(英会話リスニングスクリプト)
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.
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