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Original poster

Do supermarket self-scanners cost jobs?

51 replies

notenoughsocks · 17/11/2011 10:27

Hello all.
Was going to post this in AIBU, but thought I would probably get a more helpful response over here.

I am finding it increasingly difficult to avoid using the self-scan machines at supermarkets. I hate, hate, hate using them becuase I have always assumed that they take jobs from real people.
However I can't seem to get a straight answer on this from the till-workers I ask about it. They all definatley hate the machines and half-imply that they are costing jobs. But more so, they seem to hate working with the machines. They all say that they find it much more stressful to over-see eight machines (which seems to be the standard) than to work at the one till. I assume they get no more money for this either and suspect that over time, their wages might even be driven down because the of the removal of their jobs.

I have come across some counter-arguments suggesting that their is no net job loss as this move is creating more hi-tech, better paying jobs in those areas that create the self-scan machines. But, even if I was to let myself belive this, I would still think that it is 'women's' jobs that are being taken away and replaced by the sort of jobs that men are more likely to get.

Any solid information would be gratefully recieved (I have a slowly forming idea of a sticker campaign or something like it).

OP posts:
MillyR · 17/11/2011 10:49

I don't know if it costs jobs, but it certainly seems to cause more stress. The customers get more stressed by using them, so are likely to respond to staff in a less pleasant manner.

The way they operate seems to be primarily based on avoiding shoplifting, so that the machine constantly checks if you have added more weight without scanning it. This seems to lead to lots of errors. They seem to be more difficult to operate than if the customer was just scanning things on a conveyor the way that till operators do. So they're no there to make things easier for the customer or the operators, so what are they there for? Presumably to reduce staffing costs.

I also think that they reduce contact between human beings, which is more of an issue for women who are more likely to have to do the shopping. That is probably an issue for the elderly as well, who are often quite isolated and contact with shopkeepers may be the only people they speak to on some days. The machines are also difficult to operate if you have kids in tow or if you are elderly/infirm and struggle with the buttons, seeing what is on the screen etc.