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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:
magicthree · 05/04/2023 11:03

trythisforsize · 05/04/2023 10:11

I think people are missing the point about social interaction. If I pop out to the shop and my friendly postman says a few words, my neighbours acknowledge me and the shopkeeper has a smile then it makes it feel like a community, people feel visible and included. If everyone walks round with their head down, no acknowledgement, no eye contact - it's kills a community.

People shouldn't have to join a special club to feel human.

People don't go to the supermarket BECAUSE they're lonely, but eye contact and a smile is just good for you. I'm lucky I have lots of friends and family and a close work team, the self service supermarket is the only place I go in my day that makes me feel shit.

I totally agree with this. I'm not much of a group joiner myself, but the few words, or even just a Hello, from people I meet on my walks, or when in a shop make me feel happy, and as you said, makes it feel like a community. Some people like things like that, they don't necessarily want to join in with a group, they just want a bit of social interaction.

Elderly people, as I said before, have to eat so they go to the supermarket. They might not have money for other outings, so that chat at the supermarket may well be the only time they speak to someone all day.

I also agree that some of the young people of today really are going to struggle with interaction with other people, being able to communicate, develop respect, patience etc. There are already enough people on MN who can't seem to interact with others, I find it depressing.

I don't live in the UK and have yet to see a supermarket which is mainly self-service, and I really don't look foward to the day when that happens.

TheOrigRights · 05/04/2023 11:03

trythisforsize · 05/04/2023 10:21

@JaneFondue It occurred to me last night that the next generation (primary aged now) are going to have very few skills with interacting with people outside of their school and home. Are they going to lose all the nuances of social awareness, patience, manners, respect? I dread to think how that's going to pan out.

You got me thinking. My youngest is 14 (year 9).
I think he's learning those skills through his grassroots football team.
We also support a league team (season ticket holders) so go and support them when we can. There's a lot of LIFE going on at those matches!
While the supermarkets are moving towards self checkout, most other stores aren't, so if you're out shopping for stuff other than food they will be interacting with people.

bamboonights · 05/04/2023 11:14

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 you. You can see how people are now just 'switching off' everywhere. Even walking the bloody dog. Headphones, earbuds, parents glued to phones. I know we have to move with the times but I find it all really sad for future generations.

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General health
Buzzinwithbez · 05/04/2023 12:31

Our large Boots has gone completely self checkout and it felt like an emptier experience somehow. A total contrast to having a brief chat while being served in the shop I'd been in before that. I wonder if the psychology of this is being studied.

Easterfunbun · 05/04/2023 15:53

@TheOrigRights

Yep, have sons in grassroots teams. I think overall a good experience. Also season ticket holders within our city and mine get to view the naughty corner stand but I’m not sure that’s a positive experience at all 🤦‍♀️ .

TheOrigRights · 05/04/2023 17:00

Easterfunbun · 05/04/2023 15:53

@TheOrigRights

Yep, have sons in grassroots teams. I think overall a good experience. Also season ticket holders within our city and mine get to view the naughty corner stand but I’m not sure that’s a positive experience at all 🤦‍♀️ .

Yes yes to the naughty stand! Mostly (while the language is a bit ripe) it's passion and loyalty with a big dollop of terrible singing. For me personally it's an afternoon/evening with my son. I'm a lone parent and our overlap of common interests is very narrow these days. It's good that we can do this together. Drifting off topic somewhat.....

MyriadOfTravels · 05/04/2023 17:14

Buzzinwithbez · 05/04/2023 12:31

Our large Boots has gone completely self checkout and it felt like an emptier experience somehow. A total contrast to having a brief chat while being served in the shop I'd been in before that. I wonder if the psychology of this is being studied.

Shops won’t care about the psychological effects if their profit margins increase….

Tessabelle74 · 05/04/2023 17:47

The only chatting the staff did in my local Aldi was to each other with those stupid ear phone things!

Mumof32017 · 05/04/2023 17:58

I don’t want inane chit chat, works for me and millions of others.

venus7 · 05/04/2023 18:01

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.

Yes, exactly this.

MrsCarson · 05/04/2023 18:12

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!

Takes me twice as long at self check, I have to keep getting the person monitoring them to help.

Ionlydrinkondaysendinginy · 05/04/2023 18:22

I don't know where you're shopping but I always find supermarkets really loud with music playing, kids screaming, people talking at the top of their voices.

Georgyporky · 05/04/2023 18:23

I've never known an Aldi cashier say more than "Hello, £x please, cash or card, thank you, goodbye".
They're always too busy helping customers to shop quickly.
I like it that way.

Enko · 05/04/2023 18:29

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.....

Agree with this.

I particularly like them in Aldi and Lidl where I seem to spend an obscene amount of time waiting at tills as they only have 1 or 2 open for 30 people.

Lovely13 · 05/04/2023 18:37

I boycott self-service tills, despite best efforts of staff to direct me to them, on grounds supermarkets don’t pass on savings they’re making in wages to customers.

Blossomandbee · 05/04/2023 18:39

trythisforsize · 05/04/2023 10:21

@JaneFondue It occurred to me last night that the next generation (primary aged now) are going to have very few skills with interacting with people outside of their school and home. Are they going to lose all the nuances of social awareness, patience, manners, respect? I dread to think how that's going to pan out.

My teenager gets upset that he has no one to talk to at school as all his peers sit in silence on their phones at lunch and break times. If he goes out with friends they're more interested in filming, taking photos or Tik Tokking than interacting with each other. It's worrying.

LoisLane66 · 05/04/2023 18:40

I agree. My local M&S food hall has 3 checkouts but usually only one is 'manned' as most customers use the 9 self service checkouts. Yes, it's impersonal and I make a point of always using the tills. Once they're gone, they're gone. 😕
The smallish local Waitrose has about 7 self serve checkouts and 4 tills. Again, I use the tills as I like to pack as items are scanned and always have my cards ready to tap and go.
Nearest Tesco has about 8 s/s and 10 tills.
Sainsbury's Farnham is a large, soulless place with NO trolleys. I walked in and straight out. I want a trolley when shopping for more than 3 items. We have no say in the way we're 'controlled' to shop.

Thisisnotreallymyname · 05/04/2023 18:45

I was gobsmacked to go to M&S in Tamworth and see that all the clothes tills are now self service. Don’t like it at all !

CheshireCat1 · 05/04/2023 18:46

We make a point of not using the self service tills as it loses people their jobs. We also have stopped going into M&S since it moved from the high street to the retail park, it discriminates against people who don’t drive.

LoisLane66 · 05/04/2023 18:50

@Thisisnotreallymyname
Unbelievable! I'd hate that.

Starlightening · 05/04/2023 18:56

I was in Asda this morning and not one on check out open , everyone was expecting to use self serve till !!! There was an elderly man just stood waiting for someone to open a normal till but they just ignored him !!🙁😡

LoisLane66 · 05/04/2023 18:56

@CheshireCat1
M&S in Camberley is so HUGE ( next to an equally HUGE Tesco, that I have got lost in in twice. I could not see or find the exit and no staff on hand to ask. Weirdly, none of the 3 customers I approached spoke English and didn't appear to understand EXIT.

Brefugee · 05/04/2023 18:58

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

i read an article (Guardian?) a while ago saying that over the time self-service checkouts have been used in the US there hasn't been an appreciable loss of jobs. So there is that to be grateful for

walkingismedicine · 05/04/2023 19:05

Love the self service and find quiet supermarkets really peaceful

Sphagnummoss · 05/04/2023 19:07

The move to self service tills worries me because it's removing more work opportunities. They always refuse to register something or other of mine and the unfortunate staff member who is now in charge of a whole bank of tills has to come over and sort it. More than once generally. It's so slow. However they are great for people who are uncomfortable socially. Also great not to be stuck behind the person taking forever to find their cards, vouchers etc and telling the world about their sister's daughter's partner's mum's gammy leg while looking through wallet/purse/pockets at the speed of a very tired tortoise.