To think that the self service tills aren't suitable for a full weekly shop?

[Steaksauce]

I was at the supermarket yesterday. For a few bits (hand basket only). The shop was busy. Big queue at the self service checkouts and this couple caused a massive backlog of people because they took their huge trolley packed to the top into the self checkout bit.
They constantly needed assistance as the scales kept going wrong. The trolley took up the till next to the one they were on. They took up half the till I was trying to use.
And it probably took them twice as long to pay for their shopping this way!

Surely self checkouts should be only for those with a basket and trolleys should sod off to the actual checkouts?

[user1471596238]

Why would anyone want to use even the self service trolley tills for a weekly shop? I would admire anyone's patience and fortitude to even attempt that. In my experience they constantly get confused and ask me to rescan. Give me a real person every time!

[Steaksauce]

Just to clarify - I’m not unreasonable. I get that sometimes it’s the only option. And I don’t have a problem much with the shallow trolleys with a few bits in as such but the big bastard trolleys full to the brim squeezed into the tiny space by the basket till is fucking ridiculous. They were dropping stuff on the floor. The bloke was taking out one item at a time and passing it to his wife to scan and then she’d pass it back to to him to bag. The trolley was slightly behind them and making it harder for people to get past.
This was lunch time so a lot of the self checkout queue was people just trying to buy a sandwich.
The queues on the normal checkouts/ trolley sized self service were no more than one person deep.

They would have got their shopping through a lot quicker if they’d gone to the proper sodding checkout!

[mrscee]

How annoying it's bad enough trying to use the self service with a basket of shopping nevermind a trolley! Especially when you've got an unexpected item on the bagging area!

[CrochetBelle]

Just to clarify - I’m not unreasonable.

[Yokohamajojo]

Seeing that all items need to stay on the scale throughout the shop YANBU that would really annoy me! common sense.

I use them all the time for when I only have a few bits and no wine, mostly works perfectly fine and faster than queuing up

[Steaksauce]

@CrochetBelle I was going to write “just to clarify, I’m not a twat” but was trying to be polite.
Totally the wrong word to use haha.

[BananaThePoet]

I am assuming people are simply unaware of certain invisible disabilities and so I am just going to raise this:
Plenty of people have invisible disabilities that mean they have massive problems dealing with checkout operators. They still need to do their shopping and they shouldn't be forced to use online delivery services because everybody should be able to go shopping if they want to.
I know there are times when I could not interact with a checkout operator and there are people I know who could never do so.
But having self service tills means people who otherwise would not be able to do a weekly shop can now do something that other people take for granted.
So when you are feeling inconvenienced because someone is slowing you down - maybe consider that the person you are fuming at may well be struggling with something far more difficult and please do not say or do anything that may make their life even more of a struggle.
A little bit of tolerance and consideration for the fact that some people have needs you cannot imagine goes a long way to making this world a better place for us all.
For some people that visit to the supermarket and having the self-service till may be the only time they get out of their house to do something that contributes to their sense of well being and usefulness.
It is currently very tough to survive as a disabled person in the UK - I bet I am not the only person who read this thread and is now wonedring if someone might be judging me negatively when I am next out using the self service till.

[ElegantDream]

I take everything through the self service tills. There's no rule against it...

I hate the checkout assistants throwing my shopping through at full speed. I can put everything away properly this way. I'm sure that as long as Tesco and Sainsbury's are taking my money, they don't really care.

[GetOutOfMYGarden]

YANBU. If you're doing a big shop and don't fancy going to a checkout, then do scan as you shop. That's what it was designed for!

[Goosegrass]

Utterly unacceptable.

[ElegantDream]

I used to scan as I shopped, but was out off by the number of times I had to be randomly checked. All stuff then is taken out or as the assistant rummaging through my shopping (again without a care in the world for delicate and crushable items )

[lljkk]

hmmm... 10 items are less would be stupid!
Maybe you all shop differently from us.
I regularly get £40-£60 of stuff (so 30-60 items?, a shallow-trolley worth) thru our SS tills. This does not cause havoc or any extra queues -- not where I shop, anyway.
I like the SS b/c I can finish so very much faster than going thru checkout.

[lljkk]

ps: the only scan as you shop service locally is a Waitrose. I have no clue how to use the tech. The first step seems to be to remove a scanner thingie from a wall of scanner thingies. I couldn't figure out how to even remove it. I think I need lessons in remedial "how to use scan as shop" tech.

[Meinmytree]

BananaThePoet I agree - sometimes if I'm having a bad day I feel particularly antisocial, and so prefer to not to have to interact with someone. I'm sure I come across as rude at times when the person on the till tries to speak to me but it's really not my intention, if I'm in a hell of a lot of pain I'm too busy concentrating on just getting through.

I tend to use the scan as you shop at Tesco, easier to budget as you can keep an eye on what you're spending. I find the more I use it the less often I get pulled for a check, and that's usually if I've removed a few items.

[mommybunny]

I never cease to be amazed when I see people with huge trolleys of groceries plonked on the belts waiting to be scanned once they’ve finished shopping. I can’t bear shopping without self-scan zappers. Yes, sometimes I get the dreaded “re-scan” (invariably when I’m running late for a school pickup) but re-scans always get top priority to get through the queue. It’s really easy to get self-scan: you need a store card (like MyWaitrose or Nectar) but you just swipe the card, pick up the lit scanner, and off you go!

OP I’d have gone berserk watching the scene you described. YANBU.

[cathyclown]

@Sandsunsea

Exactly, and I hate the fkn things. Refuse to use them. But now the manned/womanned checkouts are quicker sometimes!

[cathyclown]

Oh and breaking news, NO TILLS of any sort, no money, no cards. Coming to us soon.

www.breakingnews.ie/business/worlds-first-checkout-free-shop-to-open-in-cork-812144.html

[ohtheholidays]

I hate those fucking machines and I struggle with them now because I'm disabled,but because I don't look disabled(so I'm told)I have to ask for help if no normal till is open and 9 times out of 10 I have to explain it's because I'm disabled or the staff I'm asking for help look at me like I've lost the plot!

I wish they'd either get rid of all of the self service tills or if they have to keep them they should make sure they have normal tills open as well and make bloody self service tills that work properly.

[NoHaudinMaWheest]

Not sure what dd is going to do when she goes to university. She finds interact with till operator difficult due to ASD but as a wheelchair user can't reach the self service tills at all.

[DownstairsMixUp]

Sorry but most of the people I see holding everyone up aren’t using them properly. I’ve literally only had to get assistance for alcohol to clear the age flag and once when some pasties weren’t on the system in Morrisons. I use them all the time to so no way its luck, everyone else I see taking ages just faff about with the bags on the scale/put something on when the first thing didn’t scan/ etc

[expatinscotland]

I refuse to use those fucking things. Ever.

[Steaksauce]

Bananapoet you clearly didn’t read all of my posts before typing your essay lecturing everyone.

I have no issue if people want to scan their massive trolley full of food themselves through the self scan checkouts designed for trollies.

I object to people trying to scan that amount of shopping through the small basket checkout with one scale that are designed for a basket/one bag only.

They’re also very close together so 2 people and a trolley can’t fit in front of one and so encroaches on the people around them.
Having a disability does not mean you can behave in an entirely selfish manner at all times. A little consideration to others and their right to personal space goes a long way.