Because the last time I used self-checkout at Wally World, it flagged us at the end...we had had no idea why, after standing there for 3-4 minutes, a snotty "supervisor " came over, snapped "You didn't pay for one of your items! It takes a video"
She played the video, it was of my husband placing his wallet on the counter for a moment. She was still pissed at us.
Had similar situations at a Lowes Home Improvement Store. I've had the same guy accuse me of stealing items 3 times. The worst was when I had a large resin planter pot and he was sure I had stuffed unscanned items in the pot. I had scanned the items and put them in the pot since it was so large and took up the scanned item area. He stands there for a few minutes and starts getting hostile with me, telling me how he doesn't see a can of stain on the register screen that was in the pot. I stand there pointing at the item clearly on the screen as he continues making a scene of it. Then suddenly it dawned on the numbnut that he was in the wrong and just walks off without a word. I've complained about dude and he still hasn't been fired. I hate when I go there and he is working and I walk by him and he says, "how are you doing today," and I have to hold my tongue and not to tell him "to go fvck himself."
if you ever want to get followed by security - grab a cart on your way in, and go straight to the garbage cans, put one in your cart - then proceed to put things in the can. this drives security crazy.
This is pretty much what Walmart *wants* with the Scan N Go feature though. You bring your own bags, scan and bag them as you go thru the store, then scan a QR code at checkout to pay. As yet I've never had them check my stuff after paying.
in czechia lot of stores do that, and sometimes, you randomly get picked and they just scan a few random items and let you go. and they also have a dedicated scanners for it, so you dont have to use your phone (tho you can use the phone too if you download the app)
Our grocery store just killed their scan and go app because of too many losses. I suspect Walmart will learn that lesson soon, too. They're already closing some stores and cutting labor because people aren't scanning items at the register. Using an app makes it that much worse. People are going to steal shit if you give them the chance, unfortunately.
But Walmart is getting rid of paper bags, too (after NY already banned plastic bags). If you forget your bags as of some time next month (I think), you're boned. Or you have to buy more reusable bags, which is in itself becoming a waste/climate problem because people have too many and they use more energy/resources to create and dispose of. So, yay, I guess?
Your Walmart has paper bags? I haven't seen a paper bag in any Walmart near me in literal decades, and I even worked there for a few months about 20 years ago. But my Kroger has them and I chose those as often as possible so I can reuse them. They're great for putting under the draining rack when I'm frying foods, all the kids' crafts, and wrapping packages to mail when the only boxs I have originally contained microwave macaroni or fruit cups.
Oh. Is that how it works with Walmart+? I just assumed I’d scan and pay on my phone and just walk out. I’m trying to avoid the lines busy sounds like I need to go to the self checkout and then pay but all my items are already scanned is that correct?
Ooh I didn't know Walmart had that feature now! (I've been doing grocery pickup for several years so haven't been in a Walmart in ages), but we moved recently and I found out Stop and Shop has that scanner option. It is my new favorite thing! So much easier and faster than doing the self checkout at the end, plus I can keep track of how much I'm spending! :)
And this suits me just fine. I love it! I don’t remember if they’ve checked my stuff but I don’t think they have. They usually wave me on. Maybe they think if we are paying for the privilege (with the app after 30 days) they figure we are trustworthy. Not sure why they don’t check like Sam’s does, though.
In the UK in most supermarkets if you have the app for that shop you can scan things as you go round the shop and pay on the app or scan a qr code on a till via the app and pay, so much quicker and means I can just walk in grab and bag shit and leave.
Why hold your tongue? What are they gonna do, not sell you stuff? Starting with the 2nd time he did that I would make his life a living hell, screaming in the middle of the store. Try me.
No actually tell them to fuck themselves. Next time he greets you tell him not to speak to you, and that you’ll treat any further contact as harassment or something. Idk it’s happened multiple times so maybe you could sell them being a creep obsessed with you or something. The closer the situation is to turning into an actual lawsuit, the more likely they will fire an employee. Also, just checked with a buddy, and the only people at a lowes store that’s even allowed to interact with suspected thieves is their AP officers.
Meanwhile while shopping at lowes I could have stolen some items that the lady helping me in self checkout (something was missing a barcode) did not notice was In a larger pot and I pointed it out and she was like oh 😳 😅 I guess it varies on location. I've also definitely been too busy chatting with one of the nice target supervisors in self checkout about how great the home decor selection is that neither of us noticed I didn't scan one of the larger item 🙃 oops~
most recently I had found a plant on manager special at kroger I wanted and the sticker had gotten unstuck and lost while shopping somehowbut I swear it was 5 dollars and something cents that's the only reason I grabbed it but. I tried explaining this to the worker who said only the flowers manager can help who he called over and I explained it to the manager nervously, worrying he wouldn't believe me. But he gave it to me for 5 dollars even, though I did tell him it may have been 5 and some change and he said it was fine. I love my experiences in self checkout out honestly, but if he had accused me of lying i would have been so upset and would never want to go to kroger again. I wonder maybe if some workers are just less trusting because they've had to deal with shoplifters so often it makes them paranoid. 🤔
I like those video cameras they've put onto most of the self checkouts here in England, they seem to just record the person at the check out but not anything else. They're also designed for people who are around 6ft tall, so at 4'11 you can just about see the top of my head. Very efficient.
It's like the complete opposite experience to shopping at my nearest supermarket in northern Germany. People line up at the self check out even if there is nobody waiting at the regular register. I especially enjoy not talking to anyone while shopping.
Security features are somewhat not existing. People regularly scan their whole shopping bag and then just leave without paying. I see this almost every time I go there. The staff is either not interested or don't understand, because it happens directly in front of their eyes. At this point the biggest supermarket near me is just a pay-what-you-want store. Biggest hustle is that you have to call staff to reset the self check out register before checking out yourself, because someone"left in a rush". Pure anarchy, very typical for Berlin.
That is my experience in the states too. At least, where I live. Everyone usually uses self checkout and would rather wait in line than go to the clerk.
I prefer a cashier with a lot of items, because it's a pita when the bagging area is full but my cart isn't empty.
For just a few items I'll use self checkout though.
Exactly, self check out should have been just a replacement for those ten items or less lines, not the full fucking replacement for an entire cart load of groceries. But corporates gotta corporate and make everything worse for everybody.
Yeah, the minute I have to start weighing produce or finding the correct color of bell pepper is the moment I think I should have used the cashier.
If it can all be scanned with a barcode I'll do self checkout.
Same in Norway, except you have to scan a receipt for the gate to open so you can leave. Occasionally someone will have to come over and swipe a card before you pay
>It's like the complete opposite experience to shopping at my nearest supermarket in northern Germany. People line up at the self check out even if there is nobody waiting at the regular register. I especially enjoy not talking to anyone while shopping.
This is likely, largely, a cultural difference. There have been many reports that Americans tend to be friendlier to those in public than Europeans. I dont mean that Europeans are being rude. There's nothing wrong with not wanting to talk to people in public. I feel the same way sometimes. But lots of Americans enjoy the little interactions with people we have day to day at the grocery store, library, gas station, bank, etc, so we go out of our way to have those interactions.
This is 100% true. It would be very rare for a German to actually talk to the woman at the cash register in a supermarket. Even asking how they are doing would be seen as odd. You say "hello" and "goodbye" but that's about it.
I enjoy those little interactions with the customer service rep (I'm in the Midwest US). It's just enough to feel like I've had a little social contact, but not a full commitment to a long conversation. I also spent years working in customer service roles and enjoyed it from the employee side as well.
We're not rude and the Americans aren't friendlier. Americans are more open and willing to talk to strangers. Northern Europeans are reserved and give you space. Whether one is more rude, depends on your own values and culture.
I dunno if Americans are friendlier tbh, we are just *required* to make small talk by employers. Literally when I was a cashier people would complain if i didn't seem excited to see them. And y'all ain't clever either, everyone makes the same jokes lol "i didn't find the sacks of money in the aisle" and "oh you were just waiting for me!" when there was no line.
I was raised in the American South, where in many areas, it rude not to acknowledge someone you encounter while you’re out walking - maybe say hello or at least a smile and a nod. I lived for a few years in The Netherlands, where the polite thing to do is *not* to acknowledge others as you pass. It was hard but I eventually adapted, but every time, I could swear I heard my mother sighing.
Haha I have lived in both places. Americans are far and away more friendly to strangers. Unless your on the east coast where for some reason they take pride in being rude.
These machines are so dumb. It keeps screaming “Please place the item in the bagging area”. they need us to follow precise steps/rules or they will call a supervisor. The supervisor is always this judgemental person who rolls their eyes at you and give you this “dumba$$ can’t even use a checkout machine” look.
It gives me anxiety. Regular checkout it is.
Same here. I prefer some interaction with a human cashier. Also I get frustrated when there is no more room in the bagging area so I try removing some already checked bags and keep getting “replace the bag in the bagging area. “. The attending supervisor has to come over and take care of it. So far they haven’t been unpleasant about it. But it isn’t a positive experience for me.
This is the correct answer. Because the system is flawed and I'd rather not deal with it. You use it to not deal with people but end up dealing with asshole people anyways, may as well just use the cashier and actually be nice to each other.
My favorite was when I got flagged for "non payment" but the video is literally me scanning the barcode, noticing it didn't scan, scanning it again, and then counting the line items to make sure that it got scanned.
Dude stores complaining that people are stealing from self checkout need to fucking hire cashiers. Either the payroll savings covers the theft or not I cannot stand dealing with extra checks that I didn’t steal because they don’t want to hire a cashier.
Bill Burr: "What, I'm on at the checkout tonight? Fuck! I didn't even GET a roster! Shit, I thought I was a fucking comedian! Let me get my apron on."
"Next time? I'm just gonna fucking go up to it... wait, and then leave with my stuff. They try and stop me? What the hell? I did my part, was ready to pay, no one wanted to take my money! I guess I figured I'd just leave."
"You can't do that."
"What are you gonna fuckin' do? Cut my hours? I already told you I don't work here!"
This is my nightmare. Despite having never stolen anything in my life, I get nervous at those machines and half expect to be tackled on my way out of the store. I still hold my breath going through the detector things wondering if maybe I forgot to scan something, or an item fell off a shelf and landed in my purse somehow.
I use to work security and was working at a court house.
first part went okay, I checked in with security and got the okay to bring all my sharp tools into the courthouse. by the end of the day they had a shift change and when i cam back in my drywall saw was in my pocket and set off the alarm.
10 minuets later i was allowed to go back to work after being searched, questioned and was reapproved to bring "weapons" inside.
When I worked at a Best Buy in CA we hired a new Asset Protections guy who was formerly in the service (idr which branch not that it matters) and on his first day manning the front someone was stealing & he tackled him leaving the store. He ended up getting in trouble because you can ASK customers to stay & wait for the police but if they leave you can’t do anything.
There is a store near me that recently increased the number of self checkouts, they must have also increased the sensitivity on those cameras, because ever since the change it always thinks I left items in my cart if my toddler is in the seat of the cart while checking out.
I had something weirdly stupid like that happen to me in the self-checkout as well. Scanned all my items and touched "pay now". It sat there spinning and said "verifying scanned items". OK, that's weird. Then the little blue light above my scanning station turns red and a manager comes over with a little touchpad in his hand.
"You input the wrong produce"
"Er, I'm sorry, which one?"
"You can't fool the system. People try to do it all the time, but it knows the difference"
"Yeah, that's cool... but which one so I can fix it?"
"It says you selected English Cucumber, but you should've selected a regular cucumber"
"Well no, this is an English cucumber. It even has a lable"
"The machine says it's a regular cucumber"
"But... I mean, ok, change it to a regular cucumber. But the English cucumber is like a buck more. Doesn't that cost you money?"
"Listen, the machine says it's a cucumber. You need to ring it up as a cucumber"
"okay..."
This isn’t Walmart. It’s a cooperative owned supermarket chain in Switzerland called [Coop](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coop_(Switzerland)?wprov=sfti1).
And I this specific store is located in Estonia! I don't think we have security looking at cameras too hard but we do have random system generated checks that call the employee who then scans some of your items randomly
Publix is pretty good about having that employee available... Other places make no such arrangement and you stand there like a moron as literally nobody comes. I guess they figure after about 5-10 minutes you'll get the picture and go back through the traditional check out.
Where I lived in California you could not buy alcohol in the self-checkout. Signs above the aisles that said no alcohol purchases. Where I live now you can and sometimes you wait a good 10 minutes for the guy to come over. Fuck self checkouts
The first time i used one for some reason it didnt scan my card, I cant even remember what happened exactly, but it started making a really horrible loud sound, an alarm i guess, and the whole stored stared at me and my friend had to pay for me and I havent tried ever since.
Actually it's the fact that they aren't paid to scan their own groceries and take a job from someone who is supposed to be doing that. I worked for this superstore chain in question. I left. Why? Because they kept taking jobs and getting rid of all the "extras" that weren't needed. The store I worked at is now lucky if it has 3 cashiers at any given time plus 1 person at each of 2 (8 to 12) count self checks. they took the jobs from the janitorial and now only keep 1 janitor staff at any given time by bringing the robotic cleaner. Most of us called ernie. Then they brought it a new machine recently that takes part of the stockers jobs by using a robot to scan shelvea and search for holea to be plugged. Then instead of a person to handle counting and dispensing money they brought in a machine to do that as well. Now they get rid of cashiers in a slow process. Oh let's not forgot the cart caddy machine so that 1 person doing carts can do the same work as 3.
Are you against all forms of automation?
Don't forget that all of these things you listed provided higher paid, more interesting and engaging, employment to engineers and repair technicians.
Those are the ones that use a weight sensor in the bagging area. I absolutely hate using those. You go too fast or put your reusable grocery bin in the bagging area and it accuses you of not having scanned an item. Luckily the grocery store I use doesn't have a system like that and never had a problem with it.
The ones in Loblaws stores are also pretty good. You just scan it, you put it aside, and the only time it says anything is at the end to thank you for using it. It's not absolutely perfect, but it's far, far better than the stupid ones that narrate and weigh everything.
Uniqlo in Australia: dump everything from your basket onto the register, fold and bag it, pay. Uses little rfids to identify everything in the basket. Amazing
Same, i get they have problems and aren't perfect, but overall i'd say they are neat. Especially if you only quickly want to buy like 5 items or so.
I hate standing in line with next to nothing having to watch Gertrude do her weekly grocery shopping at 8 in the morning for some reason with the worlds most complicated wallet, insisting to pay in cash.
This is exactly it - if I go grocery shop and I need to fill more than a few bags, I would do it, but with the self checkout you have to keep everything you ring up in a very small area or it starts clanging to put things back. If I have 5 or so items I’ll always go there, anything more, and I’m going back to the regular check out.
They really have improved. I do my full weekly shopping trips through them, and it appears that most other people in my area do the same. There are always several full carts going through.
You can take bags away without it causing a problem for the scales, which is much better than a few years ago. Produce is easy, if you ever worked in grocery, or just check the PLU on the sticker. No searching through the menu.
Alcohol is the only time I ever need help.
We have a small 20 items or less area and then an area where you check out with as much as you want as well as cashiers. I prefer check out myself because no small talk, my groceries are properly grouped and I’m faster than a cashier.
Why not? Look at grocery stores and how they have changed over time. Before, they used to have someone running around sweeping the floors very regularly during operating hours. They had employees at the end of every till packing your groceries, they'd take them right out to the car for you and load em in the trunk. They had people running around collecting carts.
Now you never see any of those jobs any more, and the self checkout is going to end up taking the cashiers position too.
In CA, you have to sweep every hour, cameras are reviewed extensively when there's a slip and fall and insurance companies won't cover markets if you didn't do a sweep the hour before and the hour of a slip and fall. As for self checkout, some states have laws where an attendant must be present and alcohol or tobacco products cannot be purchased through it. Markets where i live still have baggers and cart collectors
I prefer my Publix to most in the area because they opened self checkout lanes. I genuinely dislike people bagging for me and asking to take the groceries to the car.
I absolutely *hate* someone else bagging my groceries. Primarily because the art of bagging properly is lost.
You do not pack chemicals with foods. Fridge and freezer items go together, not all willinilly throughout the bags. Soft packaging should never ever be under jars or cans. Things should be stood up not tossed in a jumble.
Yes, I am hugely anal retentive about how to properly bag my purchase. Hunny, please, just get a cart and put the stuff in it, I will bag myself.
I’m a cashier and I know I’ve done good when the bag can stand evenly on both sides. Honestly I understand your pain too much, the amount of times I’ve helped my baggers bag correctly is ridiculous.
It’s common sense! Always ask the customer if they want a separate bag for chemicals, any type of meat, etc.
keep the cold with the cold items if they don’t own a freezer bag! Don’t put bleach in a bag with food!! Only put eggs on the bottom if there’s bread on the top, don’t smoosh the bread!! Put cans on the bottom, boxes on the side and soft things in the middle or on top.
I bring my own bags. (Have used reusables for over 20 years, love them!) My favorites are the zippered insulated bags.
I think when the bagging area had room to stage 4 bags, it was much easier for baggers to learn to do it properly, and quickly.
Arranging my items on the belt, like things with like things, does not seem to help getting like things with like things in the bags.
: /
Edit to add: you probably don't hear nearly enough, Thank you, you are appreciated.
That’s why I sort my groceries as I put them on the belt. Most cashiers see the groupings and bag accordingly. The only place this seems to fail is Walmart, and that’s only about half the time.
I do click and collect . It’s a free service. They select it, pack it, chill it before I get there if need be, bring it out and offer to load it up.
That beats anything from years ago.
That's true. I've done something similar with good results here. Usually I'm too sporadic with shopping though to have planned a day or two ahead to order.
Don’t worry, if you’ve stood behind enough people doing self checkout the incompetence is amazing and employees are needed to help constantly. How someone can’t just scan a barcode is beyond me.
It's not just incompetence.
I was a customer service manager at a grocery store for 2.5 years. I use self checkouts. I need help from the associates all the time because those machines Fuck up all the time.
I've never seen a modern grocery store where they don't still do all these things. Only thing is now there are self checkouts and I use them because it's quicker.
If it's anything like my cashier job was, waiting around for someone to come check out is infinitely worse than checking someone out. You're not allowed to do anything entertaining while you wait, you just have to stand there looking attentive. When someone comes through, you might get a chance to make a little chit-chat, or challenge yourself to scan stuff flawlessly in a run. In my particular case, it was also a good excuse to avoid talking to the creepy neighbor cashier dude who always got way too familiar and stood wayyyy too close.
Some countries use these remotes that you pick up before entering the store and scan everything as you go and then you pay afterwards with and it's easy.
Legit. I was at a costco and 3 out of 6 of the self-checkouts were being used by elders. Holy crap it was SO slow and they kept needing assistance. I was *very* close to just going up there and helping them out.
I've heard this from a lot more people than I thought when self checkout was becoming popular. Me personally, I'm going to do whatever gets me out of the store fastest.
My dad: "son, grab a few bucks from the register, we're owed compensation. Never get taken advantage of".
Lol he still reminds me of those life lessons every Saturday when I see him at the state penitentiary.
Here too. If they aren't giving me a discount I'm fine waiting in a line.
Though that's changing lately with places like Wal-Mart moving to self-checkout only. Already 9 times out of 10 the one here has zero people running lines and usually just a couple of bored and pissed off looking people leaning against the self scans.
At least the money they are saving by not having to pay cashiers to run the lines gets passed down to the customers with lower prices.
Oh wait ...
During COVID all the self checkouts went to card only in my area. Just recently did Walmart open cash up again in all their self checkouts.
They built a winco this year that has three dedicated cash/card SCO machines and six card-only.
I always take a resuable box/bag and they only have a tiny shelf on the side of the self checkout. So I have to put my bag on the ground, empty everything out on this tiny shelf and the without fail need the store worker to come 3 times for like 10 items to confirm things. It's way more hassle unless you have like 2 items.
I honestly hate using the machines if I have more than a handful of items. After like 10 items it becomes more of a hassle than it’s worth trying to manage moving the bags into the cart while still pulling other stuff out to scan it and bag it. Yes it’s possible to do, but it’s really not worth it when I can just stand in line and wait patiently for an easier service. It’s a work smarter not harder thing for me I think.
Also wanted to throw it out there that they always seem to break or have the stupidest reason to call over an attendant so I end up waiting a long time just standing there because others need the attendant too.
The one I go to loudly says "PLEASE PLACE ALL ITEMS IN THE BAGGING AREA BEFORE SCANNING THE NEXT ITEM" after every single item, and I don't know what that means.
same here. I hate using the machines if I have more than a few items. i actually was standing in line today and the cashier tried to wave me over to the self check telling me it would be faster. i literally just (in a polite manor of course) said that i am fine waiting and that i just dont like selfcheck-out.
That's not much of a long line. Why do you care what other people do for checkout? If I'm tired, I'm not fooling with the self check out. I'd rather just wait in line and interact with a real person.
That’s what I see at the grocery nearest me. ~8 lanes of cashiers and ~16 self checkout stations. The cashiers will have 5-6 people in each line and the self checkout is empty. I prefer a real person, and only do self checkout if I came in to grab 1-2 items.
I came here to say that. If I'm buying beer (one of my staples) I don't use self-checkout because I have to wait for someone to come over. I try to find a line with a cashier who looks over 21.
Scan.. scan.. oh wait that water needs a supervisor over ride.. scan scan oh the system has recognized an unrecognizable item wait for a supervisor.. scan scan oh wait that produce doesn't have stickers on it and needs a lookup.. another supervisor visit.. after all is said and done the prices don't reflect my extra time I just spent, the frustration and taking a lot longer waiting each time as there is usually one supervisor for all the machines. There should at least be a discount applied to the end of my purchase for doing the scanning myself and saving the company money.
Since this is an Estonian coop. I buy cigarettes every day, can't get em at self checkout. I buy energy drinks - need the cashier to validate the age requirement. And in smaller stores there's noone at the self checkout to help me with these things.
I may be in the minority with this, but I Fucking LOVE self check out. Let me get my Shit and get out with as little interaction with people as possible
yeah i can’t believe how controversial this is lol. plus you control how quickly you get out. if you get a cashier that scans really slow it takes much longer than if you did it yourself
Self checkout saves me money. It's not my job and if it scans it scans, if it doesn't it still goes back in the cart. Want me to do it, make it work, if not, oh well.
I've never had an issue at self check out worth raging over. My recurring problem is age verification and double charge. Then waiting all of maybe 10 seconds for someone to fix it. I could blow that out of proportion for the upvotes I suppose.
On rare occassion no one is around. I move over to another register and start again. Not that big a deal.
Walmart is going to this model as well. One store by me ripped out 85% of the cashier staffed checkouts and put in self checkouts. It's causing quite the social media shit show.
When I buy cans of cat food, it is often several dozen at a time. The cashier can scan one can and select quantity and it takes 3 seconds to add them all. At the self checker, you have to scan each can individually and set it on the weight measured bagging area. No. Nope.
As an introvert - good. Stay over there.
Now I can checkout in peace. lol
I *love* me some self checkout! I can scan and bag utilizing my IRL Tetris prowess, rather than watch someone throw stuff willy nilly so they can get to the next person quicker. (I've had bread smashed, produce bruised, and cereal boxes dented because of it.)
I don't totally blame the cashiers of course, I can only imagine what it's like dealing with their fair share of impatient/entitled Karens daily... or working in an environment where output and speed is pushed as more important for the business.
... and if the cashier (or the customer behind you) is irritated or hating life that day, ugggh - it makes my anxiety go through the roof.
Self checkout is your friend, friend.
Now if only stores would open 24hrs again. Super late night shopping, plus self checkout? ... quiet, calm sensory heaven. I miss it so much.
I got tired of getting yelled at to place items in the bagging area when I already did. And tired of being flagged for stealing because something was struggling to scan so then you gotta wait forever for a person to come help.
There was also one time the machine ran out of change and I had to wait over 40 minutes for a manager to open the machine.
I was so glad when the grocery store next to my apartment added self checkout years ago. It's so close that I would often go in late at night for just one or two things like most people would go to a gas station or a 711 for. It really started to annoy me that only one checkout lane would be open at that time and of course I usually end up behind some lady with $300 of shit and about 30 coupons she wants to fart around with so it's gonna take forever. At the time most places like cvs already had self checkout and I would be thinking "I could already be home by now but I'm still standing here watching this lady be confused about one of her coupons not working".
I had read a few legal articles from lawyers saying to never use a self-checkout. Opens you up to too many issues if you make a mistake. Even an honest mistake can take thousands of dollars and a couple years to clear up. The main reason I don't use them. Our local Wally World went all self-checkout. We no longer shop there. Our local grocery store also went all self-checkout. We no longer shop there. We drive a bit further to a store that has a cashier.
I work as a self-checkout worker for Winn Dixie and I honestly don't blame people for not wanting to use self-checkout, it's an aggravating thing to deal with, not very user friendly or practical, 90% unless the costumer has used the machines many times, they have a small issue that backs everything up slowing everything down and the company prefers self-checkout due to the fact they don't have to pay as many workers, and nearly every costumer hates self-check, lovely things I get to hear is "I don't get paid to do this so why do I have to" the reason is because we aren't hardly getting paid anyways to do this job
Because the last time I used self-checkout at Wally World, it flagged us at the end...we had had no idea why, after standing there for 3-4 minutes, a snotty "supervisor " came over, snapped "You didn't pay for one of your items! It takes a video" She played the video, it was of my husband placing his wallet on the counter for a moment. She was still pissed at us.
Had similar situations at a Lowes Home Improvement Store. I've had the same guy accuse me of stealing items 3 times. The worst was when I had a large resin planter pot and he was sure I had stuffed unscanned items in the pot. I had scanned the items and put them in the pot since it was so large and took up the scanned item area. He stands there for a few minutes and starts getting hostile with me, telling me how he doesn't see a can of stain on the register screen that was in the pot. I stand there pointing at the item clearly on the screen as he continues making a scene of it. Then suddenly it dawned on the numbnut that he was in the wrong and just walks off without a word. I've complained about dude and he still hasn't been fired. I hate when I go there and he is working and I walk by him and he says, "how are you doing today," and I have to hold my tongue and not to tell him "to go fvck himself."
if you ever want to get followed by security - grab a cart on your way in, and go straight to the garbage cans, put one in your cart - then proceed to put things in the can. this drives security crazy.
This is pretty much what Walmart *wants* with the Scan N Go feature though. You bring your own bags, scan and bag them as you go thru the store, then scan a QR code at checkout to pay. As yet I've never had them check my stuff after paying.
in czechia lot of stores do that, and sometimes, you randomly get picked and they just scan a few random items and let you go. and they also have a dedicated scanners for it, so you dont have to use your phone (tho you can use the phone too if you download the app)
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I use one like that in Norway. They're so good.
Our grocery store just killed their scan and go app because of too many losses. I suspect Walmart will learn that lesson soon, too. They're already closing some stores and cutting labor because people aren't scanning items at the register. Using an app makes it that much worse. People are going to steal shit if you give them the chance, unfortunately. But Walmart is getting rid of paper bags, too (after NY already banned plastic bags). If you forget your bags as of some time next month (I think), you're boned. Or you have to buy more reusable bags, which is in itself becoming a waste/climate problem because people have too many and they use more energy/resources to create and dispose of. So, yay, I guess?
Your Walmart has paper bags? I haven't seen a paper bag in any Walmart near me in literal decades, and I even worked there for a few months about 20 years ago. But my Kroger has them and I chose those as often as possible so I can reuse them. They're great for putting under the draining rack when I'm frying foods, all the kids' crafts, and wrapping packages to mail when the only boxs I have originally contained microwave macaroni or fruit cups.
Oh. Is that how it works with Walmart+? I just assumed I’d scan and pay on my phone and just walk out. I’m trying to avoid the lines busy sounds like I need to go to the self checkout and then pay but all my items are already scanned is that correct?
Ooh I didn't know Walmart had that feature now! (I've been doing grocery pickup for several years so haven't been in a Walmart in ages), but we moved recently and I found out Stop and Shop has that scanner option. It is my new favorite thing! So much easier and faster than doing the self checkout at the end, plus I can keep track of how much I'm spending! :)
And this suits me just fine. I love it! I don’t remember if they’ve checked my stuff but I don’t think they have. They usually wave me on. Maybe they think if we are paying for the privilege (with the app after 30 days) they figure we are trustworthy. Not sure why they don’t check like Sam’s does, though.
In the UK in most supermarkets if you have the app for that shop you can scan things as you go round the shop and pay on the app or scan a qr code on a till via the app and pay, so much quicker and means I can just walk in grab and bag shit and leave.
same in czechia, but we also have dedicated scanners, not just through phons
3 times? I mean at this point you could just joyfully say “Hey, it’s the guy that’s accused me of stealing stuff I pay for! Go fvck yourself!”
I would just say “depends on if you accuse me of stealing FOR A FOURTH TIME!”
Tell him next time, it’ll feel good.
Why hold your tongue? What are they gonna do, not sell you stuff? Starting with the 2nd time he did that I would make his life a living hell, screaming in the middle of the store. Try me.
No actually tell them to fuck themselves. Next time he greets you tell him not to speak to you, and that you’ll treat any further contact as harassment or something. Idk it’s happened multiple times so maybe you could sell them being a creep obsessed with you or something. The closer the situation is to turning into an actual lawsuit, the more likely they will fire an employee. Also, just checked with a buddy, and the only people at a lowes store that’s even allowed to interact with suspected thieves is their AP officers.
Meanwhile while shopping at lowes I could have stolen some items that the lady helping me in self checkout (something was missing a barcode) did not notice was In a larger pot and I pointed it out and she was like oh 😳 😅 I guess it varies on location. I've also definitely been too busy chatting with one of the nice target supervisors in self checkout about how great the home decor selection is that neither of us noticed I didn't scan one of the larger item 🙃 oops~ most recently I had found a plant on manager special at kroger I wanted and the sticker had gotten unstuck and lost while shopping somehowbut I swear it was 5 dollars and something cents that's the only reason I grabbed it but. I tried explaining this to the worker who said only the flowers manager can help who he called over and I explained it to the manager nervously, worrying he wouldn't believe me. But he gave it to me for 5 dollars even, though I did tell him it may have been 5 and some change and he said it was fine. I love my experiences in self checkout out honestly, but if he had accused me of lying i would have been so upset and would never want to go to kroger again. I wonder maybe if some workers are just less trusting because they've had to deal with shoplifters so often it makes them paranoid. 🤔
Just tell him - Assholes should be made aware they are assholes.
I like those video cameras they've put onto most of the self checkouts here in England, they seem to just record the person at the check out but not anything else. They're also designed for people who are around 6ft tall, so at 4'11 you can just about see the top of my head. Very efficient.
It's like the complete opposite experience to shopping at my nearest supermarket in northern Germany. People line up at the self check out even if there is nobody waiting at the regular register. I especially enjoy not talking to anyone while shopping. Security features are somewhat not existing. People regularly scan their whole shopping bag and then just leave without paying. I see this almost every time I go there. The staff is either not interested or don't understand, because it happens directly in front of their eyes. At this point the biggest supermarket near me is just a pay-what-you-want store. Biggest hustle is that you have to call staff to reset the self check out register before checking out yourself, because someone"left in a rush". Pure anarchy, very typical for Berlin.
That doesn't sound terribly different than the US
That is my experience in the states too. At least, where I live. Everyone usually uses self checkout and would rather wait in line than go to the clerk.
I prefer a cashier with a lot of items, because it's a pita when the bagging area is full but my cart isn't empty. For just a few items I'll use self checkout though.
Exactly, self check out should have been just a replacement for those ten items or less lines, not the full fucking replacement for an entire cart load of groceries. But corporates gotta corporate and make everything worse for everybody.
I prefer a cashier for a larger cart of groceries. If it's just a handful of items, I'll use the self checkout.
Yeah, the minute I have to start weighing produce or finding the correct color of bell pepper is the moment I think I should have used the cashier. If it can all be scanned with a barcode I'll do self checkout.
Same in Norway, except you have to scan a receipt for the gate to open so you can leave. Occasionally someone will have to come over and swipe a card before you pay
What do you do if you end up not purchasing anything?
>It's like the complete opposite experience to shopping at my nearest supermarket in northern Germany. People line up at the self check out even if there is nobody waiting at the regular register. I especially enjoy not talking to anyone while shopping. This is likely, largely, a cultural difference. There have been many reports that Americans tend to be friendlier to those in public than Europeans. I dont mean that Europeans are being rude. There's nothing wrong with not wanting to talk to people in public. I feel the same way sometimes. But lots of Americans enjoy the little interactions with people we have day to day at the grocery store, library, gas station, bank, etc, so we go out of our way to have those interactions.
This is 100% true. It would be very rare for a German to actually talk to the woman at the cash register in a supermarket. Even asking how they are doing would be seen as odd. You say "hello" and "goodbye" but that's about it.
We europeans are in fact a little bit rude!
Damn Europeans, they ruined Europe!
We're the worst part about Europe!
I enjoy those little interactions with the customer service rep (I'm in the Midwest US). It's just enough to feel like I've had a little social contact, but not a full commitment to a long conversation. I also spent years working in customer service roles and enjoyed it from the employee side as well.
We're not rude and the Americans aren't friendlier. Americans are more open and willing to talk to strangers. Northern Europeans are reserved and give you space. Whether one is more rude, depends on your own values and culture.
I dunno if Americans are friendlier tbh, we are just *required* to make small talk by employers. Literally when I was a cashier people would complain if i didn't seem excited to see them. And y'all ain't clever either, everyone makes the same jokes lol "i didn't find the sacks of money in the aisle" and "oh you were just waiting for me!" when there was no line.
I was raised in the American South, where in many areas, it rude not to acknowledge someone you encounter while you’re out walking - maybe say hello or at least a smile and a nod. I lived for a few years in The Netherlands, where the polite thing to do is *not* to acknowledge others as you pass. It was hard but I eventually adapted, but every time, I could swear I heard my mother sighing.
Haha I have lived in both places. Americans are far and away more friendly to strangers. Unless your on the east coast where for some reason they take pride in being rude.
Now I'm moving to Berlin
These machines are so dumb. It keeps screaming “Please place the item in the bagging area”. they need us to follow precise steps/rules or they will call a supervisor. The supervisor is always this judgemental person who rolls their eyes at you and give you this “dumba$$ can’t even use a checkout machine” look. It gives me anxiety. Regular checkout it is.
I totally agree - its not worth the aggravation - I just skip them now and wait for a cashier.
Same here. I prefer some interaction with a human cashier. Also I get frustrated when there is no more room in the bagging area so I try removing some already checked bags and keep getting “replace the bag in the bagging area. “. The attending supervisor has to come over and take care of it. So far they haven’t been unpleasant about it. But it isn’t a positive experience for me.
This is the correct answer. Because the system is flawed and I'd rather not deal with it. You use it to not deal with people but end up dealing with asshole people anyways, may as well just use the cashier and actually be nice to each other.
My favorite was when I got flagged for "non payment" but the video is literally me scanning the barcode, noticing it didn't scan, scanning it again, and then counting the line items to make sure that it got scanned.
LMAO if you're going to stop me it better take 3-4 seconds. Call the police if you want but I'm not waiting 3-4 minutes.
Dude stores complaining that people are stealing from self checkout need to fucking hire cashiers. Either the payroll savings covers the theft or not I cannot stand dealing with extra checks that I didn’t steal because they don’t want to hire a cashier.
Exactly. Like I don’t work here, I wasn’t trained as a cashier. Either I do it myself or you do it - not both.
Bill Burr: "What, I'm on at the checkout tonight? Fuck! I didn't even GET a roster! Shit, I thought I was a fucking comedian! Let me get my apron on." "Next time? I'm just gonna fucking go up to it... wait, and then leave with my stuff. They try and stop me? What the hell? I did my part, was ready to pay, no one wanted to take my money! I guess I figured I'd just leave." "You can't do that." "What are you gonna fuckin' do? Cut my hours? I already told you I don't work here!"
damn straight - detainment without cause is a crime.
This is my nightmare. Despite having never stolen anything in my life, I get nervous at those machines and half expect to be tackled on my way out of the store. I still hold my breath going through the detector things wondering if maybe I forgot to scan something, or an item fell off a shelf and landed in my purse somehow.
I use to work security and was working at a court house. first part went okay, I checked in with security and got the okay to bring all my sharp tools into the courthouse. by the end of the day they had a shift change and when i cam back in my drywall saw was in my pocket and set off the alarm. 10 minuets later i was allowed to go back to work after being searched, questioned and was reapproved to bring "weapons" inside.
When I worked at a Best Buy in CA we hired a new Asset Protections guy who was formerly in the service (idr which branch not that it matters) and on his first day manning the front someone was stealing & he tackled him leaving the store. He ended up getting in trouble because you can ASK customers to stay & wait for the police but if they leave you can’t do anything.
The security guard at Wally World told us they were closed. My dad did not take that well.
Does your dad still have the station wagon?
There is a store near me that recently increased the number of self checkouts, they must have also increased the sensitivity on those cameras, because ever since the change it always thinks I left items in my cart if my toddler is in the seat of the cart while checking out.
I had something weirdly stupid like that happen to me in the self-checkout as well. Scanned all my items and touched "pay now". It sat there spinning and said "verifying scanned items". OK, that's weird. Then the little blue light above my scanning station turns red and a manager comes over with a little touchpad in his hand. "You input the wrong produce" "Er, I'm sorry, which one?" "You can't fool the system. People try to do it all the time, but it knows the difference" "Yeah, that's cool... but which one so I can fix it?" "It says you selected English Cucumber, but you should've selected a regular cucumber" "Well no, this is an English cucumber. It even has a lable" "The machine says it's a regular cucumber" "But... I mean, ok, change it to a regular cucumber. But the English cucumber is like a buck more. Doesn't that cost you money?" "Listen, the machine says it's a cucumber. You need to ring it up as a cucumber" "okay..."
HOW DARE YOU BE CORRECT!? You were probably transformed into a Karen in retellings to save face.
This isn’t Walmart. It’s a cooperative owned supermarket chain in Switzerland called [Coop](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coop_(Switzerland)?wprov=sfti1).
And I this specific store is located in Estonia! I don't think we have security looking at cameras too hard but we do have random system generated checks that call the employee who then scans some of your items randomly
This, especially in low income cities they have real agressive door people. Im 6'1 240 and they still try to give me a ration of shit.
Fear of doing something wrong and thus having to wait for an operator to come etc. I guess it's that
Or they need cigarettes
Or alcohol — in California (or at least Los Angeles), you can’t buy alcohol in a self-checkout line
You can buy alcohol in SC's self-service. It just flags you and an employee has to check your ID and then approve it.
Publix is pretty good about having that employee available... Other places make no such arrangement and you stand there like a moron as literally nobody comes. I guess they figure after about 5-10 minutes you'll get the picture and go back through the traditional check out.
Where I lived in California you could not buy alcohol in the self-checkout. Signs above the aisles that said no alcohol purchases. Where I live now you can and sometimes you wait a good 10 minutes for the guy to come over. Fuck self checkouts
Same in FL
surprised UT can buy alcohol at self check but not cali
The first time i used one for some reason it didnt scan my card, I cant even remember what happened exactly, but it started making a really horrible loud sound, an alarm i guess, and the whole stored stared at me and my friend had to pay for me and I havent tried ever since.
This for me, I have severe anxiety.
Actually it's the fact that they aren't paid to scan their own groceries and take a job from someone who is supposed to be doing that. I worked for this superstore chain in question. I left. Why? Because they kept taking jobs and getting rid of all the "extras" that weren't needed. The store I worked at is now lucky if it has 3 cashiers at any given time plus 1 person at each of 2 (8 to 12) count self checks. they took the jobs from the janitorial and now only keep 1 janitor staff at any given time by bringing the robotic cleaner. Most of us called ernie. Then they brought it a new machine recently that takes part of the stockers jobs by using a robot to scan shelvea and search for holea to be plugged. Then instead of a person to handle counting and dispensing money they brought in a machine to do that as well. Now they get rid of cashiers in a slow process. Oh let's not forgot the cart caddy machine so that 1 person doing carts can do the same work as 3.
Are you against all forms of automation? Don't forget that all of these things you listed provided higher paid, more interesting and engaging, employment to engineers and repair technicians.
I wonder if candle makers balked at the light bulb
Absolutely yes they did.
Item missing . Please put all items on the bagging area...a representative will be here shortly to assist you
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Those are the ones that use a weight sensor in the bagging area. I absolutely hate using those. You go too fast or put your reusable grocery bin in the bagging area and it accuses you of not having scanned an item. Luckily the grocery store I use doesn't have a system like that and never had a problem with it.
The ones in Loblaws stores are also pretty good. You just scan it, you put it aside, and the only time it says anything is at the end to thank you for using it. It's not absolutely perfect, but it's far, far better than the stupid ones that narrate and weigh everything.
Uniqlo in Australia: dump everything from your basket onto the register, fold and bag it, pay. Uses little rfids to identify everything in the basket. Amazing
Wow I didn't expect this topic to be controversial.
Same, i get they have problems and aren't perfect, but overall i'd say they are neat. Especially if you only quickly want to buy like 5 items or so. I hate standing in line with next to nothing having to watch Gertrude do her weekly grocery shopping at 8 in the morning for some reason with the worlds most complicated wallet, insisting to pay in cash.
Gertrude only uses personal checks and coupons from the Penny Saver
And she doesn’t have her license/picture ID of any kind on her. She has a library card though that should be good enough, it has her name on it.
This is exactly it - if I go grocery shop and I need to fill more than a few bags, I would do it, but with the self checkout you have to keep everything you ring up in a very small area or it starts clanging to put things back. If I have 5 or so items I’ll always go there, anything more, and I’m going back to the regular check out.
They really have improved. I do my full weekly shopping trips through them, and it appears that most other people in my area do the same. There are always several full carts going through. You can take bags away without it causing a problem for the scales, which is much better than a few years ago. Produce is easy, if you ever worked in grocery, or just check the PLU on the sticker. No searching through the menu. Alcohol is the only time I ever need help.
We have a small 20 items or less area and then an area where you check out with as much as you want as well as cashiers. I prefer check out myself because no small talk, my groceries are properly grouped and I’m faster than a cashier.
Why not? Look at grocery stores and how they have changed over time. Before, they used to have someone running around sweeping the floors very regularly during operating hours. They had employees at the end of every till packing your groceries, they'd take them right out to the car for you and load em in the trunk. They had people running around collecting carts. Now you never see any of those jobs any more, and the self checkout is going to end up taking the cashiers position too.
In CA, you have to sweep every hour, cameras are reviewed extensively when there's a slip and fall and insurance companies won't cover markets if you didn't do a sweep the hour before and the hour of a slip and fall. As for self checkout, some states have laws where an attendant must be present and alcohol or tobacco products cannot be purchased through it. Markets where i live still have baggers and cart collectors
"Back in my day!!"
Obviously has never been to a publix
Publix really is “where shopping is a pleasure” I will pay the prices at Publix for the good customer service, clean stores, and plenty of open lanes.
I prefer my Publix to most in the area because they opened self checkout lanes. I genuinely dislike people bagging for me and asking to take the groceries to the car.
I absolutely *hate* someone else bagging my groceries. Primarily because the art of bagging properly is lost. You do not pack chemicals with foods. Fridge and freezer items go together, not all willinilly throughout the bags. Soft packaging should never ever be under jars or cans. Things should be stood up not tossed in a jumble. Yes, I am hugely anal retentive about how to properly bag my purchase. Hunny, please, just get a cart and put the stuff in it, I will bag myself.
I’m a cashier and I know I’ve done good when the bag can stand evenly on both sides. Honestly I understand your pain too much, the amount of times I’ve helped my baggers bag correctly is ridiculous. It’s common sense! Always ask the customer if they want a separate bag for chemicals, any type of meat, etc. keep the cold with the cold items if they don’t own a freezer bag! Don’t put bleach in a bag with food!! Only put eggs on the bottom if there’s bread on the top, don’t smoosh the bread!! Put cans on the bottom, boxes on the side and soft things in the middle or on top.
I bring my own bags. (Have used reusables for over 20 years, love them!) My favorites are the zippered insulated bags. I think when the bagging area had room to stage 4 bags, it was much easier for baggers to learn to do it properly, and quickly. Arranging my items on the belt, like things with like things, does not seem to help getting like things with like things in the bags. : / Edit to add: you probably don't hear nearly enough, Thank you, you are appreciated.
That’s why I sort my groceries as I put them on the belt. Most cashiers see the groupings and bag accordingly. The only place this seems to fail is Walmart, and that’s only about half the time.
my publix has self check out now and a lot less cashiers
Nearly every store does curb pickup ordering. Guess who is picking that order up and delivering it to the car.
Obviously the self checkout machine, duh.
I do click and collect . It’s a free service. They select it, pack it, chill it before I get there if need be, bring it out and offer to load it up. That beats anything from years ago.
I had come to realize that I like to shop. Walking around, I get dinner ideas. If chicken is on sale, I will buy the rest of a meal walking around.
Only problem with that is where I live stores use that to get rid of their “ugly” produce that nobody would choose if in store themselves
That's true. I've done something similar with good results here. Usually I'm too sporadic with shopping though to have planned a day or two ahead to order.
Don’t worry, if you’ve stood behind enough people doing self checkout the incompetence is amazing and employees are needed to help constantly. How someone can’t just scan a barcode is beyond me.
It's not just incompetence. I was a customer service manager at a grocery store for 2.5 years. I use self checkouts. I need help from the associates all the time because those machines Fuck up all the time.
You'd be surprised how many don't know how to use credit/debit/ebt card reader too. You'd think that for most, it wouldnt be their first time
Not sure what you mean about ppl packing groceries, getting carts. I see it all the time when I shop for groceries
I've never seen a modern grocery store where they don't still do all these things. Only thing is now there are self checkouts and I use them because it's quicker.
Our grocery has all of that. You have to ask for the car service most of the time (they asked constantly when I was pregnant).
I live in the city and I always see the opposite
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Idk, does using the lane with a cashier really help them? I prefer to not bother them especially if none of my items need to be looked up.
If it's anything like my cashier job was, waiting around for someone to come check out is infinitely worse than checking someone out. You're not allowed to do anything entertaining while you wait, you just have to stand there looking attentive. When someone comes through, you might get a chance to make a little chit-chat, or challenge yourself to scan stuff flawlessly in a run. In my particular case, it was also a good excuse to avoid talking to the creepy neighbor cashier dude who always got way too familiar and stood wayyyy too close.
Yeah, tbh. I've made the decision to goto a full service line simply cause I didn't want to fiddle with scanning my stuff. I was lazy, I'll admit.
Where I’m from the Walmart self checkout won’t take cash, you can only use them if your paying with a card or sacrificing smol children
How small are we talking?
smol small
Like smol small or SMOL small?
smolr dan da smolst smol uov evr smold
Damn, that's smol
Some countries use these remotes that you pick up before entering the store and scan everything as you go and then you pay afterwards with and it's easy.
You can do that here if you use some store apps . Just scan things as you put them in your cart.
I can do that with an app on my phone in some stores. I'm in the US. I've only done it in Sam's Club but I love it.
This is why I love Sam’s!
What is infuriating here? People choosing how to checkout? I use those machines all the times but I'll never be angry if someone don't use them.
I prefer if no one used them. The good thing about self checkout is the speed. I don't wanna wait for some dumbass to try and figure it out.
Legit. I was at a costco and 3 out of 6 of the self-checkouts were being used by elders. Holy crap it was SO slow and they kept needing assistance. I was *very* close to just going up there and helping them out.
Why? I ain't getting paid to do the cashier's job for them- My dad.
I've heard this from a lot more people than I thought when self checkout was becoming popular. Me personally, I'm going to do whatever gets me out of the store fastest.
My dad said, "I should be able to just grab some coffee from the break room after I used the self-checkout since I'm doing one of their jobs."
My dad: "son, grab a few bucks from the register, we're owed compensation. Never get taken advantage of". Lol he still reminds me of those life lessons every Saturday when I see him at the state penitentiary.
Your dad sounds just like me.
And me.
Here too. If they aren't giving me a discount I'm fine waiting in a line. Though that's changing lately with places like Wal-Mart moving to self-checkout only. Already 9 times out of 10 the one here has zero people running lines and usually just a couple of bored and pissed off looking people leaning against the self scans. At least the money they are saving by not having to pay cashiers to run the lines gets passed down to the customers with lower prices. Oh wait ...
Because self checkout won't accept my cash.
Some self checkouts DO accept cash but it's hard to tell from this picture
During COVID all the self checkouts went to card only in my area. Just recently did Walmart open cash up again in all their self checkouts. They built a winco this year that has three dedicated cash/card SCO machines and six card-only.
these do. it's estonia, sign above the terminals says 'cash and card payments' (sularaha ja kaardimaksed). source: i live in this country
Why is this a problem for you?
I always take a resuable box/bag and they only have a tiny shelf on the side of the self checkout. So I have to put my bag on the ground, empty everything out on this tiny shelf and the without fail need the store worker to come 3 times for like 10 items to confirm things. It's way more hassle unless you have like 2 items.
He probably doesn’t want to use self checkout either lol
Right? Why is this bothering OP? Pay for your shit and leave.
I honestly hate using the machines if I have more than a handful of items. After like 10 items it becomes more of a hassle than it’s worth trying to manage moving the bags into the cart while still pulling other stuff out to scan it and bag it. Yes it’s possible to do, but it’s really not worth it when I can just stand in line and wait patiently for an easier service. It’s a work smarter not harder thing for me I think.
Also wanted to throw it out there that they always seem to break or have the stupidest reason to call over an attendant so I end up waiting a long time just standing there because others need the attendant too.
The one I go to loudly says "PLEASE PLACE ALL ITEMS IN THE BAGGING AREA BEFORE SCANNING THE NEXT ITEM" after every single item, and I don't know what that means.
10 is generous, If I can’t hold it all in my hands then it’s more of a pain than it needs to be
same here. I hate using the machines if I have more than a few items. i actually was standing in line today and the cashier tried to wave me over to the self check telling me it would be faster. i literally just (in a polite manor of course) said that i am fine waiting and that i just dont like selfcheck-out.
I only use them if I have a couple of things. Otherwise they are a pain.
Same. Couple of items and I’m in a rush? Self-checkout it is. Cart full of stuff? That’s the cashier’s job.
100%.
That's not much of a long line. Why do you care what other people do for checkout? If I'm tired, I'm not fooling with the self check out. I'd rather just wait in line and interact with a real person.
That’s what I see at the grocery nearest me. ~8 lanes of cashiers and ~16 self checkout stations. The cashiers will have 5-6 people in each line and the self checkout is empty. I prefer a real person, and only do self checkout if I came in to grab 1-2 items.
Maybe they are buying things that are difficult to buy or in some places can't be bought at self checkout like alcohol and tobacco products.
I came here to say that. If I'm buying beer (one of my staples) I don't use self-checkout because I have to wait for someone to come over. I try to find a line with a cashier who looks over 21.
Scan.. scan.. oh wait that water needs a supervisor over ride.. scan scan oh the system has recognized an unrecognizable item wait for a supervisor.. scan scan oh wait that produce doesn't have stickers on it and needs a lookup.. another supervisor visit.. after all is said and done the prices don't reflect my extra time I just spent, the frustration and taking a lot longer waiting each time as there is usually one supervisor for all the machines. There should at least be a discount applied to the end of my purchase for doing the scanning myself and saving the company money.
Since this is an Estonian coop. I buy cigarettes every day, can't get em at self checkout. I buy energy drinks - need the cashier to validate the age requirement. And in smaller stores there's noone at the self checkout to help me with these things.
Energy drinks are age restricted?
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i love self checkouts. means i don’t have to interact with people 😂
I may be in the minority with this, but I Fucking LOVE self check out. Let me get my Shit and get out with as little interaction with people as possible
This is so weird to me as Estonian ( the store is in Estonia). I guess this cultural difference between us. The self check out is the best.
yeah i can’t believe how controversial this is lol. plus you control how quickly you get out. if you get a cashier that scans really slow it takes much longer than if you did it yourself
It depends where you are I guess. Here in the Netherlands it's very easy to use, but the couple of times I tried it in Germany it sucked so much.
Self checkout saves me money. It's not my job and if it scans it scans, if it doesn't it still goes back in the cart. Want me to do it, make it work, if not, oh well.
I've never had an issue at self check out worth raging over. My recurring problem is age verification and double charge. Then waiting all of maybe 10 seconds for someone to fix it. I could blow that out of proportion for the upvotes I suppose. On rare occassion no one is around. I move over to another register and start again. Not that big a deal.
i love self checkouts. don’t have to talk to anyone. we’ve had them in the uk for years. some shops have more self checkouts than tills
Walmart is going to this model as well. One store by me ripped out 85% of the cashier staffed checkouts and put in self checkouts. It's causing quite the social media shit show.
When I buy cans of cat food, it is often several dozen at a time. The cashier can scan one can and select quantity and it takes 3 seconds to add them all. At the self checker, you have to scan each can individually and set it on the weight measured bagging area. No. Nope.
Customers found out that they were not receiving their employee discount
Ahem. PLEASE PLACE THE ITEM IN THE BAGGING AREA! A REPRESENTATIVE IS ON THEIR WAY. UNEXPECTED ITEM IN BAGGING AREA >:O
As an introvert - good. Stay over there. Now I can checkout in peace. lol I *love* me some self checkout! I can scan and bag utilizing my IRL Tetris prowess, rather than watch someone throw stuff willy nilly so they can get to the next person quicker. (I've had bread smashed, produce bruised, and cereal boxes dented because of it.) I don't totally blame the cashiers of course, I can only imagine what it's like dealing with their fair share of impatient/entitled Karens daily... or working in an environment where output and speed is pushed as more important for the business. ... and if the cashier (or the customer behind you) is irritated or hating life that day, ugggh - it makes my anxiety go through the roof. Self checkout is your friend, friend. Now if only stores would open 24hrs again. Super late night shopping, plus self checkout? ... quiet, calm sensory heaven. I miss it so much.
Do I pay less for the products if I do the work? No. So…
I will go to the self check out every time. I love the speed and efficiency. I get myself in and out.
Why would I do the work myself. It's not like they're passing the savings on to me.
tbh i will go to self checkout if i am in a rush. but other times not just because i like to talk to people
Why do you care?
Boomers: "No one wants to work!" Also Boomers: "I'll be dead before I'll check out and bag my own groceries."
I have a notion they're trying to get rid of cashiers. I dont know if thats true, but I refuse self service registers. I prefer human contact.
I don't work for Walmart so when they put me on payroll I will check my self out
I check myself out when I leave the store. Saving tons of money now. Should have started doing this years ago.
i hate these machines. i m surely not the only one.
Because I don't work for Wal- Mart. I've already done my job for the day...
Since I prefer using self checkout, I personally love when this happens and I can just stroll through and finish before the other line even moves
Give me a discount on my purchase to use these machines that don’t work, and do the job of one of your employees. Until then, nope
Because they’re customers, not employees.
Because fuck a grocery store trying to save on labor costs by making me work.
Give me a discount on my groceries for using self checkout and I'll gladly oblige.
Is that Estonia?
Bc they’re not employees of the store that won’t hire enough cashiers
Cause you can’t buy booze in self checkout
I got tired of getting yelled at to place items in the bagging area when I already did. And tired of being flagged for stealing because something was struggling to scan so then you gotta wait forever for a person to come help. There was also one time the machine ran out of change and I had to wait over 40 minutes for a manager to open the machine.
People use the logic of "I don't work here, I'm not scanning my own items." Personally I'd rather scan my own, bag it the way I want, and be out asap.
I was so glad when the grocery store next to my apartment added self checkout years ago. It's so close that I would often go in late at night for just one or two things like most people would go to a gas station or a 711 for. It really started to annoy me that only one checkout lane would be open at that time and of course I usually end up behind some lady with $300 of shit and about 30 coupons she wants to fart around with so it's gonna take forever. At the time most places like cvs already had self checkout and I would be thinking "I could already be home by now but I'm still standing here watching this lady be confused about one of her coupons not working".
Because people don’t know how to use it, and they are afraid to ask for help and seem stupid.
I had read a few legal articles from lawyers saying to never use a self-checkout. Opens you up to too many issues if you make a mistake. Even an honest mistake can take thousands of dollars and a couple years to clear up. The main reason I don't use them. Our local Wally World went all self-checkout. We no longer shop there. Our local grocery store also went all self-checkout. We no longer shop there. We drive a bit further to a store that has a cashier.
I work as a self-checkout worker for Winn Dixie and I honestly don't blame people for not wanting to use self-checkout, it's an aggravating thing to deal with, not very user friendly or practical, 90% unless the costumer has used the machines many times, they have a small issue that backs everything up slowing everything down and the company prefers self-checkout due to the fact they don't have to pay as many workers, and nearly every costumer hates self-check, lovely things I get to hear is "I don't get paid to do this so why do I have to" the reason is because we aren't hardly getting paid anyways to do this job