Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

Self-service checkouts. If there’s a queue, do you wait to be called forward by the staff?

62 replies

IntentionalError · 31/12/2022 19:30

And, if so, why?

I have been in several busy supermarkets recently and people just stood blankly at the head of the queue waiting for a staff member to call them to use an available machine. If the staff member is busy, this can result in a queue of frustrated customers & unused machines, which is daft. I have taken to pointing out unused machines to people in front of me if they are not using them. Why do people do this?

OP posts:
Tootsey11 · 31/12/2022 19:31

Because they are as thick as champ.

Plumbear2 · 31/12/2022 19:33

Because they don't see them. Because elderly people get confused. Maybe a little compassion is called for.

earsup · 31/12/2022 19:34

No...I look for an empty machine and proceed, many just stand there gazing at the floor or phone while the queues build up....local Asda is the worst, seems to attract all those in a day dream....

Rumbasedcocktail · 31/12/2022 19:35

They're probably not paying attention. It's not a massive deal though is it? Sometimes people have something else on their mind or aren't feeling 100% or checked 10 seconds ago and the checkouts were all busy still. It's not like they're driving and not paying attention they're just stood in a queue.

WhiteFire · 31/12/2022 19:36

I think sometimes if you are first in the queue it is sometimes more difficult to see a free one as your line of vision can be blocked.

Also some are card only and some may want to pay by cash.

It is frustrating though.

lifegavemealemon · 31/12/2022 19:36

I used to work on a self checkout and it was so annoying when people stood there staring at me when the entire self checkout was empty! Fair enough if it is busy and hard to spot a free checkout but most people just stand there waiting and I would have to scream next please over and over!

Wavingnotdrown1ng · 31/12/2022 19:39

In Asda, most are card only and some are cash and card. When I’ve seen the queue back up it’s because the customer want to pay cash and only a few tills accommodate this in some shops.

Original poster
IntentionalError · 31/12/2022 19:41

earsup · 31/12/2022 19:34

No...I look for an empty machine and proceed, many just stand there gazing at the floor or phone while the queues build up....local Asda is the worst, seems to attract all those in a day dream....

I agree about Asda, it does seem to attract a particularly dopey clientele.

OP posts:
Vitriolinsanity · 31/12/2022 19:43

Because they are as thick as champ.

nailed it, thread done Grin

WhatDoYouWantNow · 31/12/2022 19:44

Some people are sheep, they can only function if they're being told what to do.

Vitriolinsanity · 31/12/2022 19:44

I do think anywhere that needs to deploy a giant pointy finger needs to expect support is necessary,

KaroH · 31/12/2022 19:45

It annoys me but I also sometimes linger a moment too. Normally if the person in front didn't go to it and i'm trying to see if its out of order.

I've been bitten too many times going to the free one that's turns out to be knackered and then getting stressed trying to get back in the front of the queue as the people that were behind me try to push past to the next free one instead.

mamabear715 · 31/12/2022 19:47

Just go for the cashiers instead, keep people in jobs..

popandchoc · 31/12/2022 19:48

Ours always seems to have a queue build up because people want to pay cash but only about 3 of them take cash . Annoying when you are paying card and they are free but you are stuck in queue .

Stellaris22 · 31/12/2022 19:49

mamabear715 · 31/12/2022 19:47

Just go for the cashiers instead, keep people in jobs..

That's not true.

I work in a small supermarket and it isn't losing people's jobs (we're under staffed anyway!) it just means we can get on with other duties.

shrunkenhead · 31/12/2022 19:50

I think people are scared because the available machine might be out of order and then won't realise this until it's too late then they'd have to go to the back of the queue and start again. If a cashier beckons you forward you can avoid that embarrassing and inconvenient situation.

caravanbuckie · 31/12/2022 19:51

I'm probably frozen to the spot and need prompting. Im sorry to be a pita but I can assure you it is harder for me to be in that situation than it is for you to be mildly inconvenienced.

EddietheEagle · 31/12/2022 19:51

@IntentionalError

I agree about Asda, it does seem to attract a particularly dopey clientele.

Is that why you were in there?

Original poster
IntentionalError · 31/12/2022 19:51

mamabear715 · 31/12/2022 19:47

Just go for the cashiers instead, keep people in jobs..

Believe me, I boycotted the self service machines for many years for just this reason, but it got to the point that there were so few staffed checkouts with such long queues that I simply couldn’t justify waiting 15 minute to pay for a basket of groceries.

OP posts:
ChristineCagney11 · 31/12/2022 19:52

No I don't but if they're anything like the supermarket's I go to, some can be out of order, some card only, if someone is elderly/stressed etc it can be confusing I don't think anyone is not going forward to deliberately wind you up.
Just as an add on, if you are one of those people who turn up right next to me before I've even finished I will pack slower as I'm middle aged and zero fecks to give.

catandcoffee · 31/12/2022 19:52

Plumbear2 · 31/12/2022 19:33

Because they don't see them. Because elderly people get confused. Maybe a little compassion is called for.

who mentioned elderly 😂

Brokendaughter · 31/12/2022 19:53

I can't see that far so if someone doesn't tell me I really wouldn't know.
I don't look like I'm as sight impaired as I am, but if you are much more than 2 metres away from me I cannot even recognise my own relatives.

I don't use those stupid checkouts anymore because it's tiresome having people bitch as if you are partially sighted just to spite them & trying to intentionally delay them by a few seconds when they want to check out their very important sandwich.

ChristineCagney11 · 31/12/2022 19:55

*I didn't mean 'you'

Vitriolinsanity · 31/12/2022 19:56

I'm not so keen on the SS machines. Too much information about ones bagging area. But the clicky point gadgets are marvellous.

spanieleyes · 31/12/2022 19:59

Every single one of the self serve machines was playing up yesterday, the poor attendant was running from one to the other to " clear" the problem, but as soon as she moved off, it went wrong again. The level of frustration was palpable 😡