What's a fruit?
 

Mercadona have implemented a nice weighing system for fruit and veg.

The first choice you have to make on the screen is Fruit or Veg.

I note that pimientos and calabacin are classed as vegetables rather than fruit.

Any idea why that should be?

Re: What's a fruit?
 

All part of improving the customer experience.

Technically they are "fruits" as the seeds are inside. Same goes for cucumbers, squash, green beans and walnuts.

Perhaps they ought to have two machines.

One for Botanists and one for housewives.:eek::rofl:

Re: What's a fruit?
 

Don't see the point of it myself.

The old system was simpler, quicker and easier for all concerned IMO.

Re: What's a fruit?
 

Fruit, calabacin or pimentos? Where? It will be in the UK...

Re: What's a fruit?
 

Yes. I'm guessing It's because shoppers aren't pedantic. To them a fruit is something sweet and a veg is something you use in savoury cooking. As a pedant myself, I recognise the symptoms and think we should both get over it :D

Re: What's a fruit?
 

:nod:

Re: What's a fruit?
 

This is were the first apple came from.. http://weeklyworldnews.com/headlines...of-eden-found/

Re: What's a fruit?
 

Eroski have had DIY weighing for years. Saves loads of time at the checkout. Tesco take note.
A tomato used to be classed as fruit (when I say "used to be", I mean about 2 centuries ago.). Peppers are the same family as tomatoes.
Reminds me of a quotation which says:
"Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is fruit; wisdom is knowing not to put it in a fruit salad".

Re: What's a fruit?
 

What a load of tosh! What's worse is that it completely ignores the actual work that's been done to find the DNA sequence of the original apples. More religious tosh!

Re: What's a fruit?
 

Hate to be boring, but several writers/scientists have named the regions of Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan & Tajikistan as being probably the area of the 'origin' of apples:
Geoffrey Moorhouse "Apples in the snow"
Roger Deakin "Wildwood"
Edward Hyams "plants in the service of man"

Don't want to detract from Tommy & Irene's humour though.

Re: What's a fruit?
 

I call Poe on that article.

Surely?:confused:

Please?:(

Re: What's a fruit?
 

Mercadona have always had DIY weighing (at least the last 10 years anyway) but before these new scales were introduced, you had to take note of the code number assigned to each item and enter that when weighing your fruit or vegetables, now it's just a touchscreen operation with pictures. Still seems to be confusing some customers, though!

Re: What's a fruit?
 

Did you read it and didnt get the joke.. It was posted to liven up the thread..ha.ha..
:rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl:

Re: What's a fruit?
 

I still say the number system is both easier and quicker.
First you don't have to waste time with the fruit or veg option even if it's obvious, then you don't have to search a screen looking for the appropriate article, as the numbers are set out in order and easily spotted at very first glance.
Watching other shoppers use the new screens also gives me that impression.
I'd be interested to hear if anyone thinks the new system is better and why ?

Re: What's a fruit?
 

How long since you were in the UK:confused: Takes no longer at the till than putting a tin of beans through:thumbup:

Re: What's a fruit?
 

Super post, Don't mention the Bible, I mentioned it once but I think I got away with it!:D

Re: What's a fruit?
 

Go every 3 months to visit mother; our system works well till the young girl/boy cannot seem to find the relevant fruit or veg.
I bet over the course of a year the time saved with the Spanish system would be significant.

Re: What's a fruit?
 

The Mercadona system works fine. The only problem arises when someone arrives at the till not having realised they should have weighed their stuff. It's usually tourists.

Re: What's a fruit?
 

Apart from tourists, it seems to be mainly older people who are having problems with the new Mercadona system. I think I must be heading that way myself, whenever I'm back in the UK I avoid the self-service check-outs like the plague. I hope they never catch on here.

Re: What's a fruit?
 

They have them in Ikea in Spain:eek: I don't think they can save much money for the company - there is always an assistant there to help. Don't see the point.

Re: What's a fruit?
 

I love the new Mercadona system, it gives you the illusion that you're in charge. Lidl's vegetables are better but it's a cold-hearted place without soul, as is Aldi.

Re: What's a fruit?
 

I'm still waiting of someone explaining to me how the new system can be any better than the number system which I think was both faster and easier.

Yours truly confused. :confused:

Re: What's a fruit?
 

I know I'm something of a Luddite, but I hate the idea of those wifi payment systems too, where you just wave your credit/debit card past the scanner. They even have them in newsagents so people can pay for things like newspapers and cigarettes with them. The possibilities for malfunction/fraud seem endless, to me.

Re: What's a fruit?
 

I'm not sure how the old system can have been faster, as it involved touching the screen twice to enter the code number. The new system just involves touching the screen twice too, once for fruit or vegetable, and once on the appropriate picture. I find the new labels rather better, less likely to get scrunched up when you stick them to the bag.

Re: What's a fruit?
 

The system I remember from Mercadona only required touching the screen once. A picture and number combination

Re: What's a fruit?
 

Ah well, there you go, my memory's obviously failing. Told you I was heading that way!:rofl:

Re: What's a fruit?
 

Where we are Our Lidl staff are friendlier than the Mercadonna ones.
Anyone else had any experience of German companies just not getting the idea of helpful criticism? I've really tried with my major supplier and although I can be a bit 'honest' about reasons why I and others may wish to switch brands (when others just switch without saying anything) They just decide any comment makes you an enemy. Not the first time I've had unhelpful attitudes from German manufacturers. The rest of the world fall over themselves for your support. The Germans put their product in front of you and stare at you. That attitude won't keep them successful in the long run. Sorry for the tangent.

Re: What's a fruit?
 

I'm more familiar with Consum where you simply touch one number once, NOT twice and you don't have any hassle looking at two different screens because there are no screens and it's done in a split second.:thumbup:

Re: What's a fruit?
 

I think I might have sorted out the Mercadona screen confusion.

With the old system there were in fact no screens. Firstly you had to find your product on a set of pictures above. When you had found it you touched it and wasted a few seconds wondering why the ticket didn't come out. After several seconds you realised that what you were supposed to do was hit a button on keyboard below with a number that corresponded to the one on the picture above. You wasted a few more seconds by glancing over your shoulder to make sure nobody has seen your foolish mistake. You turn back to hit the right key but of course in your confusion you have forgotten which number it was and have to search for it again on the picture board. All very confusing and time consuming.

The new system is far simpler and quicker. You do indeed have to touch the screen twice. First, you have to choose between Fruit and Vegetables. This might confuse some I suppose, especially as they are not actually correct about which is which. You then have to choose your product. This I find quite easy as there are far fewer on each screen than previously.

I find the new system far superior.

Re: What's a fruit?
 

...and to think that in another thread people are hinting about Spain being a forward thinking country:lol:

Re: What's a fruit?
 

Yet still not so quick and simple as the Consum system which has been in use for yonks. :p

Re: What's a fruit?
 

Is there anything backward thinking in allowing everyone regardless of age, race,income language etc to choose the quantity and quality of their own fruit and veg. And even giving them the option to put it back if it comes out too expensive? You Lol too quickly, without ever thinking of others needs 'ms Too'

Re: What's a fruit?
 

You can actually do that in waitrose...should you feel the need...get over yourself. Anyone else passes through checkout rapidly.

Re: What's a fruit?
 

You're better off getting your sole or plaice at the fish monger!

Re: What's a fruit?
 

Really? There's a Waitrose in Spain? And would my rural neighbours choose that over Mercadonna for price anyway?

Re: What's a fruit?
 

:rolleyes:

Re: What's a fruit?
 

lidl and Aldi don't have an in-store fishmonger, unlike Mercadona. That's why they're soulless, sole less places.

Lidl do tins of delicious herring in red pepper and mustard sauce and thousands of calories.

Re: What's a fruit?
 

Oddly, the Lidl at Palmones does have an in-store fishmonger but it's the only one I've seen.

Re: What's a fruit?
 

I've always found Mercadona to be soulless in it's own way.

Sort of shallow have a nice day phoney American style friendliness combined with big sell.

I find more genuine and sincere friendly approach in many of the others, except of course the two you mention.

Re: What's a fruit?
 

So as for the "Fruits" having the seed on the outside, which fruit has the seeds on the outside?