View Full Version : Lots of "Self Checkout" lanes going up everywhere
It seems like most stores (Walmart, Meijer, groceries) are all adding many self-checkout lanes, and keeping the usual lanes open at a minimum. Great......now even more people will be out of a job.
Have you been seeing this in your area too? I find those difficult because some of the computers can't seem to handle cloth bags.
Gosh....I remember the huge old loud cash registers. I wanted to use one forever, and finally got to when I worked at a small town drug store. You'd push in the buttons with the amount on them, then pull down the handle on the side to enter each item. And guess what?.........you had to count out the change accurately yourself. I loved that part too!
Remember when credit cards first came out.......the cashier had a couple pages of credit card numbers that weren't acceptable, and she'd always check the number against those in her pamphlet.
Our Loblaws grocery store makes a big feature of having all 10 manned cash registers open between 10am and 4pm on Sat and Sun. It is crazy busy then. This is in addition to the 6 self-checkout registers. Stores try everything trying to increase or salvage a profit margin but some don't work and they find another way of dealing with it.
I think they're terrific. So many people would rather stand in line for a live cashier than figure them out, you seldom need to wait to use one. I suppose it will be like ATMs and eventually more people will get comfortable with them.
I don't mind the self-checkouts. There are both options. DH is adamant about going to a live clerk, while I tend to like to go to the shortest line, and if that's the self-checkout, that's where I'll go.
In Home Depot I noticed that they have an option to check off for if you bring your own bag, which I thought was interesting, so looks like you weren't the only one that has trouble with that, Cathy.
I don't mind "progress" in the checkout line, but I do think it's interesting how much time you wind up spending just waiting for the computer to accept your purchase. I notice that often the clerk and I are just standing there looking at each other, waiting. Then you have to put in your PIN. Then you have to indicate if you want cash back. Then you have to agree to the dollar amount. Then you have to remember whether you have a strip or a chip.
It did seem a bit less complicated in the old days when you always paid cash, always got change--and unlike many cashiers today, if the clerk was handed 10.25 on a 5.25 purchase, they knew how much change to give you.
ToomuchStuff
9-29-16, 4:34pm
I avoid them for the most part. I did have to use one at Home Depot, one day, due to some issue (don't remember what) and that was the first one I dealt with, that took cash. Early ones I tried, they wanted only plastic, or cash had to be dealt with at the teller that handles multiple registers. (so they are only shifting from one teller a register, to a teller for multiple registers)
But, these are not the "high paying" jobs that people keep wanting to be brought to their states.
We went to a huge box store like a superwalmart at an odd hour and they had no one running a regular register about 10 self service aisles with another cashier. Thankfully, there was a regular one when we were ready to pay. Of course the line at the real cashier was long and getting longer by the minute and we had a lot of stuff. I was just about to get really angry and get a manager when they opened another register. With a lot of produce, sale items, coupons and such, I get hung up at self service way too many times. I am fine with a few items or uncomplicated purchases.
I wont get angry at any of the workers unless they are standing around talking and not seeing problems. Managers need to get out and about and have fixes in place when things like this happen. This store is good at giving cashiers some authority to fix problems. And many times I have visited the customer service area to get a price fixed when I realize it after the checkout.
Chicken lady
9-29-16, 6:13pm
I don't use them if I can help it. I don't use ATMs either, as in, I have never used an atm.
sometimes when the line is long and I have a couple of things, the "flow manager" (I don't know what her job is, but she stands back a watches the lines and tries to get people into the shortest/fastest ones) will say "I'll check you out on self-check." And we do that.
my groceries lean heavily toward produce. Too much effort!
Overall, I like them and use them all the time as long as I don't have anything needing to be weighed. My wife has mastered the weighing thing, but I seem to have some sort of block. Otherwise I find them easy to use and faster than the regular cashier lanes.
freshstart
9-29-16, 7:41pm
my grocery doesn't like the large size of my reusable bags so it's arduous but still quicker than a long line with a human
Yes, and when they find robots to stock the shelves, then that is what they will do. If you have ever worked as a checker on self-serve, it is a nightmare of multitasking. I want to shop with real cashiers not machines! Just say NO!
I tend to like them, I like to bag my own stuff my own way. However I just set everything there and then when I am done I put it in my own reusable bags since the reusable bags tend to glitch up some stores. I even have the produce thing totally down. However I worked at Target for 5 years part time, so I get picky.
Then I have to use my credit card and tax exempt status for work purchases so I don't get to use self checkout. It is usually at WalMart and they suck. I just plan on reading a book on my phone while I wait to check out, then I train the person on how to process tax exempt. I try to not shop there but often that is where everything is in one place. Over the weekend I shopped at some places other than walmart but today I had to go there.
Have you noticed that the self-checkouts at Home Depot have security cameras trained on the machines? The cameras are in the open, not hidden, and they state that it's for security reasons.
I'd heard there had been problems with stealing at self-checkouts. Especially people who had a number of items and appeared to be scanning them all, except they would forego scanning a few and then put everything in the bag. Then the machine generated a receipt and they walked out. Sneaky but apparently effective - wonder if the cameras will scare them away now.
I have worked in retail and yes, thieves pretend to scan. They also scan coupons multiple times and other scams. Some states require cameras in the open while others states permit hidden cameras. Look at the ceiling in stores, there are upside down bubble things with cameras. These can use telescoping lenses to look at cellphones texts. Security uses listening devices and now must try to monitor texts to prevent theft. The ways stores are now, people can steal a lot of stuff and get away with it. Its disgusting, and that is why a T-shirt is so expensive - not to mention food. Unfortunately, internal theft gangs are a huge problem too. I should write a book. It all about not having enough people working to stock and run registers nowadays though. And, they wonder why so many stores and companies are closing. No people working - that is why!
Back in the early days of self check I hated them. Now I like them. I wish more places had them, like Tim Hortons would be nice. The service I actually get from some places is far worse then self check out sadly.
This morning I was telling hubby my crummy experience at Tim Hortons yesterday. I grabbed can of coffee and when it was my turn I stepped up to counter. The man never said Hello or anything, He just said how much I owed for the can. I reply I would like a donut and a coffee also please. He rang those up and said the price, handed me the items and never said thanks or anything. There were about 8 workers babbling to each other, one said Hurry Up, I have to go to the bathroom. It was terrible. I thought is this the "best" they could find to work? SO many places are like this today sadly. So self check takes the hassle of dealing with some that are disgruntled.
I worked Retail and Food Service for years.
I don't see how they can steal at the check out because if the weight in the bag changes and you haven't scanned something it won't go on.
It seems like most stores (Walmart, Meijer, groceries) are all adding many self-checkout lanes, ... Great......now even more people will be out of a job.
Working at a checkout counter scanning groceries and watching someone slide a credit card through a reader isn't the best use of precious human talent and life.
So I celebrate when robots take over these low-level drudgery-filled jobs, and free humans to live more self-actualized lives - writing poetry, sitting in coffee shops discussing politics with neighbors, engaging in needful community service, walking in the woods, educating children, caring for the elderly, ...
Working at a checkout counter scanning groceries and watching someone slide a credit card through a reader isn't the best use of precious human talent and life.
So I celebrate when robots take over these low-level drudgery-filled jobs, and free humans to live more self-actualized lives - writing poetry, sitting in coffee shops discussing politics with neighbors, engaging in needful community service, walking in the woods, educating children, caring for the elderly, ...
Discovering the joys of life on the streets and freedom from the tyranny of consumer goods. Also, the considerable benefits of fasting!
ApatheticNoMore
9-30-16, 6:34pm
Sometimes the homeless do pass the day in coffee shops, though they have to be among Starbucks least favorite customers.
early morning
10-1-16, 12:08am
Discovering the joys of life on the streets and freedom from the tyranny of consumer goods. Also, the considerable benefits of fasting!
+1!
DS is job hunting. He'd be happy, at the moment, to have a "low-level drudgery-filled job", and be "free" to eat when he's hungry. I get so TIRED of people who believe that robots free up people for self-actualization... when there is no work for the "working class", where are we to go, do you think? Those at the top aren't exactly extending a hand in welcome, they're too busy getting more of us fired for yielding to the pressure of increasing THEIR bonuses, or merging mega-corporations so they can make more people redundant and thus increase profits, and dividends.
I see no reason to use self-checkouts, so I don't. It's not like running a checkout is such a dangerous job that such machines are life savers. I use ATMs only when I can't get to the bank during their open hours. I try to deal with humans over machines, and I don't actually LIKE humans all that much most of the time - I just like most machines even less! Back in the day, I may have had some shoes to throw into the frames....>:(
ToomuchStuff
10-1-16, 12:49am
This morning I was telling hubby my crummy experience at Tim Hortons yesterday. I grabbed can of coffee and when it was my turn I stepped up to counter. The man never said Hello or anything, He just said how much I owed for the can. I reply I would like a donut and a coffee also please. He rang those up and said the price, handed me the items and never said thanks or anything.
I am the opposite, and would rather just get my stuff and get out, no small talk.
I don't see how they can steal at the check out because if the weight in the bag changes and you haven't scanned something it won't go on.
I don't believe they all use or go by weight. I know at some of the building centers, it is more about some sort of antitheft device (think magnetic) which they have you run your stuff over.
ApatheticNoMore
10-1-16, 2:20am
Some of the self-checkouts only take credit cards, But I usually use cash. Also they always have someone manning and helping people with the "self" checkouts, so I'm not sure as many jobs are eliminated as one thinks. Instead of cashier they have a "babysit the self-checkout" job. Are we self-actualized yet?
I've used self checkout here and there for speed, I don't usually need them (because the lines aren't usually that bad). And I've noticed that there are some pricey grocerers (talking most expensive than whole foods) that are ALWAYS adequately staffed, guess that's one of the things people pay for, not to wait in line or self-checkout.
I'd be all for getting rid of many jobs for self-actualization if there was a guaranteed income sufficient to live on for everyone (or at least job programs for the unemployed - or a way of job sharing and making sure everyone had enough to live on even though everyone worked only 20 hours - this would be my ideal society if I had any say in the matter - but I don't). And that's a long way off probably (hey I could be wrong, since to everyone's surprise sometimes even the powers that be suggest this is what we need (guarantee income etc.), but it sure seems a long way away).
I am one who has never used an ATM.
TooMUchStuff: I am the opposite, and would rather just get my stuff and get out, no small talk.
Oh I am 100% on that line of thought. I want no small talk period. What I meant was I want service and thank you for spending you hard earned money here and letting the establishment feel they still need me. No service at all means I do not need the person who has no feeling of need behind the counter.
I don't believe they all use or go by weight. I know at some of the building centers, it is more about some sort of antitheft device (think magnetic) which they have you run your stuff over.
someone told me they just throw their keys in the bag when it starts squawking so the machine then thinks the "item is in the bag."
This chat is ignoring the largest shift to "self checkout" - online transactions. I remember when buying from home (when you could) required someone on the phone, or someone trying to decipher my handwriting on the order I mailed in.
ToomuchStuff
10-1-16, 1:13pm
TooMUchStuff: I am the opposite, and would rather just get my stuff and get out, no small talk.
Oh I am 100% on that line of thought. I want no small talk period. What I meant was I want service and thank you for spending you hard earned money here and letting the establishment feel they still need me. No service at all means I do not need the person who has no feeling of need behind the counter.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E9PSg0sQyfs
I prefer honesty.
Now, on the atm comments, as someone who has never used one, were you shown how to use one before you did, or not? I think I am better informed on how to look for a skimmer then how to use the machines. (sad, because I once asked the bank if they will show me but didn't get taught)
Even my 84 year old Minlaw could figure out the ATM the first time she used it.
The first time I used an ATM, I was shown but that was back in the early 90's when they were still viewed with suspicion and as disloyal to one's favourite bank teller. Some tellers even now are quite snarky about ATM use despite their being widespread in grocery stores, corner stores...
I don't have any memory of not using an ATM. When I got my first job in 1984 I found that the ATM fit my schedule better than my credit union's open hours. Now, thanks to the convenience of direct deposit I only even use it once a month or so to get enough cash to cover my non-online purchases.
The elimination of bank tellers and checkout clerks is probably as inevitable as the days when one had to tell a phone operator what number and they put the call through. I suppose there were people who decried the impersonality of having to dial one's own phone at the time.
My goodness, I can't imagine not using an ATM. I use them constantly--although I make sure I use my own bank's ATM so I don't get hit with a fee (or two). I even use them when traveling abroad because it's so much easier than going to the currency exchange booths.
My bank is 8 miles away, but the ATM is only a mile, so I wouldn't consider all that extra travel just to see my teller's friendly face.
It is really very, very easy. You just follow the instructions as they appear on the screen. There used to be a slight chance that you could walk away without your card by mistake, but now most ATMs are made to eliminate that likelihood.
My ATM also enables me to scan in check deposits and then the receipts get automatically sent to my email account. I can also just use my phone app to make deposits so I don't even have to leave the house.
We have a chain who removed them! I prefer them. I'm not at the store for a relationship. buy and leave.
I'm not at the store for a relationship. buy and leave.
This is pretty much me too. One dept. store here seems to encourage chattiness by the cashiers, and then the next thing you know I'm being handed a receipt circled with their store's online survey info and the cashier practically begging me to post a perfect survey result. Oy vey, I just came in to buy some sheets ...
Miss Cellane
10-4-16, 11:40am
One reason, at least around here, for the self-checkouts is that the economy has improved enough that lots of people just aren't taking the minimum wage jobs. I have a friend who works at Macy's, and apparently they are concerned that even at $10/hr., they aren't going to get enough seasonal help to cover the extra holiday shifts.
It's a combination of things, I think. There's almost no public transportation in the area, and the one bus line has infrequent stops at the mall and shopping centers, so if you don't have a car, it would be hard to get to work. And there are fast food places in town that are offering $10 and up with lots of hours.
Retail is not the first choice job for a lot of people. The hours change from week to week, the number of hours per week changes, the customers get nastier week by week, corporate is breathing down managers' backs for more sales, more credit cards opened, higher numbers on surveys. The pressure is relentless.
The self-checkouts don't ask for breaks, need to use the bathroom, or snap from the pressure and yell at customers.
I'd like to think there are more jobs available, but I'm dubious. Also, a lot of our grocery stores are unionized, which is a big step up from most retail.
I don't use self checkout in grocery stores. As a friend says "If I have to do the employees' work, I should get a kickback."
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