Self checkout registers

[Jazzy]

How do you feel about self checkout registers?

 

[Lamb]

I love using them! I know that so many people are disgusted by having to scan things themselves, but it actually gets me out of the store quicker and I watch more carefully to make sure the price is correct. Usually a check out person wants to chat, and I'm not a small talk type of person.

 

[Stravinsk]

I use them when I'd have to wait to be served by a person. Otherwise, I prefer to be served by an actual human. For starters, it keeps people who might otherwise be unemployed in a job. Secondly, I see them as a stepping stone to a fully automated AI system that employs few, if any, and eliminates the human element in favor of an draconian control system. Imagine a fully digitized system without cash and fully automated. Sorry, your social media displayed displeasure with the government. You also have not gotten your vaccine/booster for the Zeta variant. You may not purchase potatoes this week as our records indicate a 2 demerit infraction. Please return when you have satisfied these requirements and remember we are here to serve!

 

[tango]

I hate them. They might work OK if you only have a couple of items but any more than that and I just wouldn't use them.

What's really fun is when you throw something into the bag only to realise it didn't scan, so you end up trying to remember what did scan and what didn't so you can scan it correctly. If there are more than a small number of items already there that's the kind of situation that would probably prompt me to just abandon the entire cart and leave it there. If a shopping experience annoys me enough it's far from unknown for me to just abandon whatever I had collected.

One thing I have absolutely zero interest in doing is standing in line to prove to someone that I did their job correctly. As far as I'm concerned the store can either check me out or trust me to check myself out.

 

[Forgiven1]

I agree with Lamb here. Even in my area, you may have to wait in line to use them, but they are still quicker than the lines for a cashier. At least in these lines, you go to the first available scanner which makes the line go much faster.

 

[Albion]

I feel okay about them, but I'd only use them for six or seven items at the most and none of those that sell by the pound and have to be weighed.

My main reservation is that each store has its own brand of machines, so if you're unfamiliar with just one procedure in the check-out process, you're stymied and have to wait for help.

 

[Lees]

How do you feel about self checkout registers?

I hate em.

Their purpose is not to make your experience better at the store. Their purpose is to save them money by not having to hire employees and pay for their possible medical and SS and insurance etc. etc.

In other words, they are making you work for them for free. Think about that next time you check yourself out.

A friend of mine was in line to be checked out by a real person at wal-mart. He was approached by another employee of the store who said he would gladly show him how to use the self-check out line. My friend looked at him and said, " if I wanted to be an emplyee of wal-mart I would put in an application." I second that.

In our area wal-mart has changed to almost all completely self-check out. Another local store which is big enough to compete with wal-mart, has a few self-check outs but maintains a large number of regular employee-check outs. And they move fast. It doesn't matter what time of day or how large the amount of groceries one has. You are in and out.

The result: walmart is almost silent when you go there for lack of customers. The local store is always booming and noisy.

Nobody likes working for nothing.

Lees

 

[tango]

I feel okay about them, but I'd only use them for six or seven items at the most and none of those that sell by the pound and have to be weighed.

My main reservation is that each store has its own brand of machines, so if you're unfamiliar with just one procedure in the check-out process, you're stymied and have to wait for help.

Yes, and as soon as you have to wait for someone to come and help you might as well stand in line at the regular checkout line.

I find the general noise of the self checkout machines annoying as well. I don't really want to be surrounded by a dozen machines all saying much the same thing, over and over, at very slightly offset times. Paying with cash is worth avoiding as well - if a machine struggles with a note that was folded or rolled up or something it jams, and then you have to wait for someone to come and unjam it, and then if you don't have another means of payment you pretty much have to either abandon the purchase or stand in line to pay a real person.

 

[Jazzy]

I’m probably the least anxious person in the world, but I’ve just walked away from a self checkout register and left everything there.

I’d scanned a huge load of groceries and then the damn thing told me to take the last item out of the bag. I’d already scanned it. I tried replacing it a couple times and shifting the weight distribution on the bagging area. I didn’t want to just put it back in my cart and look like I was stealing. Finally it said I had to wait for an attendant, but there was nobody there. I waited what felt like five minutes holding my cucumber (or whatever it was) like an idiot with no employees in sight and then I decided “screw this place” and walked out. There’s nobody to check me out, but I guess they have to find someone to restock all this stuff.

 

[tango]

I’m probably the least anxious person in the world, but I’ve just walked away from a self checkout register and left everything there.

I’d scanned a huge load of groceries and then the damn thing told me to take the last item out of the bag. I’d already scanned it. I tried replacing it a couple times and shifting the weight distribution on the bagging area. I didn’t want to just put it back in my cart and look like I was stealing. Finally it said I had to wait for an attendant, but there was nobody there. I waited what felt like five minutes holding my cucumber (or whatever it was) like an idiot with no employees in sight and then I decided “screw this place” and walked out. There’s nobody to check me out, but I guess they have to find someone to restock all this stuff.

Yep, and if you had anything chilled or frozen in there they may have to throw it away because they don't know how long it has been out. Still, not your problem. If I abandon a shopping cart I don't care about the wastage or the time it takes someone to put everything back - if they want my money they can make shopping a less annoying experience.

 

[Albion]

I’m probably the least anxious person in the world, but I’ve just walked away from a self checkout register and left everything there.

I’d scanned a huge load of groceries and then the damn thing told me to take the last item out of the bag. I’d already scanned it. I tried replacing it a couple times and shifting the weight distribution on the bagging area. I didn’t want to just put it back in my cart and look like I was stealing. Finally it said I had to wait for an attendant, but there was nobody there. I waited what felt like five minutes holding my cucumber (or whatever it was) like an idiot with no employees in sight and then I decided “screw this place” and walked out. There’s nobody to check me out, but I guess they have to find someone to restock all this stuff.

Well, that's the "rub." Sometimes the process goes smoothly. That encourages you to use the self-check aisle the next time you have only a few items and the other aisles are crammed with people. BUT THEN, something unexpected occurs and there is no way to rectify it short of having some employee come to help out--which, as you said, doesn't always happen. I do use self-check at times, and I'd never use it with a "huge load of groceries," but it's still always a gamble.

 

[tango]

Sometimes it's tempting to take a seat in the employees' break room. Since apparently I work for the company now it seems reasonable that I should get some of the perks of working for the company...

 

[Joshua1Eight]

I prefer it when I only have a few items. But I get really annoyed when I have a lot of items, especially a lot of produce, and there’s almost no cashiers to check me out. I don’t want to use self checkout for a cartful of items. Too much work.

 

[Josiah]

What Stravinsk said in post #3....


I realize that some stores (especially grocery stores) work on very thin profit margins and look everywhere on how to save a dime.... and I concede that self-check outs are faster and save the store money, BUT....

I like people.
I like engaging with people and talking with people.
I find people preferable to machines (even if slower and less efficient at times).

SO...

I not only avoid those two new "self-checkout" lines at my grocery store BUT I actually look for a cashier that I like. Even if that's not the shortest line. A cashier that smiles and is able to engage in a bit of friendly talk WHILE checking me out. Heck, I've even been known to talk to people also in line for that.


But I confess... I've been in a hurry and used those (especially at COSTCO when the people lines are way back there and I need to be on my way. But generally....



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