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?

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.

Really? Not even if you loved the coat, it fit, was the last one left in your size, you could afford it and wanted to buy it that day? You'd say "nah" and put it back because you had to use the self checkout?

Do you not wash them before wearing them anyway?

People rummage through clothes on rails all the time and a lot of those people won't wash their hands after they've been to the loo 🤮🤮

Yes I'd refuse to buy it on principle

No! Would never occur to me.

And I've never come down with anything from wearing a new frock!

Only things would be baby clothes and bedding to wash off the formaldehyde used in manufacturing .

Why? If you want designer service and an "experience" go to the designer shop. They have to keep costs down everywhere otherwise the price of clothes will rise so high and the quality be crap.

They do in 'nicer' shops and I appreciate it

But I was in M&S Marble Arch a number of years ago and someone had bought a coat (fairly pricey) and it was rolled up in the bag. I agreed with her that that was unacceptable - but then I would have said something at the till

I agree

But the best part of working in shops for me is being on the till.

I loved it years ago, especially on foods. But that was before the days of scanners - you had to ring everything up.

M and S isn't especially high end designer but equally it's not Poundland.. Like I said, they are now selling Jaegar in my local one...a jumper and a blouse were £125 each. There coats can be close to £300. That's not really small change.

Could not disagree more. I love it and it’s saved me queuing on more than one occasion. If you don’t like it, don’t use it!

It really isn't or it wouldn't be sold in M&S.M&S is no longer a "posh" shop

I totally agree it is not suitable for clothing items. Food etc yes but clothing no!

It's not luxury either. M&S sells just above basic range items like pants and t-shirts. If you want luxury experience go to the higher end shops. M&S is just one above say new look, but they stock some slightly pricier stuff to keep up appearances. They can't have a staff member on hand just in case someone buys the £300 coat when most people are buying a £12 pack of knickers

I love self-service. I'm careful about packing, and I like bringing my own reusable bags too.

I don’t really have an opinion on it other than it must be a dream come true for shoplifters. I’d imagine it would make it far easier to shoplift?

Yes they can have a staff member available to serve you. They have done for decades previously.

I don't mind self checkouts, but the last time I self scanned a jacket and didn't realise until I got home that it had a security tag on it! Only option was to walk tue 45 minutes back to the shop then home again to remove it, and had to convince the staff that I hadn't stolen it, even with my receipt!

Same. I use the self-checkout when buying uniform clothes in Tesco so don’t see how it’s a big difference in another shop. Unless I’m looking for something specifically, I don’t need assistance ringing my things up. It usually takes me less time than a shop assistance.

Zara is so bad I can never get the security tags off.

We came across these on holiday in Spain this summer - we were all amazed!
Can’t wait till you just wheel your Sainsbury’s trolley into a box and it does the same. Doing away with the faff of scanning stuff will be fab.

I did too in a Zara in Southern Spain on holiday. Better imo than standing in the queue especially when people are returning items.

I’m quite young and I like a quick chat - brief exchange - with a cashier.

The idea of an automated high street with no human interaction is abhorrent to me. It’s the fleeting human contact that makes us human. I generally refuse to use self check outs. They depress and frustrate me.

My local M&S food now also let you do online returns for clothes etc in store yourself. You just scan the barcode on the delivery label, it prints you a returns label and you post it into a big box. SO much better than having to join the customer service queue!

It says that, but I approached the staff member who was hovering and asked if there was anywhere in store I could use a proper checkout and she said it was fine to go to the returns/exchanges tills. So I did.

But only if it's a purchase above say £50? A little fanfare could play.

So out of interest I looked on the m and s website at the Jaegar stuff. The most expensive item was £799 for a jacket. There were many women's coats on there for £399. I can't believe so many people are happy to spend that much on a coat yet prepared to use self checkout to pay for it. I find the concept incredibly rude...spend a lot of money and not even enough decency to provide any level of service.