Community Chat

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@catter70 wrote:

It's been slowly happening over the past few years, but from just last week when I shopped they are down to only 4 checkout aisles with a person to check you out. They've put in all new self check aisles. I'm an early bird so I usually had to check my stuff myself anyhow as that was all that was available. My sister goes later in the day and complains about the long lines for checkouts with people as she doesn't like to self check. I spoke to the lady who overlooks the self checks in case siomeone needs help and she said for them, it's all different and they don't even know how to work them if there is an issue as they've gotten no instruction. 

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@catter70 

You got 4 aisles with a cashier to check you out--WOW!!! The most we've had here for years and years is 3---so count your blessings .......And the self check is so slow going and there's always an issue with at least one item that wont ring up and the customer has to wait for help.....🙄......Thats why curbside and delivery keeps growing and growing!!!!

The worst experience was at Target several of us were waiting in line with a cashier checkout and after she completed a checkout she closed her register and said everyone would need to go to the self-checkout lines because they needed to vacuum and make sure the store was tidy. I wanted to tell her, Ill vacuum and you take care of the groceries!!!😫

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@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.

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@pinkcrystal 

I dont mind them at all being friendly as long as their competent with multi-tasking......Better than the sour faced, in a bad mood cashiers at some stores

[cody2]

We have a large Walmart and they only have one cashier line. All the rest are self-check and they are chaos and long, long lines. I quit shopping there.

[cody2]

On the other hand, I have a niece who is adopted and has worked there for years. She was born with fetal alcohol syndrome. While her condition is limiting in some ways she has had a good job with benefits since she started as a teenager. She is able to have income, health benefits and some independence and pride for the job she has. I admire that Walmart has many employees just like her.

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@PINKdogWOOD wrote:

I stopped years ago spending my money at Walmart. Checking myself out with a cart FULL of their stuff albeit groceries or other stuff is something I refuse to do. I don't get paid to do their work nor does the store offer a percentage off my bottom line for doing the work others got a paycheck for.

How dare they take away jobs from all the checkers they used to employ. I think it's quite a shame that such a large retain store treat their employees like this. Did they keep all of these employees and move them to other areas of their stores? I don't really know but I do hope so. We were never really Walmart regulars but I know many people are. The store we would go to is HUGE and had MANY checkout lanes with employees working them.  

If Corporate Walmart thinks this is the right way to treat their employees, I do not need to shop at a place like this.

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@PINKdogWOOD 

I agree with a lot of what you are saying.....Walmart has always been my last option---the employees at the closest store near me are rude to customers and even argue with each other .........BUT they arent the only ones going with the self checkouts-----Targets another, Home Depot, Dollar General, CVS, Albertsons, Krogers, and many others and growing........

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@gardenman wrote:

The whole "Why should I do their work?" aspect always confuses me. You're doing the same thing you'd do anyway unless you shop someplace where they empty your cart and then load the bagged groceries back into the cart for you. The only extra step is waving the item past the scanner. You still unload your cart and then load the bagged items afterward. You still pay the same. It's just where you put the items as you remove them from the cart. Instead of putting them directly on the conveyor belt you just wave them past the scanner then put them into your bag. You have more control, knowing what goes into each bag and fewer people are handling your stuff.

In terms of calories spent, I'd be surprised if you burned even ten more calories using a self-checkout over a manned checkout. You're still emptying your cart and putting your items someplace. Only instead of putting them on the conveyor belt, you're moving them past the scanner and then putting them into a bag. You then still pick up the bag and put it back in your cart. You still pay the same way. I don't see where using the self-checkout is that much more work than using a manned checkout. 

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@gardenman 

You are right wih some exceptions--At our grocery store, HEB, yes, the customer puts the items on the conveyor belt. HOWEVER, the cashier or a bagger, puts the merchandise in bags and loads up the bags into the shopping cart and will even take the bags to your car, and also load them into your car. But most people prefer to take the shopping cart to their car themselves, and do their own unloading.

Sometimes if things are slow, if you shop early, they will even unload the groceries to the conveyor belt for you....They do have plenty of cashiers on hand for both regular checkouts as well as Express checkouts (15 items or less), as well as Self Checkouts....

The good about self check is you can bag the items how YOU like....some of the cashiers/baggers are e not good at that task at all!!! So thats a PLUS for self check!

But whats bad on the self checkouts is some people move so sloooowwwwww.....or always have some issue with self check....Especially Walmarts....never had an issue with HEB's...

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@Greeneyedlady21 wrote:

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@scatcat wrote:

With the minimum wage increase I'm not surprised there are so many self check out stations replacing humans.

People complain grocery prices are increasing - how are workers paid their wage increase?

Can't have it both ways 

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The federal minimum wage hasn't increased since 2009. States can increase it by amounts that hardly require large hugely profitable grocery stores to increase prices by those amounts. It's price gouging and inflation these days.

Grocery store employees literally put their lives on the line during the worst days of covid, they more than deserve to be paid more. The largest grocery chain store where I live pays $15/hr, and they got that only because they're unionized and went on strike once many years ago to get it. 

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@Greeneyedlady21 

Our grocery store in Texas, HEB, treats their employees like "gold", excellent wages and benefits and chances for promotions and thats always been their way---And during Covid they even gave extra bonuses......They do a lot in the community too....

[gidgetgh]

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@San Antonio Gal wrote:

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@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.

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I like the self checkout also unless I have a ton of products.  However, when using a cashier, I don't mind interacting with the cashier like you do.  Nothing wrong with friendly conversation.  Why would it bother you if the cashier asks how you are doing @pinkcrystal ?

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@San Antonio Gal - some people would hate grocery shopping, or shopping at Target, with me. I am very talkative.  Cashiers, bag boys, other customers. I'm friendly to everyone. 

[Katcat1]

A couple of years ago, I had the cashier take my charge no. and use it charging over $300 in merchandise but my charge account people caught it.  Not sure if they caught who did it.  I think Walmart needs to give a decent hourly wage so they would not steal.  I remember when I was out of work and had to work temporary.  It was difficult to get the higher hourly wages and it's diffiult to live off $12 when you are the only provider.

[Midmod]

I stopped years ago spending my money at Walmart. Checking myself out with a cart FULL of their stuff albeit groceries or other stuff is something I refuse to do. I don't get paid to do their work nor does the store offer a percentage off my bottom line for doing the work others got a paycheck for.



How dare they take away jobs from all the checkers they used to employ. I think it's quite a shame that such a large retain store treat their employees like this. Did they keep all of these employees and move them to other areas of their stores? I don't really know but I do hope so. We were never really Walmart regulars but I know many people are. The store we would go to is HUGE and had MANY checkout lanes with employees working them.



If Corporate Walmart thinks this is the right way to treat their employees, I do not need to shop at a place like this




@PINKdogWOOD

I've had in past years cashiers who ring an item twice and I didn't catch it or cashier's who plainly DID NOT want to be working and were very apathetic and sometimes downright unpleasant.
It's a huge hassle for me to wait in line after I worked all day for usually only a few items. When I use self checkout, I know it's rang up correctly. Now I use scan & go thru the Walmart app. I know technology isn't for everyone but that works best for me. The only issue with that is finding a self checkout that's not being used to scan the 2D on the screen. If I have to wait in line, what's the point of the scan & go feature in the app? I've passed this on many times to TPTB.
Have you considered that finding enough ppl to actually man every register is almost impossible? Unfortunately it seems COVID left us with many ppl in our workforce who'd rather sit home. And for that tired old argument about pay, Walmart pays as well as any comparable job in any area. Working for a Walmart store doesn't require any more education than a GED so the pay is adequate. And that pay beats sitting home or calling in sick to the point of barely earning a livable wage. You gotta work to eat if you can or SHOULD work if you can. ( "You" means "anyone" )
To your point, self checkouts have someone watching over them and most will help you to the point of ringing everything up for you if you can't or are uncomfortable doing it. So just call her/him and they'll help I'm sure!! Have a great week next week!