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!

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

It does not actually matter if it is the machine or the customer. If they don't work properly a lot of the time, then people will not use them or only very reluctantly.

I nearly always use them. Locally, we have Waitrose and Sainsbury's where you can self-scan as you go round, and M&S with the self check-out. I don't often have problems with them. I like them because you can pack your bags as you go round so you can plan and get the heaviest things first and lightest last. I hate standing in queues for the check-out where there are slow people who never get their wallets out until they have packed everything, or kids screaming and eating stuff which has not yet been paid for. Worst of all, mothers who put their children ON the conveyor belt - so unhygienic!

My local co-op have installed self service tills. Hardly anyone seems to use them as they only take cards. Most people going in there are popping in for a few bits and are paying cash. So all that has happened is that the queues at the ordinary tills have got longer.

Because they are eradicating jobs for people.

All the supermarkets, except Aldi and Lidl, have queue measuring metrics and targets which actual people are personally managed on. So when you see a self scan assistant scanning things through for an elderly person (though a lot of elderly people are quite keen to learn how to use them and are happy to be shown) it’s because they’re trying to control the queue metrics in place for the normal tills.

Not using them and instead deciding to queue may well result in someone from another dept arriving to get on normal till eventually, or it may not depending on staffing levels. What not using them won’t do is see them done away with and more cashier employed. It just won’t, that isn’t the model any of the big supermarkets are working to now. And I would say that those on the board at those companies don’t give a shit about the customers or indeed the staff who deal with the customers. So the people whose jobs you are making more stressful are actually doing their best, with the meagre tools they have.

The future of supermarkets is not one with staff in abundance anywhere.

Hardly ever have a problem with them other than ID issues. My local coop doesn't have any and as a result the queues are absolutely insufferable. Absolutely hate manned checkouts and constant questioning- what bags do you need, do you have our loyalty card, do you want one, how are you paying, do you want any of our special offers, ugh SHUT UP. Hated working tills as well.

My local ALDI has the shortest queues of any supermarket despite having no self service checkouts. They are constantly opening and closing tills to ensure that queues are very short.
The place with the longest queues is the self service tills at ASDA.

So maybe those boards that don’t care about customers will listen if we all vote with our feet.

And thinking about when I did use the self service checkout at ASDA, it never recognised newspapers, I think they weighed too little. So they would always need to be authorised.

Also

You’d think but I get the distinct impression they will just all continue evolving as they wish. They know that to a large extent that customers are a captive audience, we’re not all going to have the time, skill or money to suddenly start growing our own food etc.

Can you tell I didn’t enjoy my time in retail much?

I love self check out. It’s like playing shop! Never worked in a supermarket, but it makes me happy to beep beep beep all my bits through 😂

@Alsohuman Maybe. I no longer shop in ASDA because of long queues at both manned tills and self checkout. Its not worth my time shopping there.

@sempelderm Yes true. There is a good choice of supermarkets where I live. But a lot of people don't really have that much choice of they want to shop at a supermarket with easy parking.

What I love is the fact that everyone who works or worked in a supermarket is telling you that you are not saving our jobs, but you are insisting your are and we don't understand slightly patronising don't you think.

Your=you

And lots of people are saying that using self checkouts is not a good experience for them either.

Any supermarket that is stupid enough to remove cashiers entirely will lose my custom - along with a lot of others. Anyone else see one of the more expensive ones - perhaps Waitrose - spotting the gap in the gap in the market and offering more personal service?

Because I worked on checkouts in my teens and if I wanted to do it as a job now I would. Guess what, I don’t.

I would use a supermarket that removed cashiers entirely for a few items. No way though am I putting a weekly shop through a scanner myself.

I use scan as you shop which is a godsend to me, apart from at fucking Asda where the scanner doesn't recognise reduced to clear items which half my shopping usually is. So I don't go there anymore!

If Aldi introduced scan as you shop they'd have me for life.

If you don't want to use self serve because you don't like them fair enough as I said in my first post just don't pretend you are doing it to save the 'poor nmw workers job' because it's not true you aren't. If you really want to save jobs be prepared to pay more your shopping don't shop at aldi or lidl (very low staffing levels) that's how you save jobs but that won't happen so don't pretend to yourself you are saving jobs so you can feel good about yourself.

I hate them cos at my local supermarket theres a whole load shoved together in a small space - not enough space for a trolley, so it is impossible to wedge a trolley in without getting in someone's way. I often call into supermarket on a Weds to pick up mid week fruit, vege etc - I do an extra job weds night, and are usually knackered (after a full 8 hour shift at work then 4 hours of cleaning at my 2nd job) that I don't want to bloody physically scan stuff (I know, I know, a lot of people work 12 hour days. But still). Very annoying when theres only self service checkouts checkouts on, and a whole gaggle of checkout operators gossiping.

I quite like the machines. I am introverted so any excuse to pass up on human contact is a bonus for me. I also like the fact that I can use up all the loose change cluttering up my purse and handbag without annoying a cashier.

What drives me mad is when there is a glitch and either there is no staff member in sight to help or the designated staff member is too distracted talking to a colleague to notice that I need help. I have been known to tip the shopping out of my bag and walk out on those occasions.

I love them and I always prefer to use them. It means I finish my shop earlier, than others still queuing up at the manned tills!

I much prefer the self checkouts and will always use them where possible in any shop!