Opinion on "express self scan" checkouts?

[Garak]

Originally Posted by StevieC
Me either... I was one of the first on PC Financial, although now I moved somewhere else.

That reminds me how I was always afraid to sign up for them, since I always wondered what if I have to go into a branch. Of course, I haven't done so for a couple years, as I mentioned, so there you go.

Wolf359: Deposits in person, given my hours, aren't terribly convenient. By the time I'm ready to go to the bank, they're all gone home.

 

[Delta]

I've found the self checkouts are pretty decent at the Wal-Mart I shop at. I actually prefer to use them as I typically don't want to deal with people and rather go on my day. That and if you are buying "personal" items it's a whole lot less embarrassing. Although if I'm buying cans of brake cleaner, solvents, etc. it's better to go to the regular checkout. Other places such as grocery stores or home improvement chains I tend to use the regular lines.

 

[Dallas69]

I refuse to use self checkout.
I also won't unload their trucks or stock shelves.
Any savings will not be passed on to shoppers.

 

[javacontour]

I have most of the codes I use memorized. It's often the machine. I can key in 4011 for bananas, but the machine isn't ready for me and takes forever. I've usually tapped all four digits before it will display the first.

In my case, it really is the designed in slowness of the machine that is the problem.

So I simply don't go unless is 3am and I have 4 or fewer items.

I'd rather stand in line and daydream than wait for a frustratingly slow machine that will not keep up with me.
Originally Posted by bbhero
^^^^^^^

Hey... Try getting behind anyone with fresh produce!!!

No bar code quite often... They look like a space ship landed in front of them

I actually like the self check out lines... Faster for me almost always...

Even when I go through a regular line with a cashier... I bag my own groceries. Because I did this in high school. And I am fast... I can keep up with cashier item for item... That's getting it done

 

[opus1]

Originally Posted by Wolf359
I like to make deposits with the bank in person. That way I know all the tellers and they don't give me a hard time. Then when they know you, you can get freebies like a bank check when you need it. One knows me so well that whenever I ask for one, she doesn't even mention that she's going to waive the charge, she just gives it to me without mentioning it at all.

^^^This.

I had a small S&L that provided this sort of service until it got bought/merged. I miss those days.

 

[DBMaster]

I've enjoyed self-checkout use for about fifteen years. The newer ones at places like Walmart and Home Depot are actually a lot faster than the old ones. You can almost scan as quickly as the regular checkouts. It is irritating when people who have no business using them do use them, but that is the direction we are going. Twice I've been stuck behind women who were working the things one-handed while carrying on a phone conversation with the other hand. THAT should not even be allowed. I try to make sure that my produce has a sticker on it indicating the SKU number. That makes things move a lot faster as well.

Overall, like them or not, we better get used to it because pressure to increase wages is going to lead to a lot more places installing a lot more self-checkouts. Customer satisfaction concerns pretty much go out the window with even the slightest concern about the bottom line.

 

[SevenBizzos]

Love them and use them as much as possible. They're also quite useful for getting rid of change. The newer ones have a little bowl on them so you can just dump your change in there.

 

[Schmoe]

Absolutely LOVE them, especially now that the have fixed the produce/weighing part. You just look for the picture or start typing the word and it pulls up. Really curious about free pickup. I literally just ordered off of it last night....you can also order beer and vino!!! I'll see how that works out because if it does, total game changer in my house. The wife ALWAYS buys way too much stuff we don't need, or somehow manages to find her way to the clearance racks and buys more junk. I think this will save me some coin. Example, last night as I was ordering and asked her what we needed. She said get some Wolfe chilli, we already had a can in the pantry....then she said some kind of orange/pineapple drink....still had a full one in the refrigerator....saving money already. The amount of stuff I had to throw away because of the expiration date made me want to puke.

 

[opus1]

If I'm not buying anything that requires an age-check or coupons, I'll use the self-check. Seems like every time I go to one with coupons, there's always *one* that won't scan and I have to get the clerk's attention to validate it.

 

[DBMaster]

Since I know in advance what requires an age check I get the attendant's attention and do those items first. I always make sure there is an attendant available regardless. Stupid stuff like fuel system cleaner and windshield washer fluid require age verification. Go figure.

 

[blupupher]

Originally Posted by Dallas69
..
Any savings will not be passed on to shoppers.

In a way, the savings is passed on by not increasing prices, but I do understand what you are saying.

Originally Posted by DBMaster
.. It is irritating when people who have no business using them do use them, but that is the direction we are going. Twice I've been stuck behind women who were working the things one-handed while carrying on a phone conversation with the other hand. THAT should not even be allowed.
...

I agree, get off the freaking phone. I never have understood what people have to talk about that is so important all the time.
I go days sometimes without talking on my cell phone. I actually just looked at my phone that I have had since April of last year, I surprisingly have 5 hours of total talk time in 8 months? I guess all those 1 minute calls add up.

 

[exranger06]

I like them if I have just a few things. If I have a whole shopping cart, it's easier to use a cashier, if for nothing else to use the large conveyor belt to place all the items. It's also nice to have a second person to help bag stuff so you get out of there faster.

I once used a self-checkout at Home Depot to get rid of a bunch of spare change. I bought an item that was $6 or $7 and I had a Zip-lock baggie full of change I wanted to get rid of. I just kept grabbing handfuls of change and dumped them in the change compartment of the register and let the machine figure out how much money I put in. Eventually the balance got down to $0.12. I fished out a dime and two pennies from my baggie, and dropped them in. All done.

I did this while the store was slow and there was no one waiting behind me.

 

[exranger06]

Originally Posted by blupupher
My dad would never use them, he said if he is going to do the work, he needs to get a discount.
He would wait in line for 10 minutes with 1 item over using the self check out.

Standing in line for 10 minutes for one item is more "work" than simply scanning it yourself and getting out of there in less than one minute...

 

[Spector]

My issue is with beer, it mandates that a cashier come over and verify the DOB which defeats the purpose of the time saving device. Cashier is usually occupied with someone else and takes forever!

 

[DBMaster]

Originally Posted by Spector
My issue is with beer, it mandates that a cashier come over and verify the DOB which defeats the purpose of the time saving device. Cashier is usually occupied with someone else and takes forever!


That's why I grab the attendant, if I can, first thing rather than waiting until I get to the item(s) requiring approval. But, yes, you make a valid point.

 

[Wolf359]

Originally Posted by Spector
My issue is with beer, it mandates that a cashier come over and verify the DOB which defeats the purpose of the time saving device. Cashier is usually occupied with someone else and takes forever!


It's not a time saving device for the customer, it's a money saving device for the store. There's a difference.

 

[Wolf359]

Originally Posted by opus1
Originally Posted by Wolf359
I like to make deposits with the bank in person. That way I know all the tellers and they don't give me a hard time. Then when they know you, you can get freebies like a bank check when you need it. One knows me so well that whenever I ask for one, she doesn't even mention that she's going to waive the charge, she just gives it to me without mentioning it at all.

^^^This.

I had a small S&L that provided this sort of service until it got bought/merged. I miss those days.


The other reason is that as a landlord, some tenants like to pay in cash so sometimes there's a lot of cash to deposit and I don't trust the ATM's with the cash. Also good to get fees waived as I also know the managers and they pretty much do it every time I ask, but I hardly ever get hit with fees unless I need a copy of something.

 

[Vuflanovsky]

Originally Posted by Wolf359
Originally Posted by Spector
My issue is with beer, it mandates that a cashier come over and verify the DOB which defeats the purpose of the time saving device. Cashier is usually occupied with someone else and takes forever!


It's not a time saving device for the customer, it's a money saving device for the store. There's a difference.


I think the reality of that statement is pretty much dictated by where and when you shop versus anything else...in something like a Target where there's two cashiers on duty at 8PM with four open self-checking stalls, it's much quicker if you're in the habit of using them. That would be much different in a grocery store near me at 5:30 PM where there's a line for the five checkers on duty and a line waiting for one of the four self-checking stalls to open up.

Obviously, the cost/labor savings is one thing but the time, type and location of the store plays the bigger part along with things like how active they are in approaching people who have purchases that need approvals. Some of these stores will need you to go in search of someone while others will have dedicated people actively see you need an approval and will either clear the system or review ID and clear the system proactively...at least that's my experience here. In the latter case, it's usually still faster even with buying alcohol or the system having a hiccup when you're scanning items so I can't say I agree as a blanket statement.

 

[George7941]

I use self checkouts 95% of the time, don't have anything against them.
Reminds me of the self-serve gas pumps debate when they were first introduced. I actually prefer to pump gas myself. I would rather check the engine oil and tire pressures myself, thank you very much. Some folks still dislike self-serve pumps.

 

[Dallas69]

I went in a Kroger around the holidays and didn't check the cashier situation.
Spent about an hour shopping and when I went to checkout I see they only had one person checking.
Everything else was self check.
If I didn't have stuff I needed for cooking the next day I would have left my full cart and went elsewhere.
I won't go back to Kroger.