Self Check Out -vs- Store Cashier Line

Discussion in 'Shopping & Sales' started by Ken Anderson, Sep 20, 2017.

  1. Ken Anderson

    Ken Anderson Senior Staff
    Staff Member Senior Staff Greeter Task Force Registered

    Joined:
    Jan 21, 2015
    Messages:
    25,231
    Likes Received:
    44,879
    Most of the stores are starting to push self-checkouts now. BJ's usually has only one register open that isn't self-checkout, although they'll open another if the line gets too long. Even our local Hannaford is adding self checkout registers.

    I hate them. Invariably, I will have at least one thing in my cart that won't scan, or I'll get some other error, such as something about an item in the checkout area or some such thing. So, every time I have tried to use a self-checkout, I have had to call someone over to help, and that doesn't amount to time savings to me; rather, it's simply a way for the stores to eliminate another job by making us do the work.
     
    #1
  2. Jim Beam

    Jim Beam Veteran Member
    Registered

    Joined:
    Mar 22, 2016
    Messages:
    82
    Likes Received:
    93
    It would be okay if they let us set our own prices.
     
    #2
  3. Yvonne Smith

    Yvonne Smith Senior Staff
    Staff Member Senior Staff Greeter Task Force Registered

    Joined:
    Jan 21, 2015
    Messages:
    15,503
    Likes Received:
    29,624
    We hate those, too, and they seem to take longer, even if there is no problems. I would rather stand in line (which is not fun either) and only use the self-checkout when oneof the cashiers is there to help with it.
    It does seem like this is what it is going towards, and sometimes there will only be one lane open with a cashier, even at Walmart.
    Sam'sClub has a new option where you can scan your items as you buy them, and then you just pay with your credit/debit card, or maybe with cash at the cashier counter. I read about it, and that does not seem like it would be as bad as trying to do the self-checkout; but we have not tried scanning our own items at Sam's either.
     
    #3
  4. Holly Saunders

    Holly Saunders Supreme Member
    Registered

    Joined:
    Nov 16, 2015
    Messages:
    51,949
    Likes Received:
    17,921
    Yes I just had a moan about that on the carrier bag thread ...
     
    #4
  5. Holly Saunders

    Holly Saunders Supreme Member
    Registered

    Joined:
    Nov 16, 2015
    Messages:
    51,949
    Likes Received:
    17,921
    Yes in some of our supermarket chains we've had those scanning guns for a few years now...you have to go to the customer service desk and register your Credit or debit card first...then you take a gun and scan every item that you put in your trolley and then it's all ostensibly paid for as you go around...but you can't just walk out , you still have to go through a dedicated lane for it to be checked out. I find they take much longer to do than the traditional method of just throwing stuff in the trolley and going through the tills...despite the horrendous self scanning tills...
     
    #5
  6. Ken Anderson

    Ken Anderson Senior Staff
    Staff Member Senior Staff Greeter Task Force Registered

    Joined:
    Jan 21, 2015
    Messages:
    25,231
    Likes Received:
    44,879
    Please don't take a thread off-topic for it, though. Let me know in Conversation or in the spammed thread.

    Yeah, that's what led me to start this thread.
     
    #6
    Holly Saunders likes this.
  7. Hoot Crawford

    Hoot Crawford Veteran Member
    Registered

    Joined:
    Aug 14, 2017
    Messages:
    971
    Likes Received:
    1,550
    If I only have a few items (which is normal for me) then I go straight for the self-check lane when available. Usually a lot quicker. But if I'm buying wine or some other adult beverage (which is also normal for me ;)) then its a no go.

    Trader Joe's is becoming my "go to" grocery store, and they do not have self check.

    Hoot the Poodle
     
    #7
    Chrissy Cross likes this.
  8. Chrissy Cross

    Chrissy Cross Supreme Member
    Registered

    Joined:
    Aug 11, 2015
    Messages:
    19,089
    Likes Received:
    18,921
    My favorite store! I usually just shop for food there and Safeway.
     
    #8
    Hoot Crawford likes this.
  9. Ken Anderson

    Ken Anderson Senior Staff
    Staff Member Senior Staff Greeter Task Force Registered

    Joined:
    Jan 21, 2015
    Messages:
    25,231
    Likes Received:
    44,879
    Safeway was my favorite store when I was in California. I liked Albertson's too, mostly because they were always open.

    Pretty much the only chains we have here are Hannafords, Shaws, and Market Basket, and the Market Baskets are all in southern Maine.

    I will avoid self-checkouts for as long as I can.
     
    #9
    Chrissy Cross likes this.
  10. Kitty Carmel

    Kitty Carmel Veteran Member
    Registered

    Joined:
    May 9, 2016
    Messages:
    1,302
    Likes Received:
    1,222
    Good topic. I have to say I like self checkout.

    I swear, the last time I went through regular checkout at Safeway, I had some dad with an older kid behind me and the kid was coughing and snorting with cold symptoms and I wanted to freak out. Not that these germy people aren't everywhere and touching everything. They could have been in front of my at the self check out!

    Trader Joe's has no self checkout. WINCO, Safeway. Raley's all do. Usually they close at 11pm I have heard. I like going through them. I can then bag myself and if there isn't a line, it's a good way to get rid of a bunch of change.

    I have heard some people state they won't use them because they feel they take jobs away. Valid argument. But I'm grumpy and I prefer to deal with less people and have less people handle my items when I shop. I have rarely had problems with scanning or imputing produce.

    Oh yes, Walmart has self check also now in my area.
     
    #10
    Hoot Crawford likes this.
  11. Kitty Carmel

    Kitty Carmel Veteran Member
    Registered

    Joined:
    May 9, 2016
    Messages:
    1,302
    Likes Received:
    1,222
    You are right, no alcohol at self checkout. Also certain cold medications like liquid cough syrup. I learned this the hard way stopping on my way to work.
     
    #11
    Hoot Crawford likes this.
  12. Hedi Mitchell

    Hedi Mitchell Supreme Member
    Registered

    Joined:
    Mar 18, 2017
    Messages:
    9,297
    Likes Received:
    16,273
    I do not mind bagging my own groceries. Because I am better at that than they are.But if I have a lot then I want them to check it out, so if there are issues they can deal with the isuue.
    However I can tell you the wave of the future is less clerks more self check outs and robots will replace people where needed.:(
     
    #12
  13. Chrissy Cross

    Chrissy Cross Supreme Member
    Registered

    Joined:
    Aug 11, 2015
    Messages:
    19,089
    Likes Received:
    18,921
    Albertsons left Fresno a few years ago. It was never very close to me so seldom shopped there. I know that by my daughter Albertsons became Savemart but have don't know what the Albertsons here has become...probably Savemart also.
     
    #13
  14. Shirley Martin

    Shirley Martin Supreme Member
    Registered

    Joined:
    Jun 9, 2015
    Messages:
    56,454
    Likes Received:
    24,088
    I refuse to check out my items! I spent my hard earned money at their store and they can damn well check them out for me.
     
    #14
  15. Ann George

    Ann George Veteran Member
    Registered

    Joined:
    Sep 14, 2017
    Messages:
    822
    Likes Received:
    117

    Mostly the really large supermarkets (and Walmart) have Self Checkouts here. I dislike them and won't use them as they don't seem to work for me. Some issues when processing your order requires intervention by the "monitoring" cashier and if they are too busy helping others or simply disappear for awhile then you are left there standing until help does arrive.... finally. :(
     
    #15
    Ken Anderson and Yvonne Smith like this.

Share This Page