I hate self-service check-outs in supermarkets

[chrisholty]

I'm gutted that our Sainburys local in Streatham Hill, which had the most friendly staff you have ever met, has just been converted to self-service check-outs. After several very stressful experiences in other self-serve stores, including twice abandoning shopping baskets and going home, and once inadvertently shoplifting two packs of knickers, I am never going to shop in them again. Will anyone else join me in boycotting these supermarkets until they take note that mums want people, not machines?

I don't mind them when I only have a few things to buy. Its not only mums that shop either

They've got rid of all their checkouts?

I like the machines. When I haven't got too much stuff it means not having to queue up for long. Also if I don't feel like chatting or am in a rush. There is a trick, which is to learn how to work the machine without upsetting it:

1. choose the 'I am using my own bags' thing and then put them on the rhs without them falling off the edge, or you'll get "Unexpected item in the bagging area" which really pisses me off. It's a f-ing bag, not a bicycle or a nuclear submarine. It's not totally unexpected, surely?

2. If you haven't got your own bags - shame on you! - scan your Nectar card & go from there.

Now that I have sussed the machines I get through so much faster than ordinary checkout.

I boycott them at my local boots there is only self serve or pharmacy left. so I don't go there anymore.

What's wrong with self serve? Have never found them hard to use

Mind you the staff in big supermarkets hate them , the abuse they get because people don't know how to use them is shocking

You mean there's only the machines? That'd be a pain! I like the machines if I've only got a couple of things, but there's times when its really not convenient. Why not write/email them to tell them?

I like the machines generally. Have had difficulties with the Sainsbury's ones when trying to use my own bag (though not too bad once you get the hang of them and figure out what 'upsets' them!), but have had no problems elsewhere, e.g. Waitrose, M&S, Boots.

But then I'm not a 'mum' so what do I know .

You have my sympathy too - can't stand them.

Every so often I think that the queue in our local Tesco is long and that I'll use the self serve till (fortunately we do still have people too) and every time hope triumphs over experience as the sodding computer takes forever, there's always some problem (like the 'unexpected item in bagging area') which I thought I'd got sorted last time or DS2 sits in the bagging area (that really did upset the machine - I've learnt that one).

It's just so stressful I try to avoid them at all costs.

Apparently the self-service tills are great for getting rid of all your loose change, as they count it all for you, when you pay for something.

Can just imagine waiting behind someone whose paying for £20+ worth of stuff with pennies and does it one-by-one.

I don't think I've ever shopped anywhere that had just the self-service machines and no normal tills though, usually there's a choice.

The first time I used one, it said 'Unidentified object in the bagging area,' so I responded, 'How dare you? That's me!'

I find them Ok if I don't have many items.

Maybe I'm just extra incompetent, that I've never managed yet to work out how to use them... and every supermarket's is a bit different. But I hold a lot of other skills and info in my head and adding check-out machine handling isn't one I want to add to the mix. I like to say hello to a human being and for them to look me in the eye, say hello back and have a little chat... they were so good at this in Streatham Hill Sainsburys... so friendly sometimes wondered what they were on!

I like them. But then I work in retail so am used to using tills I suppose. M&S ones ask if you're using your own bags first so you don't get the unexpected item thing going on.

Forget the "practicality" of them - they are increasing unempolyment! How can that NOT have an impact on your feelings towards them?

fucking hate self checkout. I was dragged to one once by an over enthusiastic staff member in Sainsburys who dumped me in front of one and wandered off again, with no attempt made to show me how to use the bloody thing. I ended up going home without 2 of the items in my basket because the machine wouldn't scan them. That was after I'd had to call her back twice due to the "unexpected item" bollocks.

I would absolutely boycott any shop where self checkout was the only option.

I always end up shouting at the self-service things, Martin-Freeman-in-Sherlock style. The phrase 'Oh for fuck's sake!' comes up regularly, as does 'Fuck off take the item back out of the bag'. The poor staff charged with hanging about by the self-service area to bail out idiots must just love me.

I hate them. And as soon as you're buying anything that's age-restricted the machine has to summon a real person anyway. I got caught out by this when buying Calpol for DS in our local Sainsburys - took twice as long as it would have done to queue up for the real human being. Serves me right: I normally don't use them on principle.

I really like them. They are quick and quite fun I play shopkeepers in my head

I like them, but they are job-cutting machines. Cognitive dissonance.

I usually go to the manned checkouts but use the self-service if I'm in a rush with a couple of items.

I also like shovelling in all my 1ps and 2ps to pay for things. The checkout staff would not be impressed if I paid in coppers.

There I am, dawdling at the checkout, having a daydream or reading the magazines at the till..then..
"would madam like to use the self-sevice checkout"
No, madam ruddy well wouldnt.
Thats why I am IN THE QUEUE

they are fine once you work out what uspets them .. eg my local tesco has a meltdown if you move a bag half an inch to make room for another

I have learned to put everything in the bagging area without bags and then bag it after i have pushed finish and pay

The ones in Glasgow city centre are programmed really strangely ... everything seems to be age restricted.. even rolls and coleslaw.. dont know if its a security thing as its city centre and really busy but its really annoying

Hate them beyond reason. Don't get me started on trying to use discount vouchers on them. Agree with Fido.

I like them as long as I don't have anything that'll upset it (magazines, booze, anything very light)..

not using them because they put people out of work seems a little bit luddite - plus working on a till was probably the worst job I've ever had so I'm biased.