stopped there daily. I also began to notice how long the Aldi produce he bought lasted in our fridge. It didn't feel cramped like Trader Joe's, which made browsing easier. Just like the seasonal items that stoke Trader Joe's fandom, Aldi's Finds are ever-changing and quirky.

Persons: —, Joe's, I'd, Adam McCullough, Shutterstock, Aldi's, I've Organizations: Service, Business, Aldi, stoke Locations: Aldi

☆ Store worker of 20 years was fired for not paying for grocery bags at the self-checkout
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-18 | by ( Alexandra Bacon | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

An employee of a UK grocery chain was fired for not paying for grocery bags at checkout. He reportedly took multiple bags which each cost less than $1. AdvertisementAn employee of the UK grocery chain Sainsbury's, who had worked there for nearly 20 years, was fired after he didn't pay for plastic grocery bags at self-checkout, the BBC reported. The employee reportedly purchased £30 ($37) of food, pillows, and bedding from the store after working the night shift. When he went to pay at the self-checkout, he clicked "zero bags used" despite having used multiple bags.

Persons: — Organizations: Service, BBC

☆ Biden’s manufacturing industry is expanding, but that could be bad for inflation
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-07 | by ( Bryan Mena | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

But a resurgence in the industry could complicate the Federal Reserve’s ongoing inflation fight, either delaying the first interest rate cut or resulting in fewer cuts this year, some economists say. Interest rates have been at a two-decade high since July, after the Fed raised rates aggressively over the prior year and a half. The economy picking up further strength would spook Wall Street because of what it means for interest rates — and some manufacturers say they’re optimistic about the future. The Bank of Canada announces its latest interest rate decision. China’s National Bureau of Statistics releases March inflation data.

Persons: Joe Biden, ”, Tom Barkin, “, Mary Daly, ” Daly, Jerome Powell, Neel Kashkari, ” Kashkari, ” Richard de Chazal, Blair, they’re “, Amazon’s, It’s, Ramishah Maruf, Amazon, haven’t, Read Organizations: Washington CNN, Institute for Supply Management, Congress, Fed, ” Richmond Fed, ” San Francisco Fed, Minneapolis, Dow, Blair Equity Research, Amazon, Fresh, Delta Air Lines, US Labor Department, Index, Bank of Canada, Federal Reserve, National Bureau of Statistics, Constellation Brands, European Central Bank, JPMorgan Chase, Citigroup, State, National Statistics, The University of Michigan Locations: Richmond , Virginia, ” San, Las Vegas, India, Wells Fargo, Progressive, BlackRock

☆ CNBC Daily Open: Disney wins proxy showdown
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-04 | by ( Clement Tan | In Clemtan | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

This report is from today's CNBC Daily Open, our international markets newsletter. CNBC Daily Open brings investors up to speed on everything they need to know, no matter where they are. Nick Caldwell, now chief product officer at Peloton, is claiming Musk and X "cheated" him and other executives out of a combined $200,000,000 in severance benefits. This lawsuit is similar to the one filed by other Twitter executives, including ex-CEO Parag Agrawal, claiming they were owed $128 million in unpaid severance. [PRO] Autos winnersA Tesla short-seller named two auto stocks that he believes have the potential to deliver 100% upside for investors.

Persons: Robert Iger, Mickey Mouse, Jerome Powell, Steve Cohen, David Einhorn, Elon Musk, Nick Caldwell, Parag Agrawal, Tesla Organizations: Walt Disney Company, New, Children's Hospital, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, CNBC, Dow Jones, Intel, Nasdaq, Fed, U.S, Elon, Twitter Locations: Children's Hospital Los, Los Angeles , California

☆ CNBC Daily Open: Disney wins proxy fight
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-04 | by ( Clement Tan | In Clemtan | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

This report is from today's CNBC Daily Open, our international markets newsletter. CNBC Daily Open brings investors up to speed on everything they need to know, no matter where they are. Korea leads AsiaKorea led stock market gains in Asia-Pacific on Thursday, with markets in Hong Kong, China and Taiwan shut for a public holiday. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is also due to visit China again later this year. [PRO] Autos winnersA Tesla short-seller named two auto stocks that he believes have the potential to deliver 100% upside for investors.

Persons: Robert Iger, Mickey Mouse, Korea's, Jerome Powell, Steve Cohen, David Einhorn, Henry V, Janet Yellen, Antony Blinken, Tesla Organizations: Walt Disney Company, New, Children's Hospital, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, CNBC, Nikkei, Dow Jones, Intel, Nasdaq, Fed, Treasury Locations: Children's Hospital Los, Los Angeles , California, Korea, Asia Korea, Asia, Pacific, Hong Kong, China, Taiwan, U.S, Yellen, China U.S

☆ Amazon’s cashier-less technology was supposed to revolutionize grocery shopping. It’s been a flop
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-03 | by ( Ramishah Maruf | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

But now, Amazon is walking back its “Just Walk Out” technology at its grocery stores, reining in grand promises of an automated, friction-less checkout. Customers just haven’t bought into cashier-less technology, especially in grocery stores where they purchase larger quantities and face extra tasks such as weighing produce. Customers entered Fresh stores using Amazon One palm recognition, the app or a credit or debit card. Amazon Fresh strugglesThe tech giant opened its first Amazon Fresh store in 2020, and has more than 40 locations across the US. But Amazon Fresh has faced setbacks since it debuted, including challenges getting shoppers to buy groceries in its Amazon Fresh grocery stores, and it laid off workers.

Persons: Amazon, haven’t, ”, they’ve, Andy Jassy, “ We’ve, Nathaniel Meyersohn, Moira Ritter Organizations: New, New York CNN, Amazon, Fresh, CNN, Dollar, Walmart, Costco, Foods Locations: New York, India, Washington, Chicago, Southern California

☆ Amazon's Just Walk Out technology relies on hundreds of workers in India watching you shop
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-03 | by ( Alex Bitter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Read previewAmazon's Just Walk Out technology had a secret ingredient: Roughly 1,000 workers in India who review what you pick up, set down, and walk out of its stores with. But Just Walk Out was still very reliant on humans, The Information reported on Tuesday, citing an unnamed person who has worked on Just Walk Out technology. The revelation comes as Amazon is planning to replace Just Walk Out at Amazon Fresh stores with its Dash Carts, The Information reported. Twenty-seven of the 44 Amazon Fresh stores currently have the tech. Do you work for Amazon Fresh or Whole Foods and have a story idea to share?

Persons: — Organizations: Service, Business, Amazon's, Amazon, Fresh, Foods, Aldi, Dollar Locations: India

☆ Why we don't actually know whether retail theft is a big problem
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-26 | by ( Alex Bitter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

But a new report suggests we don't know whether organized retail crime is a big problem or not. "Organized retail crime," "retail theft," and similar terms don't correspond with categories that local police departments use to categorize crimes, Hanna Love, a fellow at Brookings, told Business Insider. It's unclear what makes organized retail crime "different than, say, other instances of shoplifting" from a data perspective, Love said. The NRF has said that it took back the estimate due to an error by an outside analyst who contributed to its report on organized retail crime. About fourteen states passed new laws on retail theft in 2022 and 2023, Stateline reported in December.

Persons: —, Hanna Love, Love, James Kehoe, William Blair, Target's, it's, Sebastian, Stateline Organizations: Walmart, Walgreens, Service, Target, National Retail Federation, Brookings Institution, Brookings, Retail, The New York Times Locations: States, Brookings, San Francisco, Indiana, Fairfax , Virginia

☆ Five Below is the latest chain to retreat from self-checkout
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-21 | by ( Grace Dean | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Some stores have switched to an associate-assisted checkout format, where staff scan the items. At stores with the most shrink, staff are also checking receipts and there's more security. NEW LOOK Sign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . AdvertisementRetailers have been rethinking their self-checkout strategies over concerns that they're facilitating theft.

Persons: —, Joel Anderson, Anderson Organizations: Service

☆ Target to limit self-checkout to 10 items or fewer as Walmart also adjusts
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-15 | by ( Rob Wile | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Target is set to limit the number of items that can be purchased in its self-checkout lanes to 10 items or fewer. Some self-checkout lanes may also close entirely at certain hours depending on foot traffic patterns, it said. Target said it would be also be opening more traditional lanes staffed by team members. Customers at certain Walmart locations may start to notice changes to self-checkout lanes. As the number of shoppers and associate staffing increases, these stores open self-checkout registers to manage the increased customer flow.

Persons: I'm, Brian Cornell Organizations: CNBC, Walmart Locations: Queens , New York

☆ Dollar General is taking checkout back out of your hands because of theft
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-14 | by ( Alex Bitter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Dollar General is pulling self-checkout options out of 300 stores. The dollar store is also getting employees involved again at thousands more. AdvertisementRival dollar store chain Dollar Tree said Wednesday that it would close 1,000 stores under its Family Dollar brand, citing theft as one of the factors it considered when deciding which stores to close. Since then, Dollar General has used AI to evaluate its self-checkouts, he said. AdvertisementDo you work at Dollar General, Dollar Tree, or Family Dollar and have a story idea to share?

Persons: —, Todd Vasos, Vasos, isn't Organizations: Service, Walmart, Dollar Locations: reassessing

☆ Theft just keeps getting worse for Dollar Tree
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-13 | by ( Alex Bitter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Dollar Tree says theft will remain a problem at its stores well into 2024. Dollar Tree is closing about 1,000 Family Dollar stores, it also said Wednesday, a result of a review of the brand that has been months in the making. Theft was one of many factors that Dollar Tree considered when it decided which locations to close, the executives said. Last year, Dollar Tree locked some items up and put others behind checkouts to deter would-be shoplifters. Do you work at Dollar Tree, Family Dollar, or Dollar General and have a story idea to share?

Persons: —, Richard Dreiling, Jeffrey Davis, Davis, Dreiling Organizations: Service

☆ I worked at a popular hotel chain for 3 years. Here are 10 common mistakes I saw guests make.
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-06 | by ( Dani Quesnel | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Read previewI worked at a hotel chain that was always busy — during peak tourist season, we were sold out most nights. Companies like Marriott, Hilton, Choice Hotels, and IHG have thousands of hotels worldwide that you can earn points to redeem for free hotel rooms and gift cards at popular retailers. AdvertisementTrying to use someone else's credit cardYou need a credit card to check in, and it should ideally be your own. Monkey Business Images/ShutterstockHotels only allow you to use someone else's credit card if the card owner has provided the hotel with a credit-card-authorization form. AdvertisementShowing up without a credit card or IDHaving an ID is crucial for a smooth check-in process.

Persons: —, you've, I've, That's, Marriott, Justin Sullivan, there's, I'm, John Smith's, John Smith, they've Organizations: Service, Business, Companies, Marriott, Hilton, Choice, Getty Locations: It's

☆ $100,000 of goods were stolen from Home Depots across Florida in an organized self-checkout barcode switching scheme, the state's attorney general says
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-20 | by ( Grace Dean | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

download the appSign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. Read previewThree people are facing grand theft charges after more than $100,000 of goods were stolen from Home Depot stores in Florida by swapping out the barcodes for lower-cost items at self-checkouts, the state's attorney general said. On Home Depot's website, the roof sealer currently retails at $119 for a 0.9-gallon bucket or $349 for a 4.75-gallon bucket. Moody's Office of Statewide Prosecution charged Popat with one count of grand theft over $100,000, and Abad and Baglin with one count of grand theft over $20,000. Now, this group faces our Statewide Prosecutors and time in prison, where I can promise there is no self-checkout line."

Persons: —, Ashley Moody's, Vicky Popat, Christopher Abad, Christopher Eduardo Baglin, Henry 887 Tropi, Abad, Moody Organizations: Service, Home Depot, Statewide, Business, Statewide Prosecution, Depot, Statewide Prosecutors, Midwest Locations: Florida, Home, South, Central Florida

☆ TikTok divided after a woman said she didn't tip her hairdresser despite over 7 hours of work and loving the results
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-17 | by ( Lindsay Dodgson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Read previewA woman left people divided after she said she did not tip her hairdresser for 7 ½ hours of work, despite saying she was "the best braider" she'd ever had. She said the cost worked out to $46 an hour and that the hairdresser did not have to commute because she worked from home. Many people think tipping is a way of saying thank you, Justice said, but she didn't see it that way. Advertisement"To me, saying thank you is how you say thank you," she said. Some were vehemently on her side, saying that the tip was definitely included in the cost of the service.

Persons: —, Justice, commenter, rebook — Organizations: Service, Business

☆ A woman says she was asked to tip for her massage before it even began — a sign tipping culture is 'out of control'
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-15 | by ( Lindsay Dodgson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Read previewA woman says she was asked to pay and tip her massage therapist before the service, an ordeal that left her feeling uncomfortable. "I'm more than happy to tip, but I feel like tipping nowadays is just getting out of control." I'm fine with paying full price. I'm fine with leaving the tip. "I'm happy with paying the full price and the tip, but I just don't appreciate being made to feel bad for what I am able to tip right now."

Persons: —, Taylor Stewart, Taylor Stewart Stewart, Stewart, I'm, I'd, that's, doesn't, That's, they're Organizations: Service, Business, of Service Research Locations: America

☆ People are divided over a woman saying she didn't tip her hairdresser for 7.5 hours of work despite loving the results
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-13 | by ( Lindsay Dodgson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

AdvertisementA woman left people divided after she said she did not tip her hairdresser for 7.5 hours of work, despite saying she was "the best braider" she'd ever had. Justice previously called out "tipping culture" in a video posted in December last year, saying it was "out of control." Justice said many people think tipping is a way of saying thank you, but she didn't see it that way. Advertisement"To me, saying thank you is how you say thank you," she said. Some were vehemently on her side, saying that the tip was definitely included in the cost of the service.

Persons: —, Justice, commenter, rebook — Organizations: Service, Business

☆ Target is limiting self-checkout hours in some stores as the retailer continues to battle missing inventory
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-13 | by ( Dominick Reuter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

download the appSign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. Read previewTarget’s self-checkout reckoning continues as the retailer is cutting the hours of operation for self-service lanes at some of its stores. The move does not yet include all of the company’s nearly 2,000 locations, but employees told Business Insider that store staffing levels and sales volumes are key factors in the decision. In particular, Target is aiming to keep the percentage of overall store sales through self-checkout below a certain threshold, the workers said. This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers.

Persons: — Organizations: Service, Business, Target, BI, Workers, Walmart, Kroger Locations: Illinois, Oklahoma, Michigan

☆ How T.J. Maxx's polarizing food aisle lures shoppers into spending more
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-11 | by ( Grace Dean | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Some shoppers are skeptical about T.J. Maxx's food aisle and whether the products are good quality. AdvertisementThe internet doesn't know what to make of T.J. Maxx's food aisle. T.J. Maxx sources from vendors you've probably never heard ofGo to your local T.J. Maxx and chances are you'll find an aisle lined with pink Himalayan salt grinders, bottles of coffee syrup, and boxes of gourmet chocolates. Maxx's food is an "unplanned extra" that catches her eye on the way to the checkouts, she said. Maxx's food is an "unplanned extra" that catches her eye on the way to the checkouts.

Persons: Maxx, —, TikTok, It's, Grace Dean, Aneesha Sherman, Bernstein, Sherman, Fiona Fitzpatrick, Fitzpatrick, T.K, they've, Maxx doesn't, you've Organizations: Service, Maxx, Business Locations: Maxx, Spain, British

☆ Aldi is the latest grocery store to use a rival version of Amazon's Just Walk Out tech
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-08 | by ( Alex Bitter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Aldi is reportedly testing checkout technology similar to Amazon's Just Walk Out at a store. The technology, from startup Grabango, has been used at a Chicago-area Aldi store since November. AdvertisementAldi is the latest retailer to add in-store technology that functions like Amazon's Just Walk Out checkout system. Like Amazon's Just Walk Out, Grabango's technology allows customers to download an app on their phone and add their credit card information. AdvertisementHave you visited the Aldi store in Aurora and have a story idea or insight to share?

Persons: — Organizations: Aldi, Retailers, Service, Amazon, Foods, Grabango, Business Locations: Chicago, Aurora , Illinois, Aldi's, North Carolina, Aurora

☆ A grocery store chain is limiting how many items you can buy at its self-checkouts as concerns over theft mount
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-31 | by ( Grace Dean | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Read previewMidwest grocery store chain Schnucks is putting a cap on how many items customers can buy at its self-checkout. From Thursday, self-checkout lanes in all Schnucks stores will be limited to customers buying 10 items or fewer, the retailer confirmed to Business Insider. This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers. "While the primary intention is to improve customer service and checkout efficiency, we do expect there to be some benefits to stopping theft," Schnucks said in a statement. "Because self-checkouts are more susceptible to theft, this item limit will help us maintain our costs while keeping the prices lower for our customers."

Persons: —, Schnucks, it's, Todd Vasos Organizations: Service, Business, Retailers, Walmart Locations: Missouri , Illinois , Indiana, Wisconsin

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