To think self checkouts in clothes shops is a step too far

[Comedycook]

Went shopping to get my dd some new clothes today. Noticed H and M had self service checkouts... tills were open too though. Then I went to M&S and tills were only for returns or exchanges and to pay you had to use self service. I tolerate self checkouts in supermarkets but when I am buying clothes, I expect some sort of service. What struck me is that in my local M and S they sell Jaeger...a blouse was £125. I assume their coats would be at least a couple of hundred quid. It really irks me and no way would I spend hundreds of pounds on an item of clothing and have to ring it up a the checkout myself. I think it's really crappy to be honest... anyone else agree?

Seems a bit risky to me, is anyone checking receipts? Do they not use security tags on expensive items? I work in a supermarket and we get a lot of theft from self service tills, a fair amount of it is accidental where a card hasn't gone through

I like it. It’s quick and I don’t have to make small talk. Being served doesn’t add any value for me.

Why? You're spending money so you want someone to skivvy for you? I don't see the connection between how much you're spending and wanting someone else to press a couple of buttons.

Working as a cashier is not being a skivvy...what a weird mindset.

I love checking out myself! I worked in retail during uni years though and have no trouble removing tags etc.
But I agree, if I am spending £££ I would like someone to wrap my purchases up.

How do they check you have scanned things properly.
If you picking up a few things what's to stop you 'mis-scanning' that £125 Jaeger jacket

But you have said you want someone to do it for you instead of doing it yourself, specifically because you you're spending a lot of money. I don't see how you can frame it in any other way.

I imagine the expensive stuff has a security tag...the tops I bought had no tag to remove though.

Rude!!!

Yes and I think that's fine. All sorts of expensive items come with a higher level of service.

But the kind of shops that have self service aren't the kind that wrap things up.

They put it in a bag. And wrapping clothes that you're buying to take home to unwrap is a complete waste of resources.

Lovely as all shop assistants are, they don't want to be the customer's friend any more than we want to be their friend. We just want to get on with our day.

There's far more useful things that people working in shops can be doing than taking the money for purchases, such as helping customers find items, dealing with returns or making sure that the shop is tidy and everything is in the right place so people know what is in stock. I'd rather they're available for that rather than taking the money, which customers can easily do themselves in most cases.

Another one who takes any excuse to buy at Uniqlo so I can use the "magic" self checkouts where you just dump your things at the till and it magically tells you what you've got.

There's far more useful things that people working in shops can be doing than taking the money for purchases

Well this shows how much the world has changed doesn't it

I'm not the one that thinks they are too good to put something in a bag and tap a card themselves!

I have seen it in Zara, Pull & Bear and Stradivarius - I don’t mind it!

I really like the self collection points for online orders too.

I can cook for myself but I still eat out in restaurants. Is that rude?

I'm also capable of pouring myself a drink but I still expect the barstaff to do it in the pub.

Exactly , you queue in the returns queue to pay if you want to be served by someone .

I work in retail and I feel like most customers want a human to 'serve ' them so they feel superior . Why does it matter who or what takes your Money .. surely quicker is better !

I love them. I would love self service checkouts in every store.

It really depends for me. If I were in a hurry I would scan my own stuff as some checkouts take forever. However, I do agree with some level of service. I might want to ask a question, for example, and M&S isn't known for its staff presence on the floor. I also think some people like the interaction, particularly the elderly who can be quite isolated.

I prefer self checkout when shopping as it’s quicker. It’s not comparable to going out for a meal/drinks and being served.

The only clothes store I've ever self scanned in is Matalan, where you also have to remove security tags and hangers. I have self scanned clothing items in the supermarket though. My biggest problem with it is not knowing which items have a security tag and having to feel around to see if i can find one. But I do find it all a bit of a faff and invariably something doesn't go right and I end up calling the staff member over anyway.

I bought some clothes in M&S recently - as I was self scanning them I thought they must have stopped using security tags. Wrong! Got home to find one on the coat I’d bought and had to take it back to have it removed which was a right pain.

I honestly have no idea what your issue is or why the value of your item comes into it.

I also think some people like the interaction, particularly the elderly who can be quite isolated.

Shops aren’t there to provide social care.