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?

We aren't thick. We know they didn't. But a fortunate by-product of the self check out is a much improved shopping experience for those who struggle with interaction with another human. They are also handy in that you can take your time and the price is usually very clear on the screen. You can even turn the volume up without having to say pardon me I can't hear you very well.

I think good customer service is a reasonable expectation. When I worked in customer servuce, I was always polite and friendly regardless of how I was feeling. It was literally my job.

But it’s rare. Lots of CS staff don’t say please or thank you, let alone smile.

Weird idea of retail staff there. They might be happy to see you. They might be having a shit time in their life and really not wanting to communicate with you but they HAVE to and they might have to fake happiness.

Why do they have to smile?! Smile love ..

Marks tell you to bring your own bag when you collect online orders. You don't always need it - but you never know if you will or won't.

Well obviously on an individual level, they probably don't care very much but the shop employs them to be a representative of them and behave accordingly.

I don't understand this being owed a thanks either.

Surely you want something the shop has, you have the money the shop wants, if you think the thing the shop has is worth the money you have then you make an exchange.

And as pp say, the machines usually do offer a generalised thanks for shopping here message anyway, which is actually more than you get from real people staff a lot of the time.

Mixed feelings on this at M&S, but truthfully I find it easier because the queue is that much shorter. Eventually it will be that you will register your card on entering the store and then if you are carrying the clothes on exit the card will be charged.

Yes shop assistants should smile or at the very least not appear morose or grumpy

What if they are sad because their cat has died and they can't afford their rent?

But they can give good customer service more usefully elsewhere in the shop.

I couldn't find something in the jumble sale that is H&M the other day that I'd seen on the website so I asked an assistant, half expecting to be told to find it myself but no, she took me to the right place in the shop and rifled through a few things to find it.

I'd rather they be doing that than being tied to a till they're not allowed to leave.

You're right of course about the high street surviving but, I don't know, I already have a full time job. I don't really want to do someone else's.

Self checkouts are ok for a quick loaf of bread but it's so irritating waiting around for someone to help if you buy alcohol or if there's a problem.

If they're depressed they should be signed off sick. I have worked in customer facing roles and if something in my personal life has affected me, I didn't show it. I was always polite and friendly. Like I said, that's the job even if you have to fake it

God OP you get worse the more you post.

I dunno, your posts sound worse the more they happen. "Serve me with a smile you minimum wage peasant and express your gratitude at me gracing you with my presence and spending my lotsa coin here'.

Shop somewhere else man.

I love the sound of the boxes that automatically know what's in them though. I want a shot of that.

I've worked in minimum wage customer service roles actually....and I think expecting a thank you and some politeness when buying goods is not a big ask and hardly indicative of thinking others are peasants

They're your posts. That's how you're coming across OP.

I think if you spend money in a shop particularly if it's very expensive and a £125 jumper is expensive to me, the shop should say thank you for your custom. Obviously a large corporation cannot say thank you so they employ staff to convey that message.

I agree, OP. I never shop in Matalan any more because of this.

Yes, it's bloody annoying. I bought some clothes in Matalan for DS, a few months ago (first time in years and the last time) Had to use the self check out as nobody on the tills. Selected 'one bag' and picked up one of the only available bags at the checkouts. Then they had a member of staff checking bags at the door (ironic considering they had no staff for the tills) who said I'd underpaid for the type of bag I'd got and I had to go back and pay the extra 70p. When I said they are the only bags at the tills she said "Yes, everyone is getting caught out by that" WTF! Just man the bloody tills and stop these 'stop and searches' causing customers embarrassment and inconvenience.

I usually like self checkout but it's pointless and time consuming when you then have to find someone to remove the security tags.

Why is an expensive jumper worth a thank you in your eyes but a pair of socks in the same shop isn't.

I was in M&S, decided to buy a top, it wouldn't scan. The three people who worked there were too busy chatting to help and YES I did ask for help.
So I gave them the top & walked off (in a strop)

This will kill off the surviving shops
Because they can all just fuck off making me do the work - those tills never fucking work and it takes +10 longer