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).

The machines now give you a receipt automatically. Until recently you could choose.

Oh I thought they had now removed that option. At my branch I got given a receipt and wondered why I couldn't opt out and then heard someone talking to a sales assistant about getting out and needing a receipt.

@enchantedsquirrelwood errr....no. You don't have to buy anything. You just leave back through the entrance you came in through 😂

No I am not ok with it, and especially when a big queue forms to get in or out of a station/platform, but I don't have a choice.

When I was overseas recently it was lovely to be able to get onto a train with luggage without having to navigate tickets and barriers and not enough hands.

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

Might they be mandatory in cases like this? I never opt to get a receipt so I hope so!

Except that you can't, because you have to go through a barrier to get in, too.

Not every supermarket has the same layout. In other cases, entrances are entrances and exits are exits.

Not sure why you are acting as if I am stupid. Other people on here have said they've bought something just to get out as well.

The self-scan checkout I'd used had run out of paper roll, hence no receipt and it took me over ten minutes to find a member of staff to be able to leave the store. It was absolutely ridiculous

you are better behaved than I am, I'd have just forced my way through the barrier and pointed any stroppy security guard towards the machine and told him to find someone to replace the till roll.

It's weird how people are quite entitled about some things but are so meek and mild when it comes to total unreasonableness by retailers.

@enchantedsquirrelwood every single supermarket I have ever been in does not trap you inside until you buy something. And I've been in 100s of supermarkets. Yes they often have barriers at the entrance but there will either be one barrier that opens the opposite way or a security guard who will let you out. Or you just go through one of the manned checkouts - sometimes just having to say "excuse me" to another customer so they let you pass.
Sorry I really can't believe people have bought something "just to get out". That's hilarious.
Many large supermarkets have concessions within the supermarket (pharmacy, cafe, Specsavers, travel agents etc) so you go through the barriers to get to them - and then just leave the way you came in.

In a branch today they had one guy trying to cover the self scan. He had two rescans in a row, and every other till including me was waiting, with a queue building up waiting to get on a till. Something went wrong with a rescan and eventually he called someone, a jumped up manager, who then spoke down to the other guy in front of everyone. I felt so sorry for the guy, he was an older guy and limping, and not suited to cover such a large area on his own. Sainsbury are greedy pigs. They are saving so much money not paying for cashiers. Their staff are stressed and customers are getting a shit experience. I am okay with self scan but they still need manning.

Sorry I really can't believe people have bought something "just to get out". That's hilarious

well I haven't either, but that's because I am a stroppy cow and will shimmy under/through the barriers or under/over the tape between the tills. Other people are very meek and will find it easier just to buy something. They should not be put in that situation.

You should try shopping in supermarkets in India.
They have people scanning your shop, bagging it then sealing the bags, they then write the number of bags on the receipt yet you still have to show it all to the security guard when you exit 🙄

My local small Sainsbury's doesn't have gates and I while ago as I was walking through the small entrance lobby towards the exit, a thief who was making a run for it, knocked me flying from behind as I inadvertently stepped into his path, not knowing he was there, damaging my knee and shoulder as I fell over.
A gate would maybe have stopped him running like he did and injuring me.
I did notice while I was laid on the floor wondering what on earth had just happened, that rice Krispies were on offer that week 🙂
I wouldn't be offended if I were you op, it's just a reflection of the times we live in unfortunately.