| The
customer then enters these numbers on a small keyboard, inserts the total amount
of money and waits as "Robo" goes to work. Robo,
a sort of mechanized bucket, whizzes along behind the display cases and stops
in front of each item, which is then dropped into the bucket. Robo
knows how to choose the biggest items first so that a big bottle of after-shave
won't be dropped on a carton of eggs. In a matter
of seconds the groceries are dropped through a small door to where the customer
is waiting. "RoboShop is everybody's dream,"said
Mr. Kanetsuka, the owner. His company saves money
on employee salaries and passes on the savings to consumers. A
can of coke is almost 20% cheaper than in most other retail stores in Japan. However,
just down the street at the MiniStop convenience store, the manager wasn't worried. "I
never see anyone there," he said. "A computerized
store will never be as good as one staffed by efficient people. People just aren't
used to not having other people around," he added. |