Dear WalMart, Target, Home Depot and all other stores with self-checkout

[Orrex]

29. Everyone talks about self-checkout screwing people out of their jobs, but is it?

I'd like to see hard data on that, because everything I've seen and heard so far is suppositional and anecdotal.

It may be that self-checkout leads to attrition, with stores not hiring cashiers to replace those who've left, but is it common practice for stores to terminate cashiers specifically because self-checkouts have been installed?

In any case, that whole objection is a red herring. If an employee costs the company a nickel a day, the company will use any excuse to eliminate that employee if it saves that nickel. Doesn't matter if it's a self-checkout or shelf-stocking robot or a trained ostrich taking out the garbage; if the corporation can do it cheaper, they will.