You should need a licence to use self checkouts

[Oysterbabe]

Hear me out.

Supermarket very busy this morning. Queued with my basket for the self checkout, as usual. I prefer them and enjoy the lack of social interaction required. 3 of them were out of order so only 2 working. There was a couple using one and I think it was their first day on the planet. They were just staring, puzzled at the screen. Occasionally scanning something. Eventually complete their transaction then realise they need to buy bags. 5 people completed their transactions on the other checkout while they were doing theirs.

Blowing my own trumpet, but I'm a self service ninja. I think you should have a certain competency level, like with driving, before being allowed to use one. You should be given a basket of items, including some loose fruit and veg and bakery items, and a set time to complete the transaction in order to earn a licence.

I agree it's bloody infuriating when people stand there staring at the thing.

How do you know they weren't disabled and find it very difficult to use them? You sound very judgmental.

Self service check-outs are for mugs!

I've written them off after many infuriating attempts, and now they've made it harder to 'miss' scanning certain items, really, what is the point??

On a serious note, give them a swerve, talk to a human, make the case that supermarket checkout roles are important and stop inflating the profits of the supermarkets by doing their jobs for then

The one I used yesterday in Tesco kept bloody freezing and telling me to get help. I use them all the time so it wasn't me not knowing what I was doing.

Apart from that I think you are being judgemental and I'd be more annoyed by the out of order ones than someone being a bit slow

I'm not disabled and can struggle to use them @Keyansier so I feel your pain OP and i avoid them when I can. Twice in trying to write this post I've accidentally hit a key that's popped up some search engine I've never seen before this is an 8 year old laptop! For me it's the post office or airline check in. I never take more than a minute, but I'm always behind folks who need 5 to 10 min each.

I think you need to get over yourself really.

I imagine they were embarrassed and felt under pressure, holding the queue up. Can't have been nice for them.

Disgusting ageism there.

Well aren't you a lovely person....

Self service checkouts are the work of the devil! The slightest movement of the bag you're trying to pack and it throws a hissy fit, buying alcohol or paracetamol you've got the whole age verification thing, which takes twice as long as at an ordinary checkout. I only use them when forced to because of long queues.

A real insight here into the utter contempt supermarkets treat their customers with. It's oozing from every pore of that post.

There are very few actual checkouts in supermarkets now. Perhaps the supermarkets should have considered the 'stupid elderly people' before getting rid of them.

Given shops are actively pushing people hard in the direction of self scan I seriously doubt they’ll put barriers like licenses in! I don’t even use self scan tills at the end of my shop, I scan as I go round and smugly bypass the queues and go to the deserted “scan as you go” section. Takes moments, no loading/reloading the trolley, don’t have to make chit chat with anyone - I love being able to do an entire shop without having to speak to anyone. Disability aside it’s beyond me why anyone uses a regular till anymore. If people faffing really bothers you then scan as you shop or just shop online and collect/get it delivered.

What a deeply unpleasant judgemental ageist person you are.

What a charmer.

There are very few actual checkouts in supermarkets now. Perhaps the supermarkets should have considered the 'stupid elderly people' before getting rid of them.

This ^^. I'm pretty sure my local Asda only has self-service now.

I hope when you get old @Chickenpeppers that people are just as considerate and understanding as you. Glad you've moved on though - hopefully not to another job dealing with human beings.

You need to give people a chance to learn to use them. It’s not easy in front of an angry queue.

“I think it was their first day on the planet “ 😂love this

Wow...disgusting post

That’s one of the most vile posts ever. Apart from the ageism, the actual lack of manned checkouts and the fact that Chickenpeppers can’t spell, there’s also the fact that scanning double is a crime. I hope it comes back to bite her.

As for the terrible ageism and lack of compassion shown here, at least I wouldn't feel so bad if they lost their job due to the lack of human checkouts. I just hope that when they or their loved ones are elderly and struggle to grasp new technology that they are shown more understanding than they are capable of themselves. Horrible attitude.

This person does NOT speak for all of us who worked in supermarkets nor does their appalling behaviour represent the norm.
Astonished they didn't get done for this, must have played havoc with stock control in the warehouse.
I was always willing to help someone using a self-checkout but there seem to be more people confused now than ten years ago and I think supermarkets do need to have more in-person checkouts open.