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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think this self-service check out counter staff was rude?

68 replies

DreamingMyDreams · 17/01/2018 23:16

So I was at the grocery earlier. I noticed after scanning that one tomato can was dented so I was moving it away. However the machine detected the bar code. And then detected it again with every move, resulting to four scans.

I asked the staff for help (she was standing there, I assumed she was monitoring the self-checkout counters and helping if there are problems) and she said,

"Never put your items in front of the scanner!" in a stern voice.
Then she said, "Now I have to remove them one by one!" in a stern voice still.

I was surprised (actually more shocked because of her tone), and mumbled my apologies.

Now I realise I was wrong and it must be annoying to her, but uhm, it's her job to troubleshoot problems that arise in the self checkouts?

OP posts:
ThisLittleKitty · 18/01/2018 00:01

There are machines that do this it happened to me in the coop scanned an item 3 times.

Idontevencareanymore · 18/01/2018 00:02

@dreaming I just don't see the point in being miserable.
I really dislike being given bad service so I go out of my way to make it pleasant.

IrkThePurist · 18/01/2018 00:04

Yanbu. I tried to scan my elbow once, they were really nice about it, but they know me due to countless, similar incidents Grin

Wingedharpy · 18/01/2018 00:06

Is it possible, that the checkout woman we just trying to explain to you :
a) where you went wrong - moving your item in front of the scanner and
b) what she was doing to rectify it for you - I have to remove these now?
That's how I would have interpreted her words anyway.
(I'm an old woman who frequently f*s up all sorts of modern techno machinery).

Wingedharpy · 18/01/2018 00:08

we = was

DonnyAndVladSittingInATree · 18/01/2018 00:13

I tried to scan my elbow once,

Grin did it tell you there was an unexpected item in the bagging area?

Original poster
DreamingMyDreams · 18/01/2018 00:16

Wingedharpy

Yes she was trying to explain. It was her tone that took me aback. It was the stern tone of a parent reprimanding a child. Grin

OP posts:
CheapSausagesAndSpam · 18/01/2018 00:16

YANBU OP. Some people are just rude and mean!

But I laughed hard at this from ClumsyDuck

The lady on the checkout acted as though I was the most Massivley unreasonable snob to not just take my mouldy salad home and enjoy it 😂

Original poster
DreamingMyDreams · 18/01/2018 00:16

I tried to scan my elbow once

How much was it? Grin

OP posts:
Estellanpip · 18/01/2018 00:27

I'd cut her a bit of slack. Those machines are always messing up, it's a complete chore and annoyance to just use one before leaving the shop and getting on with the day so I couldn't imagine the drudgery of actually working in that area and responding to every customer muck up and every machine blip for a full shift. I think I'd be murderous after one week of that!

Anxiousally · 18/01/2018 00:30

Them machines are a nightmare you have to be a ninja or something to get 10 items through without it shouting at you Angry IME the staff manning them are always arsy too probably because the shitty machines irritate them too. Yanbu

froodledoodle · 18/01/2018 00:32

DreamingMyDreams: I'm in Australia, if that helps

I do most of my shopping at Coles, and because I use their Flybuys Card, get asked once a month to fill in a brief survey about "my shopping experience". They seem to be very aware of the importance of good service and ask if I care to specifically name anyone who has provided it.

Coles, and I presume Woolies, now try to bend over backwards to provide extra good service, probably realising that they can't compete with Aldi on prices.

I should imagine that either major chain would not be impressed to realise that the assistant at self checkouts actually wasn't assisting, but instead making customers feel a bit demeaned.

Additionally, self checkouts here no longer seem to require that articles are placed into the bagging area before the next item is scanned - they used to, but haven't for a few years. I often have a couple of bags on the go and sort items as I scan them.

Wingedharpy · 18/01/2018 00:35

That stern tone op, was the sound of a woman trying to maintain control - of herself!
Really, she wanted to swear and rant about how many blithering idiots she's had to deal with today who keep waving random grocery items in front of the scanner then they all want her, at the same time, to sort out "the machine", when, in reality, the machine is fine it's the people using them who haven't been trained in the finer points of checkout techniques.
Try not to take it personally OP.
The poor woman has just had to deal with Christmas and the January sales.

DonnyAndVladSittingInATree · 18/01/2018 00:36

when, in reality, the machine is fine it's the people using them who haven't been trained in the finer points of checkout techniques.

If customers need to be trained to use it then it’s not fit for purpose.

Original poster
DreamingMyDreams · 18/01/2018 00:37

froodledoodle

Additionally, self checkouts here no longer seem to require that articles are placed into the bagging area before the next item is scanned

Yes!

And this is at Woolies. I have never received a survey request from Woolies. I just started going there a year ago because I moved to a place with one close by. I was mostly a Coles girl before. This one is five mins away from where I live so I'd go to Woolies often for, like, little bits (like canned tomatoes).

OP posts:
Original poster
DreamingMyDreams · 18/01/2018 00:38

If customers need to be trained to use it then it’s not fit for purpose.

+1

OP posts:
Wingedharpy · 18/01/2018 00:43

I've very rarely met a self scanning machine that is fit for purpose!

Original poster
DreamingMyDreams · 18/01/2018 00:46

I've very rarely met a self scanning machine that is fit for purpose!

But....

to sort out "the machine", when, in reality, the machine is fine it's the people using them who haven't been trained in the finer points of checkout techniques.

So which is which?

These contradict each other.

OP posts:
Imalloutofoptions · 18/01/2018 23:47

DreamingMyDreams I did. Highlighting the posts of people who agree with you doesn't make you right...

EdgeKote · 19/01/2018 00:22

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

shakingmyhead1 · 19/01/2018 02:28

she was rude! i refuse to use them as i always fuck it up and need the assistant many times! so now i refuse to use them at all, i line up at a check out even if one is not open, they open one and serve me, i like to think im doing my bit at keeping someone in a job

froodledoodle · 19/01/2018 03:15

the customer service staff were there to assist.

I also don't know how applicable people think it is, but the average shop assistant salary in Australia is $24.59/hr (I only checked one site, so it may not be accurate), which is approx 14.20 pounds/hr. Okay, this is average, so the self checkout woman could be earning less - or more - but it's still a reasonable amount, and enough that she could actually show assistance to the customers and swallow her patronising attitude.

ReturnofSaturn · 19/01/2018 03:16

Haha I was just in Woolies earlier and one of my items double scanned. Their machines must be super sensitive now or something Grin

BusyBeez99 · 19/01/2018 06:17

What's wrong with buying a dented can?

FrancisCrawford · 19/01/2018 06:32

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

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