Walmart checkouts - Page 11

shoesnbags · ‎03-10-2010

@gardenman wrote:
They just replaced the self-checkouts in my Walmart and that has everyone a bit confused. You used to have to tell the machine you were done and select a payment option. I kept trying to get that screen to come up, but there is no payment option screen any longer. You just swipe your card or insert your cash when you're done, and the machine assumes that's how you want to pay. It makes sense. It should also be faster. It's a little confusing the first time you run into it, and the display just stops showing the things you're used to seeing.

Until now you had to tell the checkout you were done, select your payment option, with some options hidden on sub-menus, then checkout. Now you just finish scanning and swipe your card. Faster, easier, and simpler, once you know that's how it works now. When you don't know that's how it works now, you're like me trying to get up the old screens. Tapping here and there and everywhere and nothing happens. From now on it should be even faster checking out at the self-checkouts.

@gardenman

It was so interesting to me to read your post, because the Walmarts around me have never had the older system you described. Our self checkouts have always been exactly the way you are describing your new version.

I've tried to remember how long these machines have been in use, but I can't. Probably a couple of years. I've used them from the start because I absolutely hate waiting in the long lines for the registers with a live person. Self check is always faster.

BTW I can imagine how aggravating it is to have to switch when you're used to doing it a certain way.

"Breathe in, breathe out, move on." Jimmy Buffett

Tinkrbl44 · ‎08-23-2010

@Kachina624 wrote:

@Greeneyedlady21 wrote:
Most stores have multiple self checkouts and have for many years now.

Walmart pays their employees very low wages, and they are known for very poor labor practices.
@Greeneyedlady21 Wal-Mart pays employees commiserate with their skills and experience. They employ thousands who have little of either and who otherwise would have no job opportunities.

Can you cite an example of a poor labor practice? Their employees are happy enough that the company has survived for years without unionization.

@Kachina624

It's a little annoying when some young person gets out of school, has no further plans for education, and yet complains about just getting minimum wage somewhere.

What exactly can they do for an employer? They have no skills!

speedy girl · ‎06-03-2018

Ever since covid, I use self check most of the time. I figure it's one less person I come in contact with and I kind of enjoy it anyway.

gardenman · ‎03-09-2010

@shoesnbags wrote:
@gardenman wrote:
They just replaced the self-checkouts in my Walmart and that has everyone a bit confused. You used to have to tell the machine you were done and select a payment option. I kept trying to get that screen to come up, but there is no payment option screen any longer. You just swipe your card or insert your cash when you're done, and the machine assumes that's how you want to pay. It makes sense. It should also be faster. It's a little confusing the first time you run into it, and the display just stops showing the things you're used to seeing.

Until now you had to tell the checkout you were done, select your payment option, with some options hidden on sub-menus, then checkout. Now you just finish scanning and swipe your card. Faster, easier, and simpler, once you know that's how it works now. When you don't know that's how it works now, you're like me trying to get up the old screens. Tapping here and there and everywhere and nothing happens. From now on it should be even faster checking out at the self-checkouts.
@gardenman
It was so interesting to me to read your post, because the Walmarts around me have never had the older system you described. Our self checkouts have always been exactly the way you are describing your new version.

I've tried to remember how long these machines have been in use, but I can't. Probably a couple of years. I've used them from the start because I absolutely hate waiting in the long lines for the registers with a live person. Self check is always faster.

BTW I can imagine how aggravating it is to have to switch when you're used to doing it a certain way.

It wasn't aggravating as much as confusing. With the old machines when you were done scanning items there was a "Finish and Pay" button. Then up would come a list of payment options and then a button under that for "More options." You'd select which payment option you were using and go from there. That system had been in place for ten or more years here.

With the new system there is no "Finish and Pay" option or anything else. You just stop scanning and slide your card or insert the cash. It's faster and easier once you know that's how the new system works. It takes away a couple of screens and should speed up the checkout process. It was just different. I expected it to work similarly to how every other self-checkout I've used works and it didn't. It's simpler and faster this way though. It saves maybe ten to thirty seconds per transaction which is a good thing. Every self-checkout I've used prior to this requires you to tell it you're done, but this one doesn't. You just stop scanning and pay. It's very easy. Once you know that's how it works.

Fly!!! Eagles!!! Fly!!!

geezerette · ‎03-16-2010

@gardenman

Our Walmart Superstore had changed those self checkout features a while ago too. (Our Superstor and Neighborhood Market have completely different screen layouts.)

I figured they eliminated those last steps because people (like me) had discovered you could skip them anyway and just insert your cash or card when you were done scanning your items even before they changed them.

gardenman · ‎03-09-2010

@geezerette wrote:
@gardenman

Our Walmart Superstore had changed those self checkout features a while ago too. (Our Superstor and Neighborhood Market have completely different screen layouts.)

I figured they eliminated those last steps because people (like me) had discovered you could skip them anyway and just insert your cash or card when you were done scanning your items even before they changed them.

That could be. I always just followed their procedures and never tried paying before being prompted. It should speed things up though without those extra steps.

Fly!!! Eagles!!! Fly!!!

haddon9 · ‎03-09-2010

I think I have been in Walmart maybe 5 times in my life....three when my son was in college and another time or two when I was out of town.

There are no Walmarts near me and there are plenty of other stores that I would prefer anyway.

CalminHeart · ‎03-09-2010

@pinkcrystal wrote:
I honestly prefer self checkouts. I hated going through lines with checkers who asked questions about how I was doing or were super slow, or worst of all the ones who would stop while checking to look at something I was buying and say things "wow I love this, where did you find this" or "I use this all the time too" etc.

Maybe I'm in the minority though.

I worked in a grocery store after retiring. I was a checker only for a few months but it was the most boring job I every had. Add incredibly rude customers, or those who thought they were too good to talk to you, and it sure wasn't a picnic. Talking to customers was a way to not go crazy.

Luckily, I quickly moved to Customer Service where most customers appreciated the work I did.

gardenman · ‎03-09-2010

@Twins Mom wrote:
Unfortunately a review of police reports in our area indicates how much theft goes on daily at Walmart, both going through self-checkout and completely avoiding checkout. Its so disheartening to see how rampant theft is.

Sadly, this isn't new. My grandfather owned a small general store/newspaper/magazine business back in the 50s and 60s and theft was widespread even back then. The thieves ended up putting him out of business. People would just come in and grab armfuls of groceries or other stuff and run out with them.

If he reported the theft and the police arrested the thieves, he'd have to close his store to go to court, and then they wouldn't show up costing him still more money.

In the Philadelphia market, we've seen multiple Wawa convenience stores close after gangs of thieves come in and ransack the places. The thieves say the same thing now as they did back then. "Insurance will pay for what we took." Uh, no. And if it does, the insurance rates just go up to where they're unaffordable.

If you could eliminate theft completely, and Amazon with their checkout-free stores is pretty close to doing that, then you could drop prices a ton. In order to shop in some of Amazon's stores, you have to have an account with them and use the phone app to get in. Then cameras monitor you in the store and you just walk out with whatever you've picked up and it gets charged to your account. By limiting entry to only those who are already paying customers and then actively monitoring everything they pick up and take, Amazon has largely eliminated the theft issue. The technical cost and headaches make it impractical for many businesses, but if you can afford it, it's a good option.

A mob of ransackers is still going to be an issue even in those types of environments, but the more casual theft gets stopped that way.

Fly!!! Eagles!!! Fly!!!