General Discussion

Ms. Toad

(38,659 posts)

85. As long as it is the belt type register -

Sun Mar 24, 2019, 01:15 PM

Mar 2019

I prefer it. I can shave about 50% of the time it takes a cashier to check me out, especially when I have veggies the cashier doesn't recognize so I have to tell her or waith while she searches the item for the PLU code. I very rarely need assistance - and I can purchase a full cart (not just a few items) - unlike some of comments to the article

I refuse to use the weight sensor (you're-stealing-becasuse-you-had-to-shift-something-in-your-bags) version. Those are, and always have been the worst. I don't unload my items from the cart in the order they need to go in the bags - and the machines are designed to call the cashier if it appears you are trying to put something in the bag that you haven't just scanned - making it impossible to rearrange items in the bag.

(Using self-service does involve philosophical questions that are thorny - but those are separate from whehter the technology makes life easier or harder. In my experience, the belt-type self-service check-out makes life much easier.)

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Highlight:

Why Self-Checkout Is and Has Always Been the Worst [View all] HAB911 Mar 2019 OP

allow businesses to replace cashiers with machines HAB911 Mar 2019 #1

In California they passed a law Mr.Bill Mar 2019 #76

Can't check IDs yet SoCalNative Mar 2019 #80

They have self checkouts at every store I visit. There is a checker stationed there. Tipperary Mar 2019 #82

Yes, that's one way to do it. Mr.Bill Mar 2019 #84

When there is only automated checkout I always ask for help delisen Mar 2019 #101

Most of this automation put the labor onto the customer! treestar Mar 2019 #90

I piss my wife off sometimes HAB911 Mar 2019 #93

Charming. WillowTree Mar 2019 #117

If I am nothing else, I'm charming HAB911 Mar 2019 #122

Our local Target store has only self checkout early in the morning spinbaby Mar 2019 #2

Because the one person can cover 4 checkout stations. It works great at my target, nt USALiberal Mar 2019 #6

At that hour, they don't have four people checking out spinbaby Mar 2019 #29

I always use a real cashier if no line, it is easier. nt USALiberal Mar 2019 #33

Even when there are lines, which there always are, I use a real cashier. Cassidy Mar 2019 #69

I absolutely homegirl Mar 2019 #75

Weird how it takes longer and is more invasive when I use a teller at PNC. Ligyron Mar 2019 #97

What's with the self checkout hate? It is easier. PTWB Mar 2019 #106

It sucks on all levels. Tommy_Carcetti Mar 2019 #3

+1 happybird Mar 2019 #104

I like it...... USALiberal Mar 2019 #4

I don't love it, but it's usually faster. A friend uploads Hortensis Mar 2019 #41

Before grocery carts were invented mercuryblues Mar 2019 #81

Don't know. Far fewer jobs, no matter how they're designed, Hortensis Mar 2019 #91

Here is a cute story about that. Scarsdale Mar 2019 #51

LOL, that is great! nt USALiberal Mar 2019 #120

There won't even be self checkout in the future madville Mar 2019 #5

So if someone gets ahold of your phone,they can clean out the store? MichMan Mar 2019 #7

No different if they took your wallet and Credit Card. nt USALiberal Mar 2019 #9

It's done partly with facial recognition madville Mar 2019 #10

Our Giant grocery store iamateacher Mar 2019 #8

Because she only has to do that one item! nt USALiberal Mar 2019 #11

I hate self checkout. marble falls Mar 2019 #12

Totally agree. EOM TruckFump Mar 2019 #22

Don't use it. See it as an affront to having employes and customers doing the work to save notdarkyet Mar 2019 #26

I do not use it. Just one of the many reasons I won't shop Walmart. marble falls Mar 2019 #40

Walmart was having people arrested for their self check out not working properly. Oppaloopa Mar 2019 #88

It's been a while since we had one of these let's go back 100 years thread when it worked better. madinmaryland Mar 2019 #13

And there is no stopping it and we should not try to. nt USALiberal Mar 2019 #15

Did you ever stop and think about how all this 'progress' just might be the underlying cause sinkingfeeling Mar 2019 #31

This! Stinky The Clown Mar 2019 #68

Agree and thank you. Oppaloopa Mar 2019 #89

The stores near me that have self-checkout always have lots of cashiers working as well LongtimeAZDem Mar 2019 #14

The movement from full service to self service has taken a long time MineralMan Mar 2019 #16

I remember going to the gas station panader0 Mar 2019 #53

I worked in a gas station like that. MineralMan Mar 2019 #79

Even past that Eko Mar 2019 #118

Personally, I'd rather be an employee who makes, maintains, trouble-shoots, installs, etc., robots Hoyt Mar 2019 #17

I don't know how old you are; I turned 60 my last birthday. PatrickforO Mar 2019 #44

Well, we could always stop technological advances. Of course, there would be even more people Hoyt Mar 2019 #57

It isn't a zero sum game MichMan Mar 2019 #62

You're misreading me as a luddite. PatrickforO Mar 2019 #107

I'm sure most people feel that way. However, there will be fewer of those jobs than the more menial Sapient Donkey Mar 2019 #119

It's not just "automation", it's shifting the burden of work onto the customer. eppur_se_muova Mar 2019 #18

+1 treestar Mar 2019 #92

When was the last time anyone demanded that an operator place a phone call? brooklynite Mar 2019 #19

Around 1974. PatrickforO Mar 2019 #38

Exactly obamanut2012 Mar 2019 #70

My wife. Cold War Spook Mar 2019 #115

Yesterday it took me 10 minutes to get two beverages at a McDonalds Generic Brad Mar 2019 #20

And if you use cash, you need the employee... Phentex Mar 2019 #59

Their new system is atrocious. Ms. Toad Mar 2019 #83

Late at night only automated checkout is available in most stores here, and the tblue37 Mar 2019 #21

Our Giant does that...grrr Freddie Mar 2019 #27

I love it. tymorial Mar 2019 #23

It is absolutely great for those few-items-at-a-time trips. Iggo Mar 2019 #45

I definitely do not disagree with you regarding a full cart. tymorial Mar 2019 #48

I like self checkout. Kaleva Mar 2019 #24

I use self-check out because they don't train the baggers how to bag groceries. CrispyQ Mar 2019 #25

Or they distribute the frozen foods into bags with room temperature items milestogo Mar 2019 #65

I love it when I don't have much stuff. Gets me in and out quick nt Quixote1818 Mar 2019 #28

Kroger had a deal on 24 pack soft drinks. House of Roberts Mar 2019 #30

I never use it but 90% of my shopping is at local family businesses that don't have Self-Checkout nt yaesu Mar 2019 #32

I like self-checkouts but I wish more stores had them with long conveyer belts. I like bagging Luciferous Mar 2019 #34

telephone bots barbtries Mar 2019 #35

Well, I simply cannot resist this teachable moment :) PatrickforO Mar 2019 #36

Well said. paleotn Mar 2019 #39

Good post! bluestarone Mar 2019 #43

Excellent post underpants Mar 2019 #56

+++++++++++ HAB911 Mar 2019 #95

Yes! Duppers Mar 2019 #111

Yogurt standard packaging was originally 8 ounces Wednesdays Mar 2019 #121

Sorry, but self checkout doesn't make my life worse.... paleotn Mar 2019 #37

Same here. trev Mar 2019 #94

Self checkout is easy to defeat SHRED Mar 2019 #42

This message was self-deleted by its author Mosby Mar 2019 #72

Better lawyer up! They will have you on video if you try and sneak out with even a pack of bubble g madinmaryland Mar 2019 #73

If I use the self-checkout mac56 Mar 2019 #46

Funny I do take an employee discount on organis if I use self checkout. underpants Mar 2019 #49

exactly, I want compensation for my labor HAB911 Mar 2019 #96

I'll admit I use it (if I don't got to the customer service desk) really just to be nice underpants Mar 2019 #47

I prefer the self-check out....don't have to deal with cashier asking me where I got something HipChick Mar 2019 #50

This message was self-deleted by its author Huffleprecious Mar 2019 #52

Every generation will have its Luddites that refuse to move on Tarc Mar 2019 #54

Automation and AI are realities and will only get more advanced and more pervasive. Blue_true Mar 2019 #55

Disagree about having people assigned to a machine MichMan Mar 2019 #67

A vending machine isn't at the level that I envision, not even remotely. Blue_true Mar 2019 #113

And don't forget the fossil fuel industry getting us to pump our own gas. jalan48 Mar 2019 #58

We did that not them. EX500rider Mar 2019 #108

True, we did put a lot of mom and pops out of business because they couldn't sell the cheaper gas. jalan48 Mar 2019 #109

I like it. I don't like having all my items crushed into bags that don't make sense. we can do it Mar 2019 #60

I'd like it a lot better if it actually worked. The Velveteen Ocelot Mar 2019 #61

I still wind up needing a person 90% of the time, anyway. Stupid. GoCubsGo Mar 2019 #63

I always use self checkout when I don't have a full basket of stuff. Much faster and more efficient. Nitram Mar 2019 #64

" Unexpected item in the bagging area" California_Republic Mar 2019 #66

Self-Checkout doesn't make my life worse Politicub Mar 2019 #71

Stores will not open 10 items or less lanes AwakeAtLast Mar 2019 #74

Stores have always hated those low # of item lanes. Mr.Bill Mar 2019 #77

I love 'em - and my kid NEEDS them Blue_Adept Mar 2019 #78

As long as it is the belt type register - Ms. Toad Mar 2019 #85

I avoid them because they can't cope with a backpack as the "bag you provide yourself" muriel_volestrangler Mar 2019 #86

I'm so old, I remember when the cashier would empty your grocery cart for you. OMGWTF Mar 2019 #87

I prefer self-checkout Maeve Mar 2019 #98

A look ahead to the year 2039: mac56 Mar 2019 #99

The strange thing is... jmowreader Mar 2019 #100

I never use them. dawg day Mar 2019 #102

I'm a fan, due to the speed and the fact I'm able to bag my groceries with less plastic... VarryOn Mar 2019 #103

Eh I like it. Loki Liesmith Mar 2019 #105

Self checkout is corporate greed in the flesh JCMach1 Mar 2019 #110

Sherlock had a scene with Watson having a "row" with the self checkout machine. suffragette Mar 2019 #112

the plan is to do away with checkouts entirely JI7 Mar 2019 #114

We use self-checkout because it is better than waiting in line. Cold War Spook Mar 2019 #116