Are self checkout lines a thing of the past?

[mattl]

When I said "Low paid clerk" I'm referring tot he gum chewing kid that can't make change with out the register telling them how may coins to give me.  Somehow I'm not expecting a stimulating conversation from them.  I don't know how many times I've totally flummoxed a clerk of just about any age when I give them extra change with the intention of getting a $1 back instead of more change.  One guy actually gave me $5 extra the last time I did this, I looked at him and said "Are you sure?"

 

Perhaps it's the area I live in but 90% of the check out clerks are either bored and waiting to leave or surly, I don't need either.

 

[westie2]

Since our Wal Mart is close to corporate and is Store #4 we get the expermintal things aqnd hd the self check as a trail and then had it for 2 years before they pulled then we now have 4 types of checkouts 5 items or less. 10 items or less, 20 items or less and regular big loads it keeps the lines going pretty good.  We have 40 cvheckouts too.  We have b een to ones out of state or not close to corporate and the checkout lines cvan be long long.  We are spoiled as here they never know when someone from corporte is there or even a corporate employee.  And I also agree with others the Home Depot has the best in self checkout.

 

 

 

[petek]

Personally I don't like them as something always tends to screw up. I'd rather go to a regular checkout. Our Walmart supercenter with it's near 40 checkouts rarely has more than 10 open at the busiest times and only 2-3 at the non busy times almost forcing your to line up for the self checkouts.. Needless to say I only go in that store either in the wee hours of the morning or after 10pm.

 

[rp2813]

How Ironic

Some of the old Albertsons around here that didn't become Lucky a few years ago are becoming Fresh and Easy stores, which are entirely self-checkout.

 

 

 

[arbilab]

In Austin TX, the Albertsons that weren't "lucky" got shut down. So did Safeway/Appletree/Randalls.

Can't say I sympathasize with failed business models.

 

[passatdoc]

self check out brought me back to Costco

As much as I enjoy Costco's prices and selection, I dreaded going there because of the long, long check out lines, with people ahead of you having 100s to 1000s of dollars worth of purchases to ring up. Parking was always adequate, but it would take an hour of my time to buy a few items. Now, with self check out, I can skip the long lines and ring up my half dozen items and just get the hell out of Dodge, so to speak.

 

[jerrod6]

Hmm I don't like self checkout lines.  I don't like to bag and don't want to scan and I think it is the responsibility of the store personnel to do it.  Why should I do their job and then pay them for it?  I hope it disappears in my area.  But talk to them?  Not interested in that either.

 

[mrb627]

Funny.

When I was in my grocery store yesterday, the cashier stopped at an item and asked if had the coupon from the flier for the item. I responded that I had neglected to even flip through the flier. She said no problem and pulled a flier from underneath the bagging station, turned to the coupon and scanned it. Saving me three bucks on a single item. Most helpful.

Malcolm

 

[rolls_rapide]

I would like to find them to be quick and speedy, but as others have found, the machines are just a damn nuisance.

I usually get the response: "Unexpected item in the bagging area". So a supervisor has to be summoned.

Alcohol, DVDs and on one occasion meat, have had to be approved by the supervisor, who has to monitor six of the blooming machines, which request his/her approval all at the same time.

Another supermarket had dishwasher detergent that was scanned and came up as something else entirely.

The self-service machines in the supermarkets I go to, have the voice as "female".
Once, in the presence of the supervisor, it started to speak total gobbledygook, in a slurred male voice! We couldn't believe it. To me it sounded as though it was drunk.

 

[tomturbomatic]

Maybe it was dying like the voice of Hal 9000 in 2001 a Space Odessey got very slow and deep when Dave began pulling circuit boards to disable the murderous machine. Or maybe someone broke a bottle of something alcoholic on the scanner and the machine was indeed drunk.

Our Costco does not have self-service scanners, but given the makeup of the customers they would not be able to use them nor could they be trusted with them. It is a shame that they do not have a line or two reserved for small loads.

 

[henry200]

I appreciate having the option to use a self-checkout lane when I'm purchasing just a few items.  The problems I've encountered were very few, and the employee monitoring those lanes was johnny on the spot to take care of the trouble.  Once I got the hang of how all the motion detectors work on these lanes I no longer got the "unexpected item in bagging area"  message. 

 

The only two places where I routinely encounter overly chatty personel are at the bank and when I get my hair cut.  Otherwise I find most customer service people to be pleasantly polite but not overly "familiar"; greeting me as I approach, scanning the merchandise and saying "Thank you, have a nice day" then moving on to the next person. 

 

[passatdoc]

re: self check out in UK

I visited Sainsburys three times in a week. Each time, self check out worked perfectly, and the system even adjusted for the fact that I used my own tote bag rather than one of their plastic bags. The only glitch--to be expected--was that a supervisor had to approve (enter a code) my use of an American Express card, because most US cards lack "chip and PIN" and use a magnetic stripe instead. At least it worked...many US cards simply won't work in Europe, unless the establishment deals with a lot of tourists and can verify using the mag stripe.

It's sort of gone full circle. I remember when it was rare that anyone used credit cards in Europe, and a visitor had to carry traveler's cheques and convert them at banks as needed. Then credit card acceptance grew, and ATMs hooked up with the Star and Cirrus systems so that one could withdraw cash overseas---eliminating the need to exchange currency at the airport either before departure or upon arrival. Now, a US mag stripe card often won't work in Europe outside of tourist areas, though I seem to have better luck with AmEx than with Mastercard or VISA.

 

[toggleswitch]

Who me misogynist? NO WAY!

Didn't read this all, so here goes.

Talking for women is love and a very deep-seated need/instinct. (Endless repetition [of nothing at all] is how children learn language).
Now mind you I like to chat and socialize as much as the next girl. But I have my limits. LOL

HOWEVER, in the supermarket I tend to want a male cashier. They talk less and focus on their work more, in my experience. Get me and in out. What a sad state of affairs when a frumpy reclusive housewife finds a trip to the grocery store a major event and outing and needs major attention while there.

My observations:

They (women /housewives)

Tend to block aisles.
Get caught up in the phone (no one,especially in the store, cares what your damned feelings are at this moment, get that litre/quart of milk and SHUT-UP!) or products on the shelves and have no clue what is happening around them to consider the needs of other people. (Why do I have to REMIND you that others [including me] need to get by you and your cart?)
Then at the checkout area the two females (cashier and customer) are chatting and not working toward getting rid of one customer quick to take the next.
Then we have to dig for coupons(instead of doing it while cashier is ringing order up).
Then we have to have a debate as to prices/specials/coupons/money/special offers.
Then when the customer cant get her way, she needs to decide what to do. (Pay full price or eject the item).
The we get a rationalization and justification of the thought-process of the customer by the customer. "Well, I felt/ thought........ " to save face and not appear stupid. (TOO Late and you are making it worse.......). Now we finally dig for method of payment which is never easily or quickly located.

Honestly the self-check out, although not my favorite, at least was expediting of getting the F out of the grocery store quick and not having to deal with stupidity of customers.

OK RANT OVER. LOL

 

[spankomatic]

Adding to Steve's Rant

Where did you get your nails done?  Every Time!

 

[peterh770]

Kroger has been installing them like crazy here in the south. Funny if they start ripping them out...

They sure do cause enough human interaction! What the stores are looking for is something that generates *LESS* complaints... The clerks that oversee the self-checkouts should be getting combat pay...

 

[appnut]

Well with me having eye/hand coordination issues, it's definitely practical for me. Plus, I always ask for help taking my groceries out--I started oding this after two times of tripping over and falling in themiddle of the parking lot because of speed bumps. It's a safety issue for me. The one time I did try using them was when Steve 1-18 was here when he delivered my Fridgemore and we were on our way to Glenn's in a day or two. We were at WallyWorld getting some things (including some onsale exotic fabric softner to take to the wash-in). Steve ended up helping me scan. And I prefer seeking out the male cashiers too, but for different reasons than Steve sited. (1) Ever since the death of the two female cashiers I referred to above, it's just not the same. And (2) There are two guys as big as linebackers or tackles that are extremely hot to me. Both in highschool and I love trying to get a peek and see if they are going to be growing a hairy body!!

 

[rp2813]

Adding to Steve's list

This will always bring out the misogynist in me:

 

Female cashier and customer, the customer asks a question or makes a remark and the checker stops scanning items in order to respond.  WTF?  You can't talk and scan at the same time?  A cashier's job has become a brainless and monotonous one since the advent of scanners, so it should be even easier to talk and check at the same time, compared to the old days where the price tag on an item had to be located and then manually rung up on an actual cash register.

 

[arbilab]

The 'bagging area' nag pisses me off. For that matter the bagging area does. It's too small for more than a couple bags, but if you move one or so much as sneeze near it you get the nag. Then you have to get the supervisor to come over and soothe it or it won't do anything.

Also, in TX it is illegal to display tobacco. Customers can't even touch it until their age is recorded and it's paid for. How the hell am I supposed to get a carton of Winstons from a gawldang robot? The supervisor can't do it, she's busy with 5 other selfchecks.

Just doesn't work for me.

 

[passatdoc]

Sometimes at Costco I buy supplies for my office and supplies or food for the home. To keep accounting straight, I have two AmEx cards: the free one you get with Costco membership is my "personal" card, and I have one I for which I pay a fee (Starwood Hotels AmEx card) which is for "business" purchases.

When I approach self check out with a cart of mixed purchases (personal and business), I scan the personal stuff first and pay with the Costco AmEx. Then I scan my Costco ID again (my ID is the free AmEx), scan the business items and then pay with the Starwood card. So I exit with a mixed basket of goods and two receipts.

More often than not, one of the supervisors thinks I'm stealing because there is stuff at the other end of the belt which is not on my (Starwood receipt). I always have to have the first receipt in my shirt pocket to show him that I did two transactions.

Other than the supervisors, I like self check out much better because it's faster.

 

[mixfinder]

If There is Re-Incarnation

If there is re-incarnation I hope checkers and public service employees get to come back as the public.  The checker has something I want, efficient service.  To best expedite that I am cordial allowing the checker to take the lead in conversation.  I never use coupons, always have my card swiped and PIN entered so I am ready to roll.  I miss the days when the checker removed the items from your cart, a "box boy" bagged them and took them with you to the car.  I miss stores with knowledgable and helpful employees and most of all I miss gas stations that pumped gas, washed the window and checked under the hood if needed.  For years my work allowed to me to buy grocery orders in excess of $200.00.  I felt if I spent $200.00 a day in Nordstrom they would send a limo to get me so I expected recognition and pleasant service from the regular store.  Over time I knew the checker I wanted and would often opt for a longer line to get what I wanted.  The self check is slow, stops to weigh each item and if you try to hurry it, the attendant light flashes.  If the system could keep up with me I would appreciate it more.  Now that I am 13.5 miles from town I seldom stop at the store for an impulse buy and head for the self check.  It is so easy to cheat the machine my guess is stores are suffering excessive shrink from self check and need to go back to the checker attended station.  If lines are too long I ask for the manager and tell them it isn't fair or humane for the checkers to have the angry mobs that are waiting while the store supervisor cuts help to meet productivity guides for the store.