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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:
IsGoodIsDon · 04/04/2023 20:27

I get fed up of the “unexplained item in bagging area”.
I also think we should be entitled to a staff discount.

Speedweed · 04/04/2023 20:29

I'm with you OP. All the time we cut these little interactions with other humans, we lose out.

I also like the space of a conveyor, to be able to lay everything out and have a look at it, and inevitably realise I've forgotten something, but there is time to get it. I like having a nosy at other people's shopping. I like that a good cashier will go at my packing pace. I like the little pause in my day standing in the queue, and the pleasantries to the people behind me who held my place while I dashed for the thing I forgot.

I do most of food shopping online now, because I like the interactions with the delivery person, and I don't like how quiet and annoying the self service checkouts are. The staff who man them always seem to be in the foulest mood, and I don't blame them.

megletthesecond · 04/04/2023 20:30

When my dc's were little the cashiers were the only adults I would speak to at weekends.

Last week I heard how the cashiers sister hadn't had a covid jab and how stupid she was as they'd had family in intensive care with it. (I agreed). I'll chat to almost anyone about anything.

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General health
MarshaBradyo · 04/04/2023 20:31

I love self scan but this reaction seems quite strong

Sainsbury’s always has staff around and they’re usually pretty happy and chatting to each other around the aisles

magicthree · 04/04/2023 20:37

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.

I agree with this comment. Until I discovered MN I had no idea how many people there are who don't want to have any form of contact with people they don't know. It's weird, and not good for society.

I refuse to use the self checkouts. I'm paying an ever increasing fortune for the groceries, I'm not doing the work as well!! It's really not hard to smile and say Hello to someone standing behind a counter, and if they instigate a conversation to engage with them. I really would hate to know some of the posters on this thread in real life, you are beyond odd.

SophiaSW1 · 04/04/2023 20:40

I don't find it depressing . I find it more relaxing

MarshaBradyo · 04/04/2023 20:41

magicthree · 04/04/2023 20:37

I agree with this comment. Until I discovered MN I had no idea how many people there are who don't want to have any form of contact with people they don't know. It's weird, and not good for society.

I refuse to use the self checkouts. I'm paying an ever increasing fortune for the groceries, I'm not doing the work as well!! It's really not hard to smile and say Hello to someone standing behind a counter, and if they instigate a conversation to engage with them. I really would hate to know some of the posters on this thread in real life, you are beyond odd.

Show quote history

This overreaction to how people pay at the supermarket seems odder to me.

Mylittlepea · 04/04/2023 20:43

I agree with you OP.

Self serve checkouts were sent by the devil. Hate using them for a small basket of shopping, wouldn’t even consider it for a weeks worth in a large trolley mainly cos of the whole mechanical process without human interaction.

Yes it’s just a moment of polite chit chat but wouldn’t life be sad if there wasn’t the odd conversation with a stranger. What about the older population/lonely/recently bereaved - that might be their only chat in a few days…😕

magicthree · 04/04/2023 20:44

DaltWisney · 04/04/2023 19:48

And I hate it when I choose to use a manned checkout, but I'm stood there for a lifetime waiting for the staff and customers to wrap up their inane chinwagging, while the person behind me is getting just as annoyed but taking it out on me with the constant huffing and ramming theory trolley into my back!
Supermarket shopping isn't a social occasion, stfu and let the rest of get through this god awful ordeal as quickly as possible pls. If you wanna chat, meet up with a friend and go for a bloody coffee or something!

Supermarket shopping is a social occasion for many people, it's one of the few times they actually see anyone to talk to. If you hate using a manned checkout so much, don't use it, or shop online - it's quite simple really.

I don't live in the UK, and yes people do sometimes chat after everything has been bagged and paid for - but usually they just leave at that point. I can't believe that the majority of people there stand and talk for several minutes after they normally would have left - you are just impatient.

It's a sad world indeed when we are supposed to behave like robots while shopping.

Cadburysucks · 04/04/2023 20:44

I always just have a few items, so waiting behind a big trolley feels like time wasted, it’s good when you’re in a hurry.I am not a chatty person and my son who is autistic loves them. But I do remember when they were all manned, there was noise and bustle and busy places.

Mylittlepea · 04/04/2023 20:46

Oops, I read the first page of replies and thought how sad the reaction was, typed my reply and then read the last few replies about and realise I’m not alone, with you OP😁

SwimmingAgainstTheTides · 04/04/2023 20:46

Working on a checkout for hours at a time is a form of torture, same old conversation, same old complaints, you can't get off if you need the loo, you get moaned at when trying to close. At our store they put the staff who have health issues on checkouts as all the other jobs are very physical and because nobody else wants to to do it.
They are bringing in more and more self scan as they don't want to pay staff for sitting on a checkout, they prefer one member of staff run ragged taking care of 8 self service tills, because that's better for them. It will never go back to how it was.
The biggest ratio of staff is on dot.com.

Fernanfrank · 04/04/2023 20:47

I don't go to the supermarket to socialise.

There's still plenty of cashiers at all the supermarkets near me, as well as self checkout. They're still packed, noisy and stressful.

magicthree · 04/04/2023 20:47

MarshaBradyo · 04/04/2023 20:41

This overreaction to how people pay at the supermarket seems odder to me.

Show quote history

What's odd about it? I couldn't care less if people want to use the self-scan. People on MN (or maybe it's people in the UK) are very odd to me, with all this nonsense about how they don't want to interact with others. It's not the using of the self-scanners I find odd, it's the constant whining about having to deal with other people in everyday life. It's ODD. I've rarely encountered it where I live.

userxx · 04/04/2023 20:47

I love Aldi self service tills, no more standing in massive queues.

MYSTERIOUSGIRLONLINE · 04/04/2023 20:47

user1471518104 · 04/04/2023 19:31

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.

Show quote history

Its ok to chat to staff as long as not holding up a queue and I do keep unpacking my trolley as I chat so not to hold anyone up. The town I live in is a close knit community so it's a much more friendly town.

Original poster
trythisforsize · 04/04/2023 20:48

NotTooOldPaul · 04/04/2023 20:14

@trythisforsize I'm not suggesting that I will be unfriendly it is just that the quicker I can shop the more time I have for things that I feel are more important

Like messing around on mumsnet

OP posts:
ilovesooty · 04/04/2023 20:50

Confusion101 · 04/04/2023 20:15

I usually do too but the last day in my local tesco there were none at all open. I did an awkward march up and down the entire row of tills until one eventually opened. They let in about 3 people and closed again. Another woman came up and tried to queue, they said they were closed. She said "well my only option is to leave my shopping here then" so another till opened up. It was actually a bit off putting and I'd think twice before going back there. I don't like self checkouts

Show quote history

I don't like self check outs either.

SchoolTripDrama · 04/04/2023 20:50

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

I love interacting with people. How miserable your life must be

SchoolTripDrama · 04/04/2023 20:51

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.

I'm food shopping not going clubbing.

Grin
mybeautifuloak · 04/04/2023 20:52

Supermarkets are far from silent though. Maybe if you go at some weird time otherwise they are bustley. I have less than zero interest in interacting with a cashier

JaneFondue · 04/04/2023 20:53

I don't think cashiers care if you clean
out the supermarket's entire stock of shortbread. So odd. MN is so odd.

Confusion101 · 04/04/2023 20:54

How do people do a big trolley shop and use self checkout? 😩

Hawkins003 · 04/04/2023 20:54

It's a mix with ours, and depends if I'm rushing or not

MarshaBradyo · 04/04/2023 20:57

Confusion101 · 04/04/2023 20:54

How do people do a big trolley shop and use self checkout? 😩

Self scan as you go. You can do full trolley, or as I do just have the bags from home and that’s it. It means you don’t scan again at the end.

I’m pretty chatty as life goes and have no shortage of interaction with people, find others friendly on the whole.

But I do like smart shop as it’s called in Sainsbury’s