To wonder why people hate the self check outs at supermarkets

[Mumto123monkeys]

It’s driving me a bit mad....people moaning.
I don’t get what’s wrong with them, I’ve heard ‘why would I use them, I don’t work hear’. But surely it shortens the que...

Also ‘I like to speak to people, not a machine’ ok....it’s not difficult to strike up a convo in most places...
and loads of others! Personally, I can’t see the issue! I use both, I prefer self serve-scan as you shop too, if it’s available! It’s much quicker, and the kids love it so helps keep them happy!
I know they can be glitchy, but some shops have got them really good!

I am old and I like them (for anyone who seems to think they are an advanced form of technology that “the old” can’t cope with). I like to chat with my friends - I’m perfectly polite to cashiers but it drives me mad when people in front of me are chatting away to the cashier & holding up the entire queue.
Having said that, I only use the ones which work efficiently. I put the items in the bag area when I’ve scanned them and then pack after I’ve paid.

I only use them for less than 5 items (ish). I don’t like them because they’re taking jobs away from people and after some recent experiences using self service check-in at airports I hate them even more.
I just want to deal with a human being who can answer questions/ solve problems. Same for customer service phone lines - give me a fucking human!! (Can you tell it’s been stressful of late??😜)

Because they always go wrong and then you have to wait for someone to come and fix it.

It’s actually nearly always quicker to queue up!

I don't tend to use them in large supermarkets, with a big shop I much prefer to use a staffed till. At our small local Tesco I often only have a couple of items, so find them handy there, except when the person in front is using self service for a trolley full!

I use them all the time. I hate making eye contact/small talk.

They’re glitchy and annoying, you always have to wait for someone to do the overrides for alcohol or medication, and it means the stores can inflate their profits even more by employing fewer staff. I don’t use them and I am happy to tell store staff why: because I want you and your colleagues to keep your jobs.

“UNEXPECTED ITEM IN THE BAGGING AREA”.

This!

DP insists on using them. As he was scanning the shopping and I was snarling about people being put out of work because of self-scan, the man at the adjacent checkout scanned a multipack of underpants.

The machine told him to place his "produce" on the scales every time he tried to scan the things. It was a source of quite some amusement.

Of course, when he put his pants on the scales the machine didn't offer pants as one of the things sold by weight. Iirc, he gave up and left them behind.

I am not against the idea, but as they are currently set up, they are a pain in the ass.

They don't work properly, things get stuck, they don't recognise lighter item, you have to wait ages for the assistant to unstuck the damn thing or authorise some weird item.

Scanning as you go in shops like Sainsburys works better.

It depends what you're buying, doesn't ut. A few items, no problem, happy to use machine. Full supermarket shop, including alcohol, no thanks.

I don't mind them. The only thing that drives me nuts is the Asda one, she tells you to please take your items every 10 seconds and I'm always muttering 'give me a fucking chance' .
I know that's one of the reasons Tesco took that away, as customers found it rude.

I use them if I'm dashing in to buy a couple of items but I hate them for a big shop.

I have a regular check out lady at our local supermarket. I quite enjoy our weekly chats and she's absolutely lovely with my children. She had a long queue one week and I cheated on her at another checkout. She called my kids over and entertained them while I packed my shopping (while still doing her own job).... now you don't get that from a machine!!

They don’t work.
They steal jobs.
I like a bit of human engagement.
You can’t buy alcohol automatically.
They take way longer than a human cashier.

Enough for you, OP?

I drive a till for the Co Op. We don't have self service machines in our shop (too small) but when we get a new shop they are talking about putting a couple in.

They don't really take jobs from people. Only a tiny tiny part of working in a supermarket is being on the till, most of the jobs are 'behind the scenes' and very few people actually like being on the till (I am one of the rare few).

But I can never get the self service tills to work for me in any shop. I stand there shouting at the machine 'I KNOW how you work! I do this for a LIVING!' while the machine smugly states that there is an 'unexpected item in the bagging area' where there is no bloody item at all, unexpected or not.

@starzig

I’m making a comment about the pointlessness of Luddism.

When cars became ascendant, lots of people lost jobs. Times changed. We needed fewer stablehands, blacksmiths etc. It just have been dreadful.

Now we need fewer shop assistants, and people bemoan this loss of labour. Which is equally pointless. Society cannot remain frozen, catering to jobs that are made obsolete by technology. If we did that, we’d still be riding horses everywhere. And washing clothes by hand. Standing in the way of progress simply makes the Luddite as obsolete as the way of life they seek to save.

I once tried the scan as you shop. Missed a single can of Diet Coke from a big shop of about £100. I got flagged for a check and they found the Diet Coke. I had to unpack and have all of the shopping checked.

I felt like a common criminal.

I am happy to use them as I have them more or less sussed and don't usually get an error.

But I don't see why I should queue to use them. I queue to be served by a human but not a machine. Last week in a Sainsburys they only had a few open and when I complained they said they didn't have the staff to supervise them...

Once they start paying me to work for them then I might do so.

I hate the "unexpected item in the bagging area", the problems with very light items not registering and having to wait for the attendant to clear the alcohol etc etc.

Just a thoroughly unpleasant shopping experience for me

I used to be a huge fan but have stopped now as a protest against the job losses that inevitably follow. In WH Smith I make a point of waiting for the lone assistant even when the self checkout is free.

I always use the scan as you shop so I can pack as I go along too, though my main shop is online. Can’t remember last time I went thru a normal check out line!

Because its quicker to be served.
My dd,being young has made me go to the self checkouts but has stopped now as we always have problems.To be fair our local supermarket has a dedicated person by the self serves but she is very busy.
The thought of doing a big shop!

Tesco, Morrison’s and M&S are fine. More points to Morrison’s for having realistically sized bagging areas.

Sainsbury’s are shit. Over-sensitive and too small bagging area. I thought our store had cracked it though with the hand-held scanners. But they drop internet connection at various points in the store, which you’d have thought some dufus would’ve tested wouldn’t you

The thread title was showing as “To wonder why people hate the self” in trending now and I thought this was going to be some kind of philosophical debate!

I love scan as you shop... scan and pack as you go... and just a quick scan and pay at the end. Out in a flash with no human interaction at all just the way I like it (although I have sympathy with this method taking away jobs from real humans).

And the key is that you generally get a choice - I can go through self checkout if I’ve got a few items and want to get out quickly, or if I’ve got loads of stuff or might need assistance I can go to the manned checkouts.
I see the point about jobs, but I bet everyone gets their cash out of ATMs (and bank tellers were predominantly women as well).

The self service machines in my local Morrisons now have cameras fitted “ for my security”. I often drape something over it. And it’s way too glitchy and understaffed. I feel sorry for the person rushing between 10 red lights and feeling everyone’s frustration. They should employ more people. The people on the tills are mostly really nice and I like talking to them.

The small self service tills are ok if you (singular) are popping in for a few bits (max 5)... they're not made for a full trolley shop with the family yet every time I use them there's mum, dad, 3 kids, granny, aunt Jane & next door neighbours goldfish's Mum's Auntie's uncle bob with 2 trolley loads - meaning there's no room for anyone else, the assistant can't see past them to notice that I'm stood there with a face like thunder because I've been waiting 10mins on her coming to tell the machine that I am indeed a haggard old bat allowed to purchase wine which I'm seriously considering opening at this point to dull the pain.

I find for the safety of others I'm better using the scan & shop at Tesco these days!

Oh and forgetting that because I’ve picked up a packet of Ibuprofen I have to wait for someone.

The machine has never flagged up that I've had paracetamol or ibuprofen in my shop... tempted to try with 3 packs to see if it'll go through.