People 'slamming' Sainsburies for having to scan till receipt to leave self service

[cakeorwine]

What's the issue?
Been to loads of supermarkets abroad and this is standard practice, Not complicated.

I guess it's to stop theft. i presume you can exit elsewhere if you haven't actually brought anything but it is just a way of ensuring people don't try and sneak through without paying for stuff.

I live on the continent and there's a shop where we have to do this to leave the shop. There is no other way out so if you didn't buy anything you have to find someone to let you out. I find it very annoying.
The same shop asks people to show their bags at the till to prove they haven't shoplifted anything. Dubious legally, but they have a sign as you go on saying that you might have to do this.
It's annoying, but it's close to my work so...

That though is because Germany didn’t really get self service checkouts until 10 years ago, whereas Tesco introduced them in the UK almost 20 years ago. But they were obviously less sophisticated then, or the Germans were less trustworthy ;)

Anyway, the later tech will be rolling out over time I’m sure. The COOP introduced the ones with cameras 5 or so year ago, the theory being that if you saw a picture of yourself as you were scanning you’d be less like to ‘accidentally’ miss-scan or forget items! And the tech already exists to track what you’ve put in the trolley or basket as you shop, so eliminating the need for checkouts at all. Just a barrier that opens when you walk though, charging your card for the correct amount.

The issue with "just employ more staff" is there is a pretty big labour shortage at the moment. This is the reason why you are seeing more automation.

Well we’ve been told many times productivity is lower in U.K. so automaton is one way to go about it

If there are staff shortages at the same time there’s benefits in all ways. Would be worse if unemployment was high and there weren’t loads of vacancies

Ditto. In a shop that doesn't assume from the get-go that I'm a shoplifter on no evidence whatsoever.

I agree, it’s a really odd approach I think. Why does everyone need to prove they’re not a thief after purchasing?

Surely the main issue is that people didn’t know until they got to the door. Everyone saying ‘but it’s done in other countries…’ no doubt they didn’t spring this on unsuspecting costumers out of nowhere like they do here. That’s the UK for you though. ‘Clever’ ideas, piss poor organisation and execution.

We used them for the first time this year. Didn't know they existed but it was pretty obvious how to use them.

This isn't standard in Sainsbury’s yet? I used self checkout yesterday and the screen asked if I wanted a receipt. I never do.

It is in case staff get abused. They generally don't record all the time, the person wearing it will turn it on if they feel unsafe or a customer is getting aggressive, so you wont be recorded picking up a parcel etc

There are shops like this in the Netherlands!

And have they thought through the "I haven't brought anything" situation?

Most people are quite bright and this is not that complicated. As others have said, it's very common elsewhere, all over the place in France for example, I don't see complaints of British people's holidays being ruined by French supermarkets.
You don't have to have a receipt in France either, it just prints a tiny paper with a bar code if you don't want the receipt.

In France you go back the way you came in if you don't buy anything, there is either a barrier that the security guard opens or it is by the information desk and they have a button. Or else there is an open exit and a security guard.

One week it was "Do you want a receipt?" and the following week the receipt was automatic

Ah, so that's what will happen!

No, there was no warning, just a sign on the till. But people aren't stupid, it's not that hard. I think it's just about slowing people down a little. Also it stops people from coming in that way.

Shops in my country have done this for years. It’s an actual person though and they do a quick look through your shopping and make sure it matches the receipt. They check both self-checkout and regular. There is no physical barrier, it’s just a person who politely asks to check your receipt, you hand it to them, they do the check, and then you continue out the door. I have no idea what happens if someone refuses because I have never seen anyone balk. All very polite and quick.

Hope it means a change to the till software, then maybe it will accept my Nectar Prices refund vouchers that I cannot get to scan.

This is an interesting point. Not aiming to be controversial, but is this still a problem given that there is supposedly a labour shortage? Everywhere I’ve been recently that is service related, there are clearly insufficient staff to do the jobs required, with the staff who are there running themselves ragged. Either that or the opening hours are shorter because they can’t get enough staff to cover. It was always the mantra that getting the customers to do the work costs jobs, but logically if there isn’t enough labour then isn’t that a good thing?

I find it fascinating. I always use the self scan at both tesco and sainsburys, where you scan as you go. Every so often, the will do a check, scan 10 or so items which is absolutely fair play.
Yet they never check the self scan, where you allegedly scan everything yourself at the till. Most of the time these are manned by 2 people who are run ragged. You could just scan half your stuff and walk off with it.

Out of curiosity can I ask which country?

And if you've spent over £100 say, do they still go through each item? I'm just visualising queues and irate customers.

I do understand from your point of view, Nirvamarama

my gripe, and the gripe of many others, is that shoppers are doing all the work now because supermarkets will not employ enough staff. And those big supermarkets are making big profits. And taking advantage of the staff they do have by working them far too hard.

It’s not so hard to shop when you are young and fit, but as you get older it’s a freaking chore. Walking stick in my right hand. Scanning and packing with my left and where is it exactly I’m supposed to put the receipt to show on the way out? Both hands are full - walking stick, bags. Then you have people with some disabilities that are really struggling just to do the shopping. And with only one, at most two full service fills open the queues are v long. No seats etc. Its really just all wrong.

I’m sick of big businesses treating their clients so dismissively. If you have a business that is dependent on overworking and poorly paying your staff then it’s not a viable business.

No, you cannot exit without a receipt. The only option is sneak through with someone else or go any buy something you don’t want just so you can exit. I know it sounds wrong, but trust me I have been in this situation.

That doesn't sound very "Netherlands".

I’m sick of big businesses treating their clients so dismissively. If you have a business that is dependent on overworking and poorly paying your staff then it’s not a viable business.

My 18 year old son works weekends in a supermarket. He gets paid more than my friend who has a 1st degree and works with emotionally disturbed (hope that's the right way of putting it) children in schools.

He's definitely not overworked either, it's been known for him to sleep in and miss the start of his shift and not once has it been (noticed?) commented on.

I should also point out that he was earning the same amount as he is now when he was under 18 too.

I know the problem is that my friend should be paid more, not that supermarkets should pay less.

Thats a shock. I always thought supermarket workers got pretty meagre salaries.

So the problem must be just not employing enough people then?