Collection of short message cards posted online

Q:

The salad bar, which is served during certain hours, is supposed to be weighed on a scale installed at the register, but I'm wondering why there's a weight-like object on the scale that's "set to the weight of a plate." Does this mean that the object is the same weight as a single plate? If so, the object should be placed on the scale, the scale should be set to zero, and then the object should be removed from the scale and weighed.
I'd appreciate an answer as to what the object's intended purpose is.

A:

Regarding your inquiry, we sincerely apologize for our lack of explanation.
The salad bar scale at the register is set to weigh up to three plates at a time, subtracting the weight of three plates from the scale for ease of operation. Therefore, if you order one or two plates, we place a weight equivalent to the number of plates on top to measure the weight. We sincerely apologize for our lack of explanation. We have added an explanation to the scale at the register, as shown in the attached photo. We appreciate your continued support.

Q:

I had a katsudon made fresh, which reminds me of Komaba.
Regarding the size of rice bowls, if the only thing that changes depending on the size is the amount of rice, please state this clearly in an easily visible place.
Also, please make sure that nutritional value is clear to people other than those who use the cafeteria money.

A:

Thank you for using Ginkgo Metro Shokudo. We apologize for the long wait as we reopen after approximately three years.
We apologize for the confusing labeling of our katsudon and oyakodon. We have remained closed. We will be placing POP displays in the menu display case.
Regarding nutritional information, we apologize for any inconvenience caused by the large-scale system changes in the National University Co-op Group. The University of Tokyo Co-op has submitted a request for improvement. Please wait a little longer. We appreciate your continued patronage.

Q:

I have a green "Co-op Voucher" (University of Tokyo Consumer Co-op), and I'd like to use it at the Travel Center.
I'd like to use it for Shinkansen and limited express tickets.

A:

It can also be used to purchase tickets, so
please ask a staff member when purchasing.

Q:

I tried to apply for membership with the Co-op online, but I found it extremely inconvenient that I could only upload my ID in jpg/gif/png format. The iPhone's native functions don't support converting to these file formats, so I'd like to see an improvement to allow uploading in jpeg format. While it's currently possible to convert to the specified file format using a third-party service or a PC, considering the risks of uploading my ID to a third-party service and the hassle of having to take my PC out, I would really like to see jpeg uploads made possible

A:

We have modified the program
so that you can upload in jpeg format Please try again.

We apologize for any inconvenience caused
and thank you for your valuable feedback.

Q:

I would like to ask about the new cash registers that were introduced on September 1st. I understand that you are having difficulty adapting to the new machines at your co-op facilities, especially in the cafeteria. I apologize for asking this question when you are already struggling to adapt, but I have three questions regarding this

What is the cause?
It could simply be that people are not used to the new machines and are taking longer to operate them, or there could be a malfunction in the system, but I have heard from cashiers that they are slower to respond than the previous machines, and after observing them a little, I have noticed that a deterioration in the user interface of the machines themselves is also a cause, such as the requirement to enter a PIN number for credit card payments, a slower printing speed of receipts, and an increase in the number of operations due to the switch to tablets. Regarding this point, I would like to hear from those who actually operate the cash registers about their views on how the Co-op perceives the cause, taking that into consideration.

-Are there any current countermeasures?
If there are any countermeasures being implemented or being considered to address the above causes, we would like to hear about them.

- Is there any plan to improve the time efficiency of the cash registers and bring them back to previous levels by the start of the school term (early October)?
If the school term begins as it is, we expect the cafeteria and store to be much more crowded than before. Frankly speaking as a user, if this happens, using non-co-op facilities will be a realistic option when time is tight. Therefore, I understand that the start of the school term (around October 3rd) is considered one possible deadline for improving the situation. Is there currently a timetable for improvement? If the problem is due to familiarity or a malfunction, there is room for improvement, but if it's a problem with the machine itself, a fundamental solution will likely be difficult. It's only been a short time since the problem was discovered, but I would like to hear your current thoughts on the cause and countermeasures.

Please feel free to answer only the parts you are able to answer, so thank you for your consideration

A:

Thank you for your continued patronage of the University of Tokyo Co-op. We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience caused by the cash register replacement. Thank you for your inquiry. Below are our responses, primarily regarding requests regarding the Central Cafeteria. We sincerely apologize for the delayed response.
I. Regarding the Cause: 0) The first day of the cash register replacement arrived before we were fully accustomed to the changes and fully prepared. 1) There was a mistake in changing the UI (order of the food menu) for the cash register operation screen. Previously, cash registers operated menu screens on the cash register panel specific to each cafeteria. When the Central Cafeteria was replaced, the default display screen was set to a standard one, significantly increasing the number of steps required to access the menu. 2) After payment is made at the cash register, there is a time lag due to the panel operation required to welcome the next customer. Multiple button operations that were not necessary with the previous cash register have been added, causing time lags and stress. 3) The time lag when linking the cash register to the Stella Terminal (multi-payment terminal) and the requirement to enter credit card PIN numbers are factors.
II. Regarding countermeasures: 1) Screen operation is expected to improve as we transition from a standardized screen to a uniquely reorganized UI for each cafeteria. 2) We plan to change the system specifications so that it automatically transitions to the initial screen after cashier payments. 3) We plan to eliminate the need to enter credit card PINs up to a certain amount. The time lag between the cashier and the Stellar Terminal is a design issue, and there is currently no solution.
III. Regarding the timeline for when A semester begins: 1) Improvements are expected during the week of September 12 (at the Central Cafeteria). 2) We have been informed that the system specifications will change and it will not be ready in time for October 3rd. 3) A revision will be implemented around September 15th to eliminate the need to enter PINs up to a certain amount.
Furthermore, we have found that cafeteria money and cash payments are relatively quicker, as they do not require a Stellar Terminal. We will consider separating cafeteria money-only registers from cash-only registers, and taking measures to encourage the use of cafeteria money. While we do not have a clear timeline for when A semester begins, we will continue to make the necessary improvements. We apologize for any inconvenience caused and appreciate your continued support.

Q:

The previous method of paying for the Gakushoku Pass using a transportation IC card was quite convenient, so why did they switch to an app? Problems include the need for a smartphone, the requirement for multiple registrations and logins within the app, poor signal reception at the Hongo Central Cafeteria, and the need to launch the app before making a payment. It seems unnatural to require a smartphone for the Gakushoku Pass, which previously only required a deposit and enough money to be deposited into the Gakushoku Pass. Furthermore, this transition was carried out arbitrarily and quickly, without any consideration for student opinion, and it clearly shows a disregard for users. Second, the app requires multiple logins. Since students already have a Gakushoku Pass, additional registrations and logins should be unnecessary, and this feels like an unnecessarily cumbersome process. Third, the Hongo Central Cafeteria has poor signal reception due to structural issues, and even if the university's wireless network is used, it is expected to be crowded during peak hours. Finally, it could potentially complicate the cash register process. Using the app requires multiple operations, such as unlocking the smartphone, logging in, selecting payment options, and selecting a cafeteria pass, which is expected to make the cafeteria even more crowded during peak hours, even with the one-touch cafeteria pass. I
would like to know why they made such a detrimental change that no student wanted. I hope they will return to the system using transportation IC cards.

A:

Thank you for your continued patronage of the Co-op. Thank you for your comment. We apologize for the inconvenience caused by the transition from Gakushoku Pass to Gakushoku Money. The Gakushoku Pass system was linked to a POS register (manufactured by Toshiba TEC) that was used jointly by not only the University of Tokyo Co-op but also many other university co-ops in the Tokyo area. As part of a major system overhaul across the nationwide university co-op group, including the Tokyo area, the registers will also be changed. The Gakushoku Pass system, which was previously only used in the Tokyo area, has also been updated to a smartphone app: Gakushoku Money. We apologize for the inconvenience this system will cause our members. While the transition from Gakushoku Pass to Gakushoku Money is due to the nationwide system overhaul, all previous features (cashless use at co-op cafeterias, limited use for eating in, and viewing usage history and nutrition information on your personal page) will remain the same. In the future, we plan to implement point rewards for individual items, events, fairs, and other events. Additionally, the Co-op sells food items such as lunch boxes and drinks not only in the cafeteria but also in the store, but after the transition to the cafeteria money system, the scope of use has been expanded to include food items at the store. By promoting the spread of use between the cafeteria and the store, we hope to alleviate congestion as much as possible. Finally, we would like to individually consult and provide support to members who do not have smartphones but currently use the cafeteria pass. From a system perspective, we believe it is necessary to consider using and paying via methods other than smartphones. We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience caused by the system changeover. We appreciate your continued support

Q:

Regarding checking your balance after transferring from Gakushoku Pass to the app

I still can't check my previous balance on the app, but I wonder if I'll be able to check it from the "Payment" section on September 1st. My balance isn't displayed on my Univcoop My Portal, so I'm worried about how to check it

A:

The final remaining balance of your Gakushoku Pass up until August 21st can currently be viewed on the traditional Gakushoku Pass My Page. As of August 22nd, the payment service for the Gakushoku Pass has been suspended, so please rest assured that there will be no changes to your remaining balance. The remaining balance will be transferred via the system, and you will be able to check it by logging in from September 1st using the "Payment" button. Please be aware that there has been a delay in providing information on payment and deposit methods and history confirmation

We apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused. We will notify you via in-app notifications before you can start using the service, so please wait a little longer

Q:

I took advantage of a bundle fair and noticed that the amount on the receipt didn't add up, and then

A:

We sincerely apologize for not fully informing you
about the current discount calculation method All University Co-op stores will be updating to a new cash register system starting September 1st, which
will calculate discounts in increments of 1 yen.
With the changeover to the new registers, some University Co-ops will be offering points instead of cash discounts
, but the University of Tokyo Co-op will continue to offer cash discounts.
Until the update (until the end of August),
we will post information about how discounts are calculated near the registers.
is scheduled to be posted when stores open on August 4th.

Based on your feedback,
we plan to revise the information provided when joining the co-op.

We will strive to provide more accurate information about the expressions and descriptions we have used up until now

Q:

Regarding the abolition of the Gakushoku Pass service.
It seems that the Gakushoku Pass service will be discontinued, but I feel there has been insufficient explanation as to why. Please explain the rationale for discontinuing it, what advantages the app has over the Gakushoku Pass service, and why the Gakushoku Pass service cannot replace it. Also, while there are likely a small number of subscribers who do not own smartphones, it is unfair to unilaterally discontinue the Gakushoku Pass service and ask them to switch to the app without providing any alternative measures for them. I believe an explanation is needed for this as well. I look forward to your sincere response.

A:

We apologize for any inconvenience caused regarding the transition from cafeteria pass to cafeteria money

The Gakushoku Pass system was linked to a POS register (Toshiba TEC) that was used jointly not only by the University of Tokyo Co-op but also by many other university co-ops in the Tokyo area. As part of a large-scale system overhaul across the nationwide university co-op group, including the Tokyo area, the registers will also be changed, and the Gakushoku Pass system, which was only used in the Tokyo area, will be revamped and made into a smartphone app. Since the services that have been provided through the Gakushoku Pass will continue to be available even after the overhaul, we have decided to ask members to switch to Gakushoku Money. We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience this system switchover will cause our members

As mentioned above, the transition from Gakushoku Pass to Gakushoku Money is part of a nationwide system renewal. However, the existing functions (cashless use at the Co-op cafeteria, use limited to eating, and viewing usage history and nutrition information on the My Page) will remain the same. In the future, we plan to implement point rewards for single items, events, fairs, etc.
Furthermore, alleviating congestion at cafeterias during peak lunch hours at the University of Tokyo Co-op, particularly at Komaba, is a pressing request from members.
We believe that the increasing number of Gakushoku Pass holders and the fact that the Gakushoku Pass is limited to cafeteria menu items are also contributing to this congestion. Since the Co-op sells food items such as bento boxes and beverages not only at cafeterias but also at its stores, we hope to expand the use of the pass to include food items at the stores after the transition to Gakushoku Money, further supporting on-campus dining. By promoting the spread of use of cafeterias and stores, we hope to contribute to reducing congestion.

Finally, we would like to consult with and provide individual support to members who do not have smartphones but are currently using the Gakushoku Pass. From a
system perspective, we believe it is necessary to consider methods of use and payment other than smartphones.

Q:

Tosho Card Next is being sold at a discount at discount shops, so to help reduce the burden of book costs for students, we would like you to consider the following:

1. Negotiate with major discount ticket shops (such as Ticket Ranger, J Market, or Ticketty) to have them install a book card vending machine in the university bookstore and have the shop replenish the book cards as needed. Alternatively, you can take on consignment sales from the discount ticket shop and sell them to students at a discounted price at the bookstore counter

2. The University of Tokyo Co-op will purchase Next Book Cards in bulk from major gift certificate shops at bulk rates and sell them to students at the University Bookstore (and faculty and staff if there are any surplus). In this case, it would probably be necessary to obtain a secondhand goods dealer license under the Secondhand Goods Dealers Act, but since they are planning to obtain a license in order to start trading in computers, I think the hurdle is low

I would also like them to consider other products sold at discount ticket shops that would be useful to students, such as JAL and ANA shareholder discount tickets (for going home, etc.), stamps, and JR Orange Cards (some major discount ticket shops sell stamps at a discount of nearly 20%, while Orange Cards are discounted by nearly 10%). Students can
use discount ticket shops on their own, but because they are small individual customers and therefore cannot qualify for bulk rates, and because shipping costs can be a burden for small transactions, I would like the university co-op to handle these items in bulk.

Q:

You asked if we could sell them at a discount like the book cards sold at gift certificate shops. We apologize for the delay in responding, as we had to check the purchasing conditions of the gift certificate shop based on the information you provided. The bottom line is that
it would be difficult to sell the book cards at a discount even if we purchased them from a gift certificate shop.
The reason is that if we were to purchase the book cards from the gift certificate shop you provided information
about, the purchase price would be higher than the purchase price of a new book card, once the costs involved are taken into account.
co-ops also incur certain costs in running their business,
making it difficult for us to sell the cards at the purchase price.