To be really annoyed by this at Sainsbury's

[dcsp]

I was at a large branch of Sainsbury's yesterday evening. None of the staffed checkouts were open, so I went to the self-checkouts. On the way out of them they have fitted gates which don't open until you scan your receipt.

If there was a person barring my exit from a shop until I showed them my receipt, I'd feel insulted by what was effectively an accusation of theft. Having a machine perform the same role felt similarly insulting.

I appreciate that retail theft has increased, but treating every one of your customers as if they're a thief until they prove otherwise is not the right thing to do! (also I expect most theft at self-checkouts happens by people who do still check something out therefore have a receipt).

If you use a staffed checkout then there is a person there who will notice if you walk out without paying. Staff would call security if you did that at the till. The barrier in the self service area does the same job so I can't find it that annoying.

You felt insulted? Because Sainsbury is trying to reduce shoplifting?

Shoplifting is a massive issue in retail at the moment. The bigger the issue, the higher the costs.

I'm all for supermarkets taking measures to reduce shoplifting (which is increasingly being done by organised gangs) and keeping the cost to me lower as a result.

But you can choose to take it as a personal slight if you wish.

Self checkout machines have led to a rise in shoplifting so you can understand why they need to do this.

Wouldn't bother me. I'm glad they're doing something about shoplifting

Are you always so easily offended?

If you're not a thief there's no reason to feel insulted. The barrier is there to stop thieves, and is a minor three second inconvenience for you.

You'd be shocked how many people just steal brazenly from self checkouts, they have to do something to mitigate it.

As a PP said, it's only the equivalent of the person on the till ensuring you've paid for your shopping before leaving.

It's not personal OP. You're only the main character in your own story, not everyone else's.

YABU

Do you get annoyed when you have to put your ticket in the gate at train or tube stations?

Do you get annoyed when staff scan your ticket at attractions, events, etc?

You need to chill out. Precautions ARE needed to prevent people from shoplifting, travelling without tickets, entering attractions without paying, etc etc. It's NOT personal!

This is a post I seen online the other day and very much agree with:
(copied and pasted below)

Dear Tesco, Asda, Sainsbury's, Lid, Aldi, Waitrose, Morrisons, and all other stores that have self checkout.

You are heading towards almost exclusively self-checkout now.

The lady checking receipts at the exit was stopping
everyone (interchange for barriers!)

I didn't choose to participate in that nonsense, I had already

🛒 filled my cart
🛒 emptied my cart
🛒 scanned the items
🛒refilled my cart

and so I just skipped the exit line and left.

I heard her saying "umm - Excuse me " as I kept walking and raised the receipt above my head, leaving the store.

You can either trust me to do self-checkout, or you can put your cashiers back in place like it used to be.

I'm not interested in proving that I did your job for you.

• If you want me to be a cashier with no training then that's vour problem not mine.

• Keep employing young people and give them job opportunities.

YOU DON'T PAY ME TO SCAN MY OWN SHOPPING.

YOU DON'T GIVE ME STAFF DISCOUNT FOR WORKING FOR YOU.

Signed ....All of us

These are jobs that are needed to have for young and old

We were in Amsterdam a few months ago and these sorts of gates are absolutely standard in all supermarkets. Not an issue.

They do this at Costco, where they don’t have self service checkouts. As long as they put a notice before the self checkout area so I made sure I got a receipt, I’m not bothered. Same as I’m not bothered when the police set up morning after drink driver operations and stop every car.

It wouldn't bother me I have noticed it in a few shops.
They have to do something to try and reduce their losses.

So you'd be happier if you were stopped for a random spot check? Not likely. Do what you need to do and get on with your day.

They aren’t assuming they you are a thief, it’s because self checkouts are a gift to shoplifters everywhere.

But I guess the revenue lost through theft is still better than having to pay for so many staff, so they are here to stay.

Having said that I love self checkouts and not having to interact with anyone.

You felt insulted!!! 🙄

Our new Morrisons have the barriers too- but they open automatically. You've clearly never been a costco have you? Aldi now check your empty bags too- does that insult you also?

What if you choose NOT to print a receipt though? What happens then?

I find it annoying because of the paper wastage. Everyone who would previously have clicked "no I don't need a receipt" now has to print one out.

The supermarkets must surely have known that replacing people with automatic tills would ramp up shoplifting, but they thought it was worth it anyway. Fuck around and find out 🤷🏻‍♀️

Better to have a barrier there so you can scan your receipt, than make some poor minimum wage staff member stop people who have clearly shoplifted, and force them to have repeated confrontations.

A non-issue. But if you don’t like it, vote with your feet 🤷‍♂️

Insulted? Blimey. Govt. and opposition are both saying there’s a shoplifting epidemic.

Shop elsewhere if you don’t like it.

No I wouldn't be happy with a random spot-check.

I'd want there to be something to have given them reasonable suspicion before I was checked.

For instance, if a security tag had been left on a product and sets off the alarm at the exit, that is something that gives them a reasonable suspicion (it should also lead to an apology for failing to de-tag it after I've shown my receipt)

I don't understand how it helps. How does it stop anyone shoplifting if that's what they do? You are just waving a bit of paper.

Hmm, so we’re trying to reduce waste by not asking for a receipt anymore, but now need them again to protect the profit margins of huge corporations.

Oh give over.

Insulted.. I've heard it all now. Maybe find some hobbies.

But they aren't "checking you". They are just getting you to scan a receipt. It's not like they are going through your bags!