Cashiers/Monitors at Self Checkouts in Grocery Stores.

[George7941]

So many error messages show up on the screen while checking out, like "unexpected item" etc.

This morning a new one showed up - scale not zeroed.

Made me wonder if these are genuine or if the Cashier overlooking the self checkouts can trigger these messages just as a cover for her to come over and verify that there is no scamming going on.

 

[hrv]

I use self checkout at Walmart all of the time and never had any issues.. I like using them...The only time is when I purchase something like brake cleaner they have to come over and check your age...other than that no issues at all...

 

[WillBrinkhoff]

So many error messages show up on the screen while checking out, like "unexpected item" etc.

This morning a new one showed up - scale not zeroed.

Made me wonder if these are genuine or if the Cashier overlooking the self checkouts can trigger these messages just as a cover for her to come over and verify that there is no scamming going on.

I hate the ones that don't let you put scanned items back in the cart and must be placed on the bagging area so it can keep track of the weight of all your items. If you have a lot of things, you run out of room fast.

 

[hrv]

Sometimes the people using them are the problem and not the self serve checkout...

 

[Vercingetorix]

Load up with 4 jugs of oil at Walmart and go to the self checkout line that is a 10 minute wait because they only have 5 of the 20 self checkout stands open.

 

[hrv]

Load up with 4 jugs of oil at Walmart and go to the self checkout line that is a 10 minute wait because they only have 5 of the 20 self checkout stands open.

Never had to wait more then a minute or two at the stores I use around here...

 

[bullwinkle]

Load up with 4 jugs of oil at Walmart and go to the self checkout line that is a 10 minute wait because they only have 5 of the 20 self checkout stands open.

That’s what the TLE cashier/checkout is for!

 

[Owen Lucas]

So many error messages show up on the screen while checking out, like "unexpected item" etc.

This morning a new one showed up - scale not zeroed.

Made me wonder if these are genuine or if the Cashier overlooking the self checkouts can trigger these messages just as a cover for her to come over and verify that there is no scamming going on.

I doubt the store would give this kind of functionality to a self-checkout clerk, I bet a manager doesn't have this authority. Heck no one probably does, it's kind of a weird setting. Maybe in an admin or diagnostics screen or loss prevention can have some authority to delay or block a scammer.

If I ran a store I wouldn't want these border line minimum wagies being able to think or make decisions beyond basic functions.

You probably ran into a bad machine.

 

[barryh]

Self checkouts work great for a small number of items but for a full trolley they are hopeless taking 3 times as long as a manned checkout. Supermarkets know they have gone too far down the road of self checkouts and some are partially reverting to manned checkouts.

 

[SHOZ]

I've had the scanner lock three times at Walmart saying incorrect count. They local charge comes over and we review the video. I'ma always innocent.....

 

[fdcg27]

The only grocery retailer I've seen that really knows how to do checkout is Aldi.
Some locations do have self-service checkouts, but you can be stuck behind someone with a full cart at a staffed checkout and still get out quickly, so good are their cashiers.
This is what happens when you pay a little more so that you can be more selective in who you hire.

 

[97prizm]

I hate the ones that don't let you put scanned items back in the cart and must be placed on the bagging area so it can keep track of the weight of all your items. If you have a lot of things, you run out of room fast.

Safeway and others are apparently going to a new system that can watch and don't need weight to work.

 

[SHOZ]

The only grocery retailer I've seen that really knows how to do checkout is Aldi.
Some locations do have self-service checkouts, but you can be stuck behind someone with a full cart at a staffed checkout and still get out quickly, so good are their cashiers.
This is what happens when you pay a little more so that you can be more selective in who you hire.

I see Aldi just bumped the pay from $18 to $23.

 

[fdcg27]

I see Aldi just bumped the pay from $18 to $23.

In most things, including staff, you get what you pay for.

 

[George7941]

I use the "skip bagging" option when I have a lot of items and there is not enough room on the scale for the scanned items.

 

[4WD]

I do self checkout daily - no issues …

 

[JeffKeryk]

I prefer click-click-click and it shows up on my doorstep.

 

[Hall]

and verify that there is no scamming going on

I don't think the employees care so they're not triggering it in case it is "fake". The corporation may have built these triggers into the self-checkout systems so they come up randomly.

Our Krogers trialed the handheld scanners that you carry with you through the store, so you take an item off the shelf, scan it, and you can bag things as you go. You get to the checkout and normally you just scan a barcode, which pulls up your items, and swipe your card. One time an employee stopped me before I could do that and said they need to "make sure the scanner is working right". He put it in a different mode and scanned 3-4 items in my cart to see if they were scanned by me. He was nervous doing it because he knows customers know what's going on.

 

[alarmguy]

I hate the ones that don't let you put scanned items back in the cart and must be placed on the bagging area so it can keep track of the weight of all your items. If you have a lot of things, you run out of room fast.

Costco I hate for that

Sam’s Club I don’t even take stuff out of my shopping cart and check everything out with my phone app

 

[Hall]

I hate the ones that don't let you put scanned items back in the cart and must be placed on the bagging area

I can't remember if it's Walmart, Kroger, etc but with one of them, if you pay attention, the screen will have a section that flashes green. When it does that, you can remove items from the bagging area and start putting them in your cart in case you run out of room. If you have a 2nd cart, it can work great. If you're still unloading the same cart, I won't do it.

so good are their cashiers.

Yes, they are ! I've ended up being the hold-up because I don't take my own bags (or buy theirs) and usually use the cardboard boxes they let you use. Well, I try and 'box' things neatly but can't do it quick enough and the cashier will have everything piling up when they're already done.