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 generally like them IF they work but there are some shops where they always go wrong. My local Co-op is one of those... then all the staff is busy service other customers and it takes ages to get help. I rarely have problems with them in M&S and Tesco is mostly ok so I don't think it's a user error or anything.

I find them stressful.They never work properly and the person who supervises the machines is always rushed off their feet trying to sort out the various issues. The constant loud Instructions issued by the machines if you put something in the wrong place is awful.

I was also once charged for someone else's shopping as they obviously hadn't finished paying and I didn't notice when I put my stuff through. Sainsbury's did refund me afterwards though.

I'd rather queue longer and be helped by a member of staff.

Also the queue to use the machines is often just as long as the one for the regular checkout.

Even the manic experience of the Aldi checkout is better than using a self service till.

As for self scans “never working” - I can assure everyone it is you, not the machines.

when the machine can't detect the item you put in the right designated area, it's definitively the machine.

I like them. Quicker, easier and I rarely have issues using them. When I do there is usually a staff member to sort it out quickly.

I use them most of the time, but I do groceries shopping online delivery so will ever go to supermarkets to pick up few things. What annoys me though is that normal queues are so slow and why supermarkets haven't worked on making them more efficient. For example dividers where shopping goes after it's been scanned, so you can serve next customer straight away without having to wait previous customer to pack up (because, with my luck, it's always someone very slow!). Other countries have dividers for 2-3 so queues go much quicker.

I hate them only when they force someone, (usually elderly) to use them and then scan everything for them so you have to wait to be allowed to buy paracetamol.

If I am going to do a checkout operator's job, I want a discount.

Often you also get a member of staff hovering and offering to help too, which I find distracting and irritating. Either have a staffed till, or leave me alone with the machine!

WH Smith have switched a lot of their shops entirely to self scan. I don't buy anything there any more. Their choice.

The issue for me is that they sometimes do not work. So you stand in a line to get onto the machine, scan your items and then there is a fault. If you are in a big store with a designated assistant for the self service tills, fine. In our local store there is no such person so you then have to wait for the staff to finish with the people they are serving to help you.

If you are in a rush, it is annoying. And the people in the queue for the regular service maybe think you are pushing in, even though you were there before them!

And the loss of jobs, prices not gone down, so more profits for the shop!

Those who say they put people out of work - are you happy to stop using Google and get all your information from a reference library, so I can get my job back? When you do, I'll stop using self-service. (Actually I use scan as you shop, which is much easier)

@Becca19962014 I do completely appreciate that, and I do agree that the self serve tills should be more accessible. I hope that will happen soon.

But those who are able, often, I don’t believe they bother to try.. I think they just get frustrated, and then can’t do it...start blaming machine etc etc....then get cross the check out person is helping some else, possibly in the situation. I think a bit of patience goes a long way.

@Ukelou and @SemperIdem yeah. completely agree!

I always use them and love the Waitrose ones that don't weigh your shopping as you beep it.

Much easier.

I love them and use them for everything, even when I'm buying alcohol. I am a very impatient person and self checkout is perfect for me because I rarely have to wait to use one.

PicsInRed but the point is they don't employ more staff they just ask more of the staff they have. And can I ask have you ever worked in a supermarket if you have fair enough but if you haven't how do you think you know what helps the poor worker?

The ones in my small local supermarket are great, never had a problem, there is always a member of staff overseeing them to help people. I'm happy to use them when the checkouts are busy.
The ones in the Co-op, Sainsbury's,WHSmith or M&S on the other hand? Terrible, always going wrong, CO-op are the worst.

ODFO with your it’s you, not the machine. Machines are a damn sight more fallible than human beings.

The best thing about them is the number of checkouts they can fit per square foot. You would get fewer in if you had to have space for someone to sit behind each one.

I wonder how the tescos in central London coped at lunchtime before self checkouts.

The weight thing is annoying. I like the ones that don't weigh the stuff.

I love self service check outs. When they talk to me, I answer back!

I think that if supermarkets want customers to use them they should offer a discount to do so. Saying that I do use them if I only have a small number of items but often find it doesn't save time especially if you have discounted items (can't read the yellow bar code) or alcohol (have to confirm customer's age) and then there's the dreaded "unexpected item in bagging area"...

They’re a total pain in the backside for anything more than a couple of items. And buying anything age restricted or with a security tag is an extra pain.

I don't like them as there is always an issue, if they worked well, if it was easy to find all the loose fruit and veg codes, if you never got unexpected items in the bagging area, it would be fine!

Having things coming up as age restricted items that should not be. So the advocaat chocolate that had no actual advocaat in it meant I had to wait for an assistant to come and swipe and authorise it.
I don't find them quicker than an actual staffed checkout unless I have only 1 or 2 items. Once it gets to quite a few items the only benefit is to the shop in labour costs, but it takes me longer to do than it does a checkout assistant.

Also

I’ve worked with the things - it is 9/10 times the people using them causing the issue. People would find it easier to use them if they read the screens, listened to what the machine was saying or indeed what the assistant running them says. But they don’t.

My husband won’t use them as he sees it as taking jobs from people.

Our Tesco has a couple of people standing around and often you'll see another swiping and yet another packing!

The Lidl by me has self service tills which often are the only tills available, or there is only one manned till and the queue is huge. I can (just about) cope with the 'unexpected item' or whatever, but what really pisses me off is that only 2 of the 6/7 tills accept cash. There's always a fairly big queue but some idiot will be doing a massive shop, put it through one of the 2 cash tills (they also accept cards) and pay by f**king card even though the other tills are all free because most of us are paying cash!!!!!!!!