topic Re: Grocery stores and self check-out in Among Friends

Grocery stores and self check-out

sarahpanda — Wed, 08 Nov 2023 21:19:16 GMT

I know I don't get out much - but ....are grocery store 'self check outs' going to take over? I was in a major chain type grocery store this morning around 10 a.m., haven't been there in a long time to that particular store - and I had about 10 or 12 things in my cart . When I got up front to pay, I looked around and there was no cashier ! The only way to purchase your items was by the 'self check out'. I asked the attendant close by if there was a register open somewhere, maybe I'd just missed seeing it...but she said no, we don't have a register running right now, just self check out. Well,the devil got in me, I know ! I just smiled and told her I wouldn't be purchasing anything, left the buggy with her and went on my merry way. Is this the way of the world now?

Re: Grocery stores and self check-out

Love my grandkids — Wed, 08 Nov 2023 21:21:42 GMT

@sarahpanda My local Safeway always has 1 or 2 registers open, more if busy. They have 6 self checks and if someone needs help there is an employee right there who will assist the person and do it for them or help them with it.

Your store may differ.

Re: Grocery stores and self check-out

Group 5 minus 1 — Wed, 08 Nov 2023 21:23:27 GMT

We used to hate those,but now we love them. Always someone to help if there is an error and it goes quickly.

Re: Grocery stores and self check-out

Sage04 — Wed, 08 Nov 2023 21:25:21 GMT

@sarahpanda you did what was best for you, but at the same time you could have asked her to help you.

I heard that a few supermarkets are planning to use self check outs only. But that does not mean that anyone will lose there jobs. Those that I frequent always have employees hanging around in case they are needed.

I prefer self checkout. Two less people handling my groceries. The Checker and the bagger.

Re: Grocery stores and self check-out

docsgirl — Wed, 08 Nov 2023 21:26:34 GMT

Our local grocery stores have both. We have a small family owned chain and they refuse to have self check-out. They said they want to keep people employed. Also, they want their customers to continue to experience face to face contact when they shop and check out. I will now only shop there.

Re: Grocery stores and self check-out

Love my grandkids — Wed, 08 Nov 2023 21:27:02 GMT

@sarahpanda Your behavior remids me of the saying "Cut off your nose to spite your face." So you left without your items. Why not just ASK for assistance instead of behaving like that?

Re: Grocery stores and self check-out

on the bay — Wed, 08 Nov 2023 21:27:37 GMT

I like them now more than a cashier checking out.

I can take my time and pack things like I want. I like that they won't be too heavy as when I say don't pack too heavy to a cashier that can mean many different things to many people.

There is always someone to help and once you get used to it, it is pretty nice.

The only time I would rather have a cashier is if I'm super tired and there is no butler to put the groceries away lol!!

Re: Grocery stores and self check-out

781Florist — Wed, 08 Nov 2023 21:28:11 GMT

@sarahpanda I would have done the exact same thing. I left a Home Depot once (was only impulse buying a door mat they were featuring) and there were no cashiers at all. Just some self checkouts.

There is a supermarket in my town that reduced the number of cashiered checkouts by half and expanded the self checkouts.

This does seem to be the way it is eventually going to be.

Re: Grocery stores and self check-out

millieshops — Wed, 08 Nov 2023 21:33:03 GMT

@sarahpanda It feels as if the answer is yes and no! In some chains or even in some stores within a chain, there are very few cashiers. What those stores have done in my arrea is station someone in the self-serve area to help and to quickly solve problems.

I'm not optimistic we're going back to total cashier checkout in our area. We're already at what is called full employment, so there are more jobs available than there are people to fill them. Supermarkets have always run on one of the lowest profit margins in business, and cashiers earn more than minimum wage, I think. I don't love self checkout, but as long as there are helpers nearby I manage.

The Publix closest to my home, carrently the oldest and smallest of the six easiest to get to, is going to close down after the New Year to enlarge and remodel. That makes me more unhappy than doing self-checkout. I'll miss being able to stop in for a very few items, something I've gone back to now that Covid seems to be more under control.

Re: Grocery stores and self check-out

Mz iMac — Wed, 08 Nov 2023 21:33:52 GMT

In my neck of the woods, the cashiers are unionized. If the store wants me to use "self checkout" then they will have to PAY ME!

Not sure about this but I think in my neck of the woods, Aldi's is the only grocery store that is NOT unionized. I don't shop there.

@Love my grandkids I would have done the same as the OP.

Re: Grocery stores and self check-out

Imaoldhippie — Wed, 08 Nov 2023 21:41:31 GMT

I say this everytime a post comes up about this. You pump your own gas and have been for years. A lot of people lost jobs because of that. There is no difference.

Now people are all up in arms about self checkouts. The public let them get their foot in the door years ago with pumping gas, now we reap what we sow.

Re: Grocery stores and self check-out

AZfem — Wed, 08 Nov 2023 22:53:15 GMT

In my area, there are both & some like Target have 8 or 10 self checkouts but always a register or 2 open & more on busy days.

I think these stores are having trouble finding employees as I always see signs for help wanted upon entering

The only time self checkout bothers me is if I have lots of produce & have to look up codes if they're not on the items.

Re: Grocery stores and self check-out

Enufstuff — Wed, 08 Nov 2023 22:11:10 GMT

@sarahpanda@781Florist@Mz iMac More and more stores are doing self check out

and I am doing more online shopping and home delivery.

It started several years ago with Stop & Shop. I did do it a couple of times and there was always a problem and someone needed to help. No more of that for me.

That store has about ten registers and only one or two are open with checkers working. The rest are self checkout. I believe that causes more shoplifting and we are paying higher prices for everything to cover their losses. Their prices are higher than other supermarkets.

They have one person to help with self checkout, that means

that 8 fewer people are working at each shift. Of course, the stores are doing this to save paying employees.

My daughter refuses to shop there anymore. The last time she was there. She had filled her cart and wanted to check out. No register open (out of 10). Only self checkout was available. She found a manager and said, "I don't work here. If you don't open another register, I'm leaving the whole cart of food here."

Guess what, they opened another register. But, she will not shop at that store any longer.

Re: Grocery stores and self check-out

lgfan — Wed, 08 Nov 2023 21:46:15 GMT

@Imaoldhippie wrote:
I say this everytime a post comes up about this. You pump your own gas and have been for years. A lot of people lost jobs because of that. There is no difference.

Now people are all up in arms about self checkouts. The public let them get their foot in the door years ago with pumping gas, now we reap what we sow.

It is the same with banks. I remember back in the dark ages banks were only opened from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. There was no Saturday service, direct deposit, online payments or ATM's. Everything had to be done by a bank teller. Now when I go to a bank I only see one or two bank tellers working at one time.

Re: Grocery stores and self check-out

kitcat51 — Wed, 08 Nov 2023 21:49:22 GMT

I would never leave a cart filled with items I put in it for an employee to return to the shelves...I'd put the items back myself. Sadly that is what the world is today...ridiculous people, ridiculous behavior.

Re: Grocery stores and self check-out

lgfan — Wed, 08 Nov 2023 21:55:47 GMT

@kitcat51 wrote:
I would never leave a cart filled with items I put in it for an employee to return to the shelves...I'd put the items back myself. Sadly that is what the world is today...ridiculous people, ridiculous behavior.

I agree with you. I would not have left the items. I would have used the self check-out that one time and would not have returned to that store if I was not happy. Maybe next time people should pay attention to the method of checking out before filling a cart with items.

Re: Grocery stores and self check-out

Jk9 — Wed, 08 Nov 2023 22:06:27 GMT

I am very independent and don't particularly like having contact with people. I don't do small talk or polite chat so I don't miss that part. I don't mind self check out but use cashier occupied registers too and it mostly depends on which has more of a line when I am ready to check out. I prefer fewer people handling my stuff.

Re: Grocery stores and self check-out

Mz iMac — Wed, 08 Nov 2023 22:10:23 GMT

@Imaoldhippie wrote:
I say this everytime a post comes up about this. You pump your own gas and have been for years. A lot of people lost jobs because of that. There is no difference.

@Imaoldhippie In New Jersey it is illegal to pump your own gas! And if you're lucky to find one (N.J. Turnpike), some will clean your windshield & check your oil while they pump your gas.

Re: Grocery stores and self check-out

luvzchiz — Wed, 08 Nov 2023 22:12:21 GMT

I love self check outs and use them whenever I can. I, too, prefer fewer people handling my purchases especially when I have taken great care to choose eggs or produce.

In the past, I have had checkers not being careful with my items.

Re: Grocery stores and self check-out

Kachina624 — Wed, 08 Nov 2023 22:11:36 GMT

I've heard that theft at self-checkouts is huge, which is no surprise. Some stores are going back to the old system.