self checkout lanes
- Thread starter farmkid
- Start date
I dislike them and refuse to use them, mainly because the baggage area is too low and I have trouble bagging items if my hip is playing up.
I hate the very concept of them.
They're just another stepping stone our society's trend towards desocialization via human contact and connection. We're trying to take the human element out of everything, and, to me, that's a scary notion. I love chatting with the checkout clerks. Plus, all the checkout girls at my store are really hot. Why wouldn't I want to talk to them?
Also that service along with bagging (and car loading for stores that offer it) is figured into the price of the items you buy. You're paying for it, why not use it?
But I think the simplest reason is the most important: jobs. Self checkouts have extended beyond groceries to "big box" stores. Many electronics stores and home improvement stores have them to use with small items.
A friend of mine is the assistant store manager of a market that recently removed the self checkout. To counter the added demand, the store hired two people for checkout. Yes, it's only two people, but multiply that by the number of stores that use them across the globe. That's a lot of jobs. They may be only checkout jobs, but in this economy any job is a good one.
They're just another stepping stone our society's trend towards desocialization via human contact and connection. We're trying to take the human element out of everything, and, to me, that's a scary notion. I love chatting with the checkout clerks. Plus, all the checkout girls at my store are really hot. Why wouldn't I want to talk to them?
Also that service along with bagging (and car loading for stores that offer it) is figured into the price of the items you buy. You're paying for it, why not use it?
But I think the simplest reason is the most important: jobs. Self checkouts have extended beyond groceries to "big box" stores. Many electronics stores and home improvement stores have them to use with small items.
A friend of mine is the assistant store manager of a market that recently removed the self checkout. To counter the added demand, the store hired two people for checkout. Yes, it's only two people, but multiply that by the number of stores that use them across the globe. That's a lot of jobs. They may be only checkout jobs, but in this economy any job is a good one.
^ With more and more people using reusable bags these days, I find that it's much less common for cashiers to actually do any bagging for you. Personally, I usually put my groceries in my backpack, so it's much easier if I just do it myself anyway.
And as a former cashier, I generally quite like the self-checkouts, but I find that they're often too slow for me. I'm far too used to picking up multiple items, scanning them all, then bagging them, and the machines often don't like that.
Still, it's usually quicker than going to a full checkout if I'm not getting that much stuff. I usually don't have much, either, since I need to carry it home.
And as a former cashier, I generally quite like the self-checkouts, but I find that they're often too slow for me. I'm far too used to picking up multiple items, scanning them all, then bagging them, and the machines often don't like that.
Still, it's usually quicker than going to a full checkout if I'm not getting that much stuff. I usually don't have much, either, since I need to carry it home.
Huh. I have a total hodgepodge of reusable bags from several different stores. I bring them everywhere I shop, and I've never had a checkout person refuse to use them. (Even the ones from competing stores.)
In the world of strange occurrences, I was in a Wal-Mart earlier this evening that did not have any self checkout lanes at all. This is odd to me because in the past, Wal-Mart has had anywhere from six to twelve of these things in their stores.
doubleohfive
Fleet Admiral
I love them. What I hate is when they're not available after a certain time of day because despite being "automatic" they also still need at least one clerk to monitor/assist people with. So, at 2am when you're in line getting whatever it is you need at 2am after barhopping around town with a bunch of models and actresses, its a royal pain having to kill ten minutes in line with Chester the Molester ahead of you in line counting his change. 
I’ll be happy to keep the models and actresses entertained while you’re waiting.. . . So, at 2am when you're in line getting whatever it is you need at 2am after barhopping around town with a bunch of models and actresses, its a royal pain having to kill ten minutes in line with Chester the Molester ahead of you in line counting his change.
Yeah, I've never had that problem. And now we're going to be required to use reusable bags, basically.
As for self-checkout, I like the idea but dislike the implementation. My problem isn't so much with other customers as it is with the machines. Problem with this, need ID for that, unrecognized item in bagging area. This is especially irritating if you thought you'd breeze through with your three items and one of them locks up the computer and you end up waiting for someone who is nowhere in sight.
I just look around and see what seems the most efficient for the groceries I have and the pace of the individual lines.
Waitrose self-scan as you shop system is brilliant with the trade-off being that you're giving them marketing information on what you buy since you need to swipe your debit card which is linked to an account with your address, etc. but I'm not bothered about that.
Self-checkout I hate, however. As you say I'd only bother with it if I had a light shop, but even then when the things play-up it's far less convenient than going through a cashiere. I think one thing that helps is that the checkers here aren't as "friendly" as in the States and don't try to engage in bullshit conversation as much.
We already bag our own groceries here, so why the hell should I do my own check out?
I like self-checkout, for a few items, maybe even several.
Problem is, the local Jewel(s) has one person monitoring the self-checkout lanes most of the time and no-one manning an actual register, which kinda screws the people who don't want to do it themselves.
And Jewel can certainly afford to have one extra person there, considering how much they price-gouge for everything.
The big $150 restocks up at Woodman's, I'll wait in line. I go there at night, so it's not too long a wait.
Problem is, the local Jewel(s) has one person monitoring the self-checkout lanes most of the time and no-one manning an actual register, which kinda screws the people who don't want to do it themselves.
And Jewel can certainly afford to have one extra person there, considering how much they price-gouge for everything.
The big $150 restocks up at Woodman's, I'll wait in line. I go there at night, so it's not too long a wait.
We don't have self checkout lanes here, I did use one when I was in America on holiday - a member of staff came over to help me before I got the chance to figure out what I was supposed to be doing
There wouldn't really be much call for self-service checkouts where I live, but it would help if the two big supermarkets actually had staff on the 8 Items or Less till when you only have a couple of things. But then if you only want a couple of things you can go to one of the smaller supermarkets...
There wouldn't really be much call for self-service checkouts where I live, but it would help if the two big supermarkets actually had staff on the 8 Items or Less till when you only have a couple of things. But then if you only want a couple of things you can go to one of the smaller supermarkets...
I prefer to use anytime I get the chance. As I shop generally a few times a week, my grocery shops are smaller than most. Plus found it much quicker than lining up in one of the queues. Plus, another advantage for me, when I get a recharge for either my internet or mobile phone, don't have to ask, as I can do that myself.
A
Amaris
Guest
Now that would be nice. When I buy a recharge card for my phone, or to load on a prepaid debit, there has to be authorization, and I have to have an associate scan the card, authorize it, ask how much I want to add, then authorize the transfer. It takes about 3 minutes, so it's not a major inconvenience, but it would be nice if it wasn't an issue at all.
^ Here in Australia, it much easier than that, as I use to tell them what I wanted and then I get a statement printed, which contains all the information I need for my recharge. Thankfully it's a very easy system. I use have to tell them which recharge I wanted, but some people at the supermarket got a little confused, so as soon as the self checkout lanes were at my local woolworths I was very happy.
I hate them. I refuse to use them.
Once they start offering a 5% discount for checking and bagging your own stuff, then I might consider it. Otherwise, I'm paying for services I'm not getting. They've basically got me doing their work for them while charging me a full service price.
Once they start offering a 5% discount for checking and bagging your own stuff, then I might consider it. Otherwise, I'm paying for services I'm not getting. They've basically got me doing their work for them while charging me a full service price.
You can top-up your phone at many (most?) ATMs in the UK. I have a contract phone, so no need of that, but it's hard to imagine how it could be more convenient other than being able to do it from the phone itself.
