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Original poster

Has anyone else noticed how deathly quiet and depressing . . .

251 replies

trythisforsize · 04/04/2023 18:57

supermarkets become when they change over to self service tills?

My aldi used to be really lively and chatty but 2 weeks ago they installed 10 self service checkouts and only one normal checkout left. . Now it's like a morgue. I hate going there. I stopped going to a local sainsbury's due to this.
Shopping in silence makes me feel depressed, self conscious and generally crap.

I'm going to shop elsewhere where it's mainly proper checkouts.

The way shopping has gone is sad isn't it?

OP posts:
HungryMum101 · 04/04/2023 18:59

I get almost everything delivered these days. If they don’t work for you, use them less.

Stardustkid · 04/04/2023 19:00

Sorry I love it no making inane small talk no wondering what the cashier thinks about my unhealthy love of shortbread

shivawn · 04/04/2023 19:00

I didn't realise that Aldi we're switching to self service, I've never seen that in their stores before. I'm not really sure how I feel about it to be honest.

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Blueflag22 · 04/04/2023 19:02

Stardustkid · 04/04/2023 19:00

Sorry I love it no making inane small talk no wondering what the cashier thinks about my unhealthy love of shortbread

It is a sad society though and so many jobs being lost. No chit chat like the old days. Honestly I agree OP it's not a great way forward for society

CrapBucket · 04/04/2023 19:02

I always go to a cashier. Me and whoever else is in the queue chunter about machines taking over the world. Then I have a chat with the cashier about how their day is os and how my day is. Much better than the fucking bastard of self serve.

Scutterbug · 04/04/2023 19:03

Works better for me. I have anxiety and just want to get in and out as quickly as possible!

TwilightSkies · 04/04/2023 19:04

Shopping in silence makes me feel depressed, self conscious and generally crap.

This seems a bit extreme

Ilikewinter · 04/04/2023 19:06

I have to say that scan and pack was the best thing ever invented....so much quicker than going through a manned checkout or a self service till. Im not bothered about idle chit chat, just want to get in, get done, get out.

Hbh17 · 04/04/2023 19:07

I love self-service tills! I don't want to make inane chitchat with a complete stranger on the checkout, so I try to avoid eye contact with them. The quieter the supermarket, the better! They could do with turning off the piped music, too.....

MaryJean87 · 04/04/2023 19:08

I've not noticed any self service checkouts in any of the Aldis near me. I prefer to use the proper tills if I'm doing a full food shop as there is never enough space to put everything on a self service till and it takes too long. If I'm just buying a few bits I prefer to self scan as it's quicker than queuing.
But I actually prefer it when a shop is quieter as I just want to do my shop, pay and get out as soon as I can. Hate when it's busy and I can't look properly, people dawdling around, then have to queue for ages.

BatshitCrazyWoman · 04/04/2023 19:09

CrapBucket · 04/04/2023 19:02

I always go to a cashier. Me and whoever else is in the queue chunter about machines taking over the world. Then I have a chat with the cashier about how their day is os and how my day is. Much better than the fucking bastard of self serve.

I do, too.

GalileoHumpkins · 04/04/2023 19:12

Shopping in silence makes me feel depressed, self conscious and generally crap

In what way does it make you feel self-conscious? I've never noticed that a supermarket is particularly chatty or lively, I'm food shopping not going clubbing.

MYSTERIOUSGIRLONLINE · 04/04/2023 19:18

I'd noticed how quiet it is in my local Tesco's with more self-service machines operating and I personally do not like them. I have to keep asking for assistance as they don't scan a product or it's an over 18 product I've purchased and I start getting a tad temperamental with the machine shouting at it lol. I do love going to a checkout with a human cashier and having a good chat about whatever. My local shops are great for that and I come out having had a giggle but smiling too. It it really makes a huge difference to your day!

taxguru · 04/04/2023 19:23

I love self service and hardly ever use a manned till anymore, mostly only for things that I know will need attention, such as age verification, tag removal, etc., where it's usually quicker to use a manned till as they're quieter than the self service ones which always seem to have a queue and just one member of staff constantly dealing with age, tags or other problems. Makes it much quicker to be in and out.

I have the option of two small supermarkets near me. One doesn't have self serve tills, the other does. I nearly always go to the one with self serve tills because the service is quicker (don't end up stuck in a queue with Mabel telling the cashier her life story)!

topcat2014 · 04/04/2023 19:23

I know the names of Aldi cashiers at ours, and they are quite jolly. It would be sad if it went self service, plus I usually spend £100 which would take forever for me to do

Easterfunbun · 04/04/2023 19:24

Aldi became MUCH more tolerable once they installed 10 self check outs at my local one. It was absolutely manic in there before and now it’s really eased the congestion. Tbh i don’t go to the supermarket for a chat I go to buy food.

Original poster
trythisforsize · 04/04/2023 19:30

It's not self service tills themselves I dislike. I quite like being able to walk right through when I only have 3 things. I don't always feel like talking either but I've never felt under pressure to make chitchat if I didn't feel like it, but sometimes it's really nice. I liked all the people who worked in Aldi. I don't know their names but most had been there years. All gone now.

It's not great for big trolley shops either as the only proper checkpout now always has a massive trolley shopper using it - so it's a no go if you have a basket.

It's the eerie quietness I'm talking about here. Walking around a supermarket with no noise is a really weird feeling and it makes me want to get out of there as soon as possible. Hardly any actual shoppers too - just pickers getting other peoples shopping - in silence.

I'm not a self conscious person usually but I feel the pressure of everyone watching me in silence while I make the self service thing beep over and over again because it won't register the light items.

Maybe it's just me then.

I don't buy enough to warrant a delivery, especially when Aldi is a 5 minute walk.

OP posts:
megletthesecond · 04/04/2023 19:31

Yanbu. I love chatting with cashiers. I find waitrose and sainburys are usually best for this.

user1471518104 · 04/04/2023 19:31

MYSTERIOUSGIRLONLINE · 04/04/2023 19:18

I'd noticed how quiet it is in my local Tesco's with more self-service machines operating and I personally do not like them. I have to keep asking for assistance as they don't scan a product or it's an over 18 product I've purchased and I start getting a tad temperamental with the machine shouting at it lol. I do love going to a checkout with a human cashier and having a good chat about whatever. My local shops are great for that and I come out having had a giggle but smiling too. It it really makes a huge difference to your day!

You do realise when you are chatting there are people waiting to be served right ?

Adding self service points does not mean sacking staff. It means redeploying them into other, sometimes more productive work.

bellac11 · 04/04/2023 19:33

I absolutely hate it. We are ruining any concept of society and running headlong into isolation, lonliness, poor communication, poor public and customer services across all sectors.

RichardHeed · 04/04/2023 19:35

Silence? I think you might need your hearing checked if you think a supermarket is in silence because a handful of people chatting to cashiers has gone. That’s really not going to make the blind bit of difference to the noise levels.

Original poster
trythisforsize · 04/04/2023 19:37

RichardHeed · 04/04/2023 19:35

Silence? I think you might need your hearing checked if you think a supermarket is in silence because a handful of people chatting to cashiers has gone. That’s really not going to make the blind bit of difference to the noise levels.

It really does though

OP posts:
Easterfunbun · 04/04/2023 19:40

That sounds nothing like my aldi at all. Mine is always heaving and it’s never quiet like that. To me that sounds blissful.

thecatsthecats · 04/04/2023 19:40

To be honest, I always found myself standing behind someone who chatted lots with the till assistant in the queue, and brightly saying, "Hello" myself when I got to the front for the till person to go dead silent on me.

I didn't particularly want to chat, but found it fucking rude.

Self service at least gives the same service to everyone.

oakleaffy · 04/04/2023 19:41

megletthesecond · 04/04/2023 19:31

Yanbu. I love chatting with cashiers. I find waitrose and sainburys are usually best for this.

I love Waitrose.
It’s not cheap, but lovely staff and nicely presented .
M&S staff were lovely, too but the one near me closed down. :(

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