topic Re: Self Checkout - Yea or Nay? in Community Chat

Self Checkout - Yea or Nay?

Havarti — Fri, 25 Oct 2019 16:03:31 GMT

What are your thoughts, preferences or experiences with self checkout in stores?

I am older and still prefer a checkout person ring up my sale. It seems many of the younger people do prefer self checkout. I do have to admit I was unhappy years ago when the trend changed to "bag your own" groceries, and "pump your own" gas, etc. and now I actually prefer it! I pack groceries exactly how I will unload and store them and so things don't get crushed in transport...it is an art & a science mixed with personal preferences. Occasionally someone at the store will offer to bag and I now prefer to do it myself. So, I guess I will be forced to adjust to self checkout eventually and maybe someday I will prefer that too.

I think my greatest concern is that I may miss something and then be stopped for stealing. I know...that probably seems odd to many but I saw a woman on Live PD get arrested for theft at a Walmart. She swore she scanned everything in self checkout but...not everything actually scanned. Who knows if she did or didn't (I know, they all lie on Live PD) but it sure made me think one little error could leave you with a record for the rest of your life. For me, better an employee makes the mistake and I go home without an arrest record. It may seem silly to many but it is real to me.

What are your thoughts, preferences, experiences regarding self checkout?

Re: Self Checkout - Yea or Nay?

catter70 — Fri, 25 Oct 2019 14:53:27 GMT

I usually have a larger order ( alot of pet food and litter), so I prefer to have them check it. If it's just a couple items, I'll do self checkout.

Re: Self Checkout - Yea or Nay?

NicksmomESQ — Fri, 25 Oct 2019 14:55:33 GMT

I rarely use it. I prefer the old fashioned way.

Re: Self Checkout - Yea or Nay?

Krimpette — Fri, 25 Oct 2019 14:55:49 GMT

I never use self checkout.

Re: Self Checkout - Yea or Nay?

I am still oxox — Fri, 25 Oct 2019 14:58:18 GMT

I use them whenever I can

Re: Self Checkout - Yea or Nay?

itsmagic — Fri, 25 Oct 2019 14:59:00 GMT

I guess I have a love/hate view of self checkout. Love when everything goes smoothly and (as you said) I can bag everything as I want but hate when people behind crowd me or something doesn’t scan and I have to wait for an employee to help me.

Re: Self Checkout - Yea or Nay?

Porcelain — Fri, 25 Oct 2019 14:59:04 GMT

Whichever line is shorter.

Re: Self Checkout - Yea or Nay?

dex — Fri, 25 Oct 2019 15:02:21 GMT

I like self checkout but I feel that it takes away a job.We don’t get compensated for it either.

Re: Self Checkout - Yea or Nay?

lmt — Fri, 25 Oct 2019 15:03:20 GMT

The majority of the time I'll do self check out. If my husband is with me, it goes really fast because one of us will scan the items and the other will bag them.

My husband loves to scan the items, It takes so little to make him happy, LOL!!

Re: Self Checkout - Yea or Nay?

2blonde — Fri, 25 Oct 2019 15:04:00 GMT

@Havarti The store where I shop the most is part of a local family chain (Heinen's). They are full service. They have no self-checkouts, and they have baggers at every checkout. They also don't allow you to take your cart out of the store.....they give you a number and you pull up to the door and they load it into your car.

At first I prefered doing more myself, but now that I'm older, I actually appreciate the help. Yes, some of their prices are a little higher, but they have delicious prepared foods right in the store, a salad bar, and nice fruits and vegetables. They do have very good sales and special discounts for their "rewards" members. It's a smaller store, so I can zip through in a jif. I love that place! And to answer your question, no self-checkouts for me.....I'm spoiled!

Re: Self Checkout - Yea or Nay?

rms1954 — Fri, 25 Oct 2019 15:04:14 GMT

I like it at the grocery store because I can bag myself, and I am very particular about how my fruit and veggies get handled. I've had many a cashier just drop a bunch of bananas mid-air into the bag in front of them and I end up with bruised, damaged fruit. I've had deli containers crushed and open ruing the food in the container and the contents of the bag. And they STUFF everything they can in one bag just to save them money. As far as not scanning something, I just take my time (scan, look at the scanner to make sure it went through and don't depend on the beep sound).

I've never heard or seen of the experience you told so I don't know how often it happens. But hey, they put these things in for their convenience and having to save paying a person, then things happen. Even cashiers make mistakes.

The thing I don't like is the grocery store in our town never works right -- it keeps telling me what to do even if you don't need to do it or have already done it and then it stops working so you can't proceed with your order. Not convenient and doesn't save time, only creates confusion. Also there is not enough room to place your bags and if you remove them you get yelled at by the machine and told "attendant has been notified that items were removed from the checkout." Ugh.

Re: Self Checkout - Yea or Nay?

Porcelain — Fri, 25 Oct 2019 15:06:02 GMT

@lmt wrote:
The majority of the time I'll do self check out. If my husband is with me, it goes really fast because one of us will scan the items and the other will bag them.

My husband loves to scan the items, It takes so little to make him happy, LOL!!

Mine does too. What is that about? So endearing, though.

Re: Self Checkout - Yea or Nay?

sidsmom — Fri, 25 Oct 2019 15:10:29 GMT

@Porcelain wrote:
@lmt wrote:
The majority of the time I'll do self check out. If my husband is with me, it goes really fast because one of us will scan the items and the other will bag them.

My husband loves to scan the items, It takes so little to make him happy, LOL!!
Mine does too. What is that about? So endearing, though.

I like to see how fast I can scan/pack/pay.

Re: Self Checkout - Yea or Nay?

Porcelain — Fri, 25 Oct 2019 15:11:58 GMT

@sidsmom wrote:
@Porcelain wrote:
@lmt wrote:
The majority of the time I'll do self check out. If my husband is with me, it goes really fast because one of us will scan the items and the other will bag them.

My husband loves to scan the items, It takes so little to make him happy, LOL!!
Mine does too. What is that about? So endearing, though.
I like to see how fast I can scan/pack/pay.

Aha! That makes perfect sense.

Re: Self Checkout - Yea or Nay?

ValuSkr — Fri, 25 Oct 2019 15:15:44 GMT

I always use self check-out. There are so many positives: I can check prices as I scan, make sure my coupons scan properly, and bag my own groceries. Not only that, but the wait time is often less.

Re: Self Checkout - Yea or Nay?

chrystaltree — Fri, 25 Oct 2019 15:16:25 GMT

I'm rarely in hurry when I shop and there is no monetary incentive for me to use self checkout. So, I prefer a human. However, as the holidays approach, I'll use self checkout at Walmart to avoid those long lines.

Re: Self Checkout - Yea or Nay?

Alison Wonderland — Fri, 25 Oct 2019 15:20:17 GMT

I think it's fine if it's an option. I see many stores that have very few registers open and basically force everyone to the self-checkout, which I hate. The Home Depots in my area usually only have one person at a single register and several self-checkouts usually have a shorter line. If I can find what I need at another store, I try to avoid the Home Depot.

The HEB grocery stores in Texas have self-checkouts, but they also have many staffed registers. On weekends, the HEB stores are a madhouse, so if you run in for a few items, the self-checkouts are great and I use them happily there. HEB is also consistently ranked as one of the best employers in the state of Texas and they take good care of their people. I never feel like HEB is using the self-checkouts to avoid hiring and paying people.

If I feel like a place uses self-checkouts or kiosks to avoid hiring and paying bodies, I'll avoid both the self-checkout/kiosk and the place, whenever possible.

Re: Self Checkout - Yea or Nay?

Spacrazy — Fri, 25 Oct 2019 15:26:58 GMT

You have enlightened me @Havarti because I have often wondered about the theft threat.

Self service was okay for me at first - I like having the option but now it’s hard to find a checker - it’s all self service!

What I’m really loving is free pickup and home delivery service. Started using earlier this year after orthopedic surgery. For me it was helpful to maintain my independence and quicker recovery allowing me to heal at home.

Re: Self Checkout - Yea or Nay?

mustang66lady — Fri, 25 Oct 2019 15:37:57 GMT

I live in IL and years ago when our local Walmart was built, it was one of the largest in the country. They actually had benches thru out the store so people could sit a rest a bit. It is no longer one of the largest in the country but it is still huge. After I have walked all thru the store shopping for what I need and maybe doing a little "window" shopping at new items, I'm tired by the time I am ready to check out. The self check out is a joke-the scanners stop frequently and you have to wait for an employee to help you, alcohol cannot be purchased in self checkout and besides, Walmart is paying an employee in the checkout line but offer me NOTHING to check my own things out myself. After tredging all thru that store and getting items to spend my money on, they now "prefer" me to check out myself? Well when they start giving me a discount to do so or paying me as they are an employee just one isle over to do, then I will use self checkout. If they get rid of checkers all together, I will do pickup and no longer do any extra shopping and spending of my money there.

Re: Self Checkout - Yea or Nay?

millieshops — Fri, 25 Oct 2019 15:48:52 GMT

@dexAs I see more and more shoppers head to self-checkouts, I don't think there's a whole lot of concern for the possible job losses. I also think those most likely to choose self checkout often feel they get compensated with the time they save. I know I do when even the EXPESS Lanes with cashier are backed up.

As I watch the world change around me, I wonder where where the low-skill and low-experience jobs are coming from. Ideas?