Self checkouts

[esoteric]

My ASDA always ask if I need help packing, so does Tesco.

I'm not to fond of self-service checkouts. First time I used one was at a Morrisons during last summer, it was so hot I went in after work and got a few bottles of their own Cola. So on the self-service checkout I had room for 4 bottles, with no room left I bagged them up and put them in my trolly then the machine started crying that it wanted them back so I asked the fella for help and he sorted it out. Carried on and when out of room again I went to bag it up and he stopped me, "you can't do that, sir", "well what am I supposed to do there is no room", I bagged it and he sorted the machine again.

One time at ASDA with my, Mum when going to the checkout the self-checkout clerk hijacked my trolly, snatching it away from me and said you are going over here not over there. I went to retrieve my trolly and go back to, Mum but I was blocked in by other customers, so I went through, not really remembering how it went because I was hacked off at the situation.

Two, Fridays ago at, ASDA I went through the self-service of my own volition and it was a much better experience. Bagging area space is still crap but it comes up with an option on screen to not put the item/s there but it will halt the process while the assistant has to come and sort the machine.

I still prefer a human operated checkout though.

 

[MaxP779]

I avoid these things because its an extra task I need to do.. Im already packing all the stuff im buying now I need to scan it as well?! Gtfo.

Come up with a better system like scanning crap as I go round the store then paying as I walk out the door with it and ill use it but this isnt an improvement over the previous checkout + person system so I dont use it.

 

[darael]

I had the fortune of using one today - normally they are fine for me, but not today. Before I'd scanned anything, it asked me, as normal, if I had my own bag - I pressed no. It then told me to remove the item from the scales...there was nothing to remove.

 

[jej_knowles]

I heard of a little scam that my girlfriends veggie friend does because she eats lots of fresh fruit and veg and she does this; fills bag with loose mushrooms or whatever she needs but always opt for the loose items you have to bag yourself. When you check out at the self checkout instead of selecting mushrooms before weighing them select potatoes which are far cheaper by weight! Bingo saves a fortune on her shopping.

 

[Smokey Deza]

I'm a pro on self checkouts, and all those around me that require assistance are noobs

whats the point? just put a human being on the till in the first place,stupid idea

On the contrary, it's a genius idea.

At one time they'd have to employ someone to process your shopping. Now, a considerable percentage of us do it for them.

Not so stupid when your company is now saving £100,000s a year because you've replaced your staff with a machine that does the same job for nothing.

 

[Glaucus]

And it's faster, you cannot stand and chat to a machine. Some people I swear go to the shop for a bit of social interaction. Let them cause chaos at human tills. i'll stick with self service.

 

[NeoVo]

Our local ASDA got wise to me using the tills as a cost-free 'coinstar' alternative. It used to be amusing watching the poor self service checkout struggle to count the influx of coins - egg timer and temperature icon on screen etc.

They replaced the funnel (that you could pour coins into) with a slot alternative a couple of weeks later

I always use them when i have a small trolley or basket unless I see an empty checkout en route. I find them generally awesome, apart from the ones at various Morrison stores which are notoriously rubbish from my experience.

 

[dowie]

I heard of a little scam that my girlfriends veggie friend does because she eats lots of fresh fruit and veg and she does this; fills bag with loose mushrooms or whatever she needs but always opt for the loose items you have to bag yourself. When you check out at the self checkout instead of selecting mushrooms before weighing them select potatoes which are far cheaper by weight! Bingo saves a fortune on her shopping.

might as well just start putting things in her pocket

 

[Orionaut]

I heard of a little scam that my girlfriends veggie friend does because she eats lots of fresh fruit and veg and she does this; fills bag with loose mushrooms or whatever she needs but always opt for the loose items you have to bag yourself. When you check out at the self checkout instead of selecting mushrooms before weighing them select potatoes which are far cheaper by weight! Bingo saves a fortune on her shopping.

So she is a shoplifter!

If I was the Man with the Wig I would transport her to Iraq!

Scum!

 

[benjii]

might as well just start putting things in her pocket

Indeed. If the person working that area ever notices her doing that, they will call the Police and attempt to prosecute her for stealing. She's not the only one to have thought of that, they deal with it more often than you think.

 

[MooMoo444]

I heard of a little scam that my girlfriends veggie friend does because she eats lots of fresh fruit and veg and she does this; fills bag with loose mushrooms or whatever she needs but always opt for the loose items you have to bag yourself. When you check out at the self checkout instead of selecting mushrooms before weighing them select potatoes which are far cheaper by weight! Bingo saves a fortune on her shopping.

You should do the right thing......and blackmail her into polishing your carrot.

 

[McGray]

Use them everyday as I live opposite a supermarket.

I honestly don't know why people struggle so much, they are much quicker.

User error is always the reason for issues.

 

[benjii]

Use them everyday as I live opposite a supermarket.

I honestly don't know why people struggle so much, they are much quicker.

User error is always the reason for issues.

I agree that they're quicker and easier, but user error most certainly isn't always the issue. It probably accounts for a large number of issues, but not all of them.

 

[Guest2]

User error is always the reason for issues.

Incorrect. Sometimes the barcode and even numbers wear off a label usually on hot food. You cant scan it then or enter the barcode

Also, at places with salad bars if you manage to pack it down well the actual weight is more than the expected weight. The red assistant thing is then highlighted as someone needs to come over so seipe their store card

 

[Flying_Hellfish]

I use them as they are generally quicker. Though I'm only in supermarkets occasionally for small items - I can see how issues might arise if you have lots of stuff, there's just no space is there?

Sainsbury's ones tend to work without fuss, but I've noticed Morrisons ones are terrible. It might just be my local branch, but the scale is always wrong and at some times half of the tills are not working at all!

 

[TheVoice]

Sainsbury's ones tend to work without fuss, but I've noticed Morrisons ones are terrible. It might just be my local branch, but the scale is always wrong and at some times half of the tills are not working at all!

Instead of going with NCR like the rest, Morrison's took the (presumably) cheap route and went with another manufacturer. They seem a lot more awkward to use.

 

[StriderX]

They can be exploited though, if a price is based purely on weight, you can get something for nigh on free...

 

[tom_e]

They can be exploited though, if a price is based purely on weight, you can get something for nigh on free...

Why not just bypass the pain of checking out and stick it straight in your bag from the shelf?

 

[StriderX]

Why not just bypass the pain of checking out and stick it straight in your bag from the shelf?

Because its more subtly offensive.

 

[arknor]

I had the fortune of using one today - normally they are fine for me, but not today. Before I'd scanned anything, it asked me, as normal, if I had my own bag - I pressed no. It then told me to remove the item from the scales...there was nothing to remove.

They are beyond "stupid"
You can not bag up as you scan on a self service checkout I used to and every time you will end up in a situation where the machine gets stuck calculating the weight of something no matter how careful you are.

so instead you have to scan everything and build a jenga tower on the scales because the space is so small.

then you have to pay for the crap, then you have to bag stuff up whilst the machine is constantly telling you to take your items or whatever.

all the time I'm almost constantly telling the machine to "shut the **** up" the assistant must think I'm crazy or something but it just annoys the hell out of me how the machines constantly have a go at you no one is fast enough you don't get the time to bag your stuff up just constant harassment being bombarded at you.


Let's pretend what the machine says comes from someone behind you in the queue, people realise how rude this would be right? but it's perfectly okay for a machine to rush you? like wtf man