Picking the Wrong Line at the Grocery Store

[mummabear]

Wow people still accept cheques these days?

I use self check out whenever possible to avoid this

 

[usnuzuloose]

I know the struggles for the checkers. I used to have to teach people. And it can be frustrating. But maybe the cashier was somewhat new? And sometimes new things come for the registers and everyone has to learn. So I learned patience with all of it and even going through lines. I tell them its okay you will learn or get through it. I want to encourage them.

 

[sjrec]

1) They have items that can't go in self-checkout

2) They believe self-checkouts are taking people's jobs

3) They have the mentality that they don't get paid (or get a discount) for doing a cashier's job

4) A combination of any one of those

5) Some other reason I have yet to hear from people who do not want to use self-checkout

1. What can’t be scanned in self checkout? Hand held scanners have long cords so you don’t have to take large or bulky items out of your cart.
2. My grocery store is always advertising for help-deli, customer service. And they still have multiple stations staffed. Along with an employee to assist self checkout.
3. Ok-I get this. Some places give a small rebate when you bring your own bags-I’d like to see them do the same if you bag your own groceries.
4. Absolutely.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

1. What can’t be scanned in self checkout? Hand held scanners have long cords so you don’t have to take large or bulky items out of your cart.

Well you've got things that are contained in some fashion to prevent theft, you've got alcohol depending on state laws, etc

I'm not talking about physically not being able to (well except when I'm at Home Depot and buying lumber and whatnot that's not practical in self-checkout lol). I'm talking about items that self-checkouts cannot take.

2. My grocery store is always advertising for help-deli, customer service. And they still have multiple stations staffed. Along with an employee to assist self checkout.

That's great...but I'm not sure you got the point of my comment.

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I love self-check out. I already previously explained I use it all the time. But between my mom who refuses to use it because and I quote "I don't get paid for that" and my step-father-in-law who refuses to use it because and I quote "they are taking jobs out, where went the human interaction, etc" and the various other people I'm just giving reasons to answer your question of why people wouldn't use it even if it's open.

 

[RedAngie]

Yes!!! They never get their checkbook out and get the preliminary stuff written while the cashier is bagging. It isn't until the cashier gives the total that then they finally dig around in their bag for the checkbook and then for a pen!!!!

True, but there are plenty of clueless people using cash or cards who don't seem to grasp the idea that they need to pay until several seconds after the cashier announces the total.

I just don't get the Costco wait in line mentality.
Currently they are only 1 cent cheaper than ARCO, 2 cents cheaper than Safeway and 3 cents cheaper than Valero here. And about half the time ARCO is the same price or a penny LESS, and NO line.
Of course I also don't understand the folks that pull into the Chevron or Shell next to any of those stations where gas is 54 cents a gallon more expensive.

I often see people lined up to get gas where it is 2 cents cheaper than the place across the street. Even if you have a 20 gallon tank, is saving 40 cents worth the wait?



Bagging. A regional chain that closed down several years ago (Pathmark) used to have one or two checkouts labeled "Bag Your Own." The platform right after the register was extra wide and long, and had a divider and two belts so that the cashier could scan the next customer's items while you were bagging your own groceries.

 

[jaiminee krikit]

1. What can’t be scanned in self checkout? Hand held scanners have long cords so you don’t have to take large or bulky items out of your cart.

Some people don't know how to scan produce or items without a bar code. A lot of the self checks have images on the screen to help, but some don't want to deal with it. And IME the scales at self check registers aren't always balanced.

 

[karmic]

I love the scanning guns at Stop and Shop- groceries all scanned and bagged then proceed to self check out to pay

 

[jaiminee krikit]

Check writers are the worst! Luckily I am very rarely in a hurry in my grocery store, but it's still irritating to get behind someone writing a check. That being said, there are a lot in my area that have a hard time using debit and credit cards, too, so it's good to avoid our local store.

I always try to do self check. I worked in a WM for a few years so I know what I'm doing (still have some of the produce codes memorized), and I bag my groceries the way I want them bagged. I live 20 minutes from the closest WM, so I really hate when they put my refrigerated/frozen items or meats in with other items. When I used to use real cashiers, I would re-bag my groceries often, while the cashier stood there and watched. It's not difficult.

 

[RedAngie]

Some people don't know how to scan produce or items without a bar code. A lot of the self checks have images on the screen to help, but some don't want to deal with it. And IME the scales at self check registers aren't always balanced.

And some produce items are next to impossible to find when looking up PLUs. I bought two pickles from the barrel in front of the deli. No PLU was printed on the bag. I tried under "P" for pickles, "D" for deli, etc. The associate supervising the self-checkouts didn't know either. Finally I gave up and keyed in the code for cucumbers.

 

[hubertjfarnsworth]

All lines should be one single line until you get to the registers, first person in line goes to the next open register. Everyone is in the right line.

 

[LongLiveRafiki]

1. What can’t be scanned in self checkout? Hand held scanners have long cords so you don’t have to take large or bulky items out of your cart.

Gift cards can't be purchased through self checkout at any store around here. Tobacco products (for places that sell them) can only be purchased in one cashier line. Alcohol of course gets an attendant flagged, and that often takes 10 mins or longer before one comes over. Light-weight items like sleeves of koolaid or greeting cards don't have enough weight to register here when they are bagged and end up with an attendant being flagged. Inflated balloons can only be purchased at a cashier, same with live pet fish. Bottle return credit slips are only accepted in cashiers lines around here. Scanning more than 1 coupon, or any coupon over $1 flags an attendant. We also have incredibly small areas to place the bags and such, and you can only skip bagging on one item before it flags an attendant, so if you have a couple larger items, it's a huge hassle to go through self checkout around here.

All that said, I still prefer self checkout, but Walmart, Meijer, and Kroger around here all have limited self checkout to 20 items or less (Meijer used to be unlimited). Most shopping trips I have a full cart so have to go in the 1 or 2 available crazy-packed cashier lines.

 

[sjrec]

Well you've got things that are contained in some fashion to prevent theft, you've got alcohol depending on state laws, etc

I'm not talking about physically not being able to (well except when I'm at Home Depot and buying lumber and whatnot that's not practical in self-checkout lol). I'm talking about items that self-checkouts cannot take.

That's great...but I'm not sure you got the point of my comment.

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I love self-check out. I already previously explained I use it all the time. But between my mom who refuses to use it because and I quote "I don't get paid for that" and my step-father-in-law who refuses to use it because and I quote "they are taking jobs out, where went the human interaction, etc" and the various other people I'm just giving reasons to answer your question of why people wouldn't use it even if it's open.

I can certainly understand the human interaction aspect-we have a large senior population in our area and now that you say that, I see how they enjoy talking with the cashiers.
The point I was making about job openings in my grocery store was that I don’t think they’re eliminating jobs with self service if they can offer a position in another department.
And reading some of the replies, the efficiency of the self service program would make a big difference whether or not to use it!

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Gift cards can't be purchased through self checkout at any store around here. Tobacco products (for places that sell them) can only be purchased in one cashier line. Alcohol of course gets an attendant flagged, and that often takes 10 mins or longer before one comes over. Light-weight items like sleeves of koolaid or greeting cards don't have enough weight to register here when they are bagged and end up with an attendant being flagged. Inflated balloons can only be purchased at a cashier, same with live pet fish. Bottle return credit slips are only accepted in cashiers lines around here. Scanning more than 1 coupon, or any coupon over $1 flags an attendant. We also have incredibly small areas to place the bags and such, and you can only skip bagging on one item before it flags an attendant, so if you have a couple larger items, it's a huge hassle to go through self checkout around here.

All that said, I still prefer self checkout, but Walmart, Meijer, and Kroger around here all have limited self checkout to 20 items or less (Meijer used to be unlimited). Most shopping trips I have a full cart so have to go in the 1 or 2 available crazy-packed cashier lines.

I haven't tried a gift card in a long time but I think we normally just go to the regular cashier because we've had issues in the past with activating at self-checkout. Forgot about that.

Didn't mention tobacco because at the stores I've been at it's only at 1 regular cashier anyways.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

I can certainly understand the human interaction aspect-we have a large senior population in our area and now that you say that, I see how they enjoy talking with the cashiers.

Yeah they do. My step-father-in-law could talk your ear off to the cashier. I don't mind talking with the cashiers but in the end other factors typically override my chatty nature lol.

The point I was making about job openings in my grocery store was that I don’t think they’re eliminating jobs with self service if they can offer a position in another department.

I made that point somewhere along some thread some time ago lol.

I think the thing is we can probably assume there is some attrition due to automation from self-checkout. But how much of an effect? Couldn't tell you. But my step-father-in-law is adament it's destroying jobs.

And reading some of the replies, the efficiency of the self service program would make a big difference whether or not to use it!

Oh for sure. Like I mentioned I've got Wal-Mart's down to a T but at first a big learning curve. I also notice some registers in the self-checkout area have been turned off to cash so of course if you're the one who wants to pay cash you either find yourself playing "which machine takes cash" or you just end up going to the regular checkout. I haven't run into the produce issue yet (with it not being loaded in the machine) but I could totally see that as a turn off to self-checkout.

 

[ChrisFL]

I always get behind the eldery lady who pays cash and says "wait, dearie, I think I have change" then she proceeds to open her purse, her tiny coin purse, and very sllloooowwwlllly pulls out each coin, brings it up to her eyes to see which one it is, and counts it out loud to the cashier.

 

[BlueStarryHat]

A couple of weeks before Christmas we were in line at Wal-Mart behind a woman who had a bunch of gift cards she was buying. Every card had to be scanned and the amount she wanted on them manually entered by the cashier. We counted 23 cards. I didn't really have the option of going to a different cashier because they were *all* crowded and we had tons of people behind us. So, we waited it out.

 

[zoo2tycoon]

I can pick the bad lines too. Issues the are annoying:

People with too many items at self scan (Meijer has 20 items or less). Talking overloaded carts. Or bring own bags and have issues with weight being wrong

People who don’t know how to use self scanner

People who don’t know how to use credit card chip reader and check writers who wait ( also cash payers who slowly count every penny).

Last one - they open new lane and the cashier will say I’ll help whoever is next- some dumb*** who is walking by or the person behind you tries to go next. I had done nice words at a guy at Walmart who tried that (had been in line 10 minutes and he was behind me).

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

A couple of weeks before Christmas we were in line at Wal-Mart behind a woman who had a bunch of gift cards she was buying. Every card had to be scanned and the amount she wanted on them manually entered by the cashier. We counted 23 cards. I didn't really have the option of going to a different cashier because they were *all* crowded and we had tons of people behind us. So, we waited it out.

Yipes! 23!?

No the most we've ever done at one time was like 2 or 3.

 

[wowsmom]

5. Please put the item in the bag.
I just did.
Please put the item in the bag.
I told you I just did.
Please take the item out of the bag.
Wait a minute, you just told me to put it in.
Please take the item out of the bag.
Well alrighty then.
Please put the item in the bag.
Well make up your mind you infernal bucket of bolts.
Sorry Dave. I'm afraid I can't do that.
You can't make up your mind?
Please wait for attendant.
AAAAAAAARRRRRRGH.
HAHA. You're hosed now...... Dave.
If I had just used the now empty quick check, I'd have been out of here.

The first thing my son does when walking up to the self-checkout is turn the sound completely off. We love the self-checkout at our grocery store and will only go through the regular checkout if we have to (alcohol or gift cards) or if one particular checker is working and has no line.

Our Costco put in self-checkout last year and it's been the best thing ever, especially when we've just popped in for one or two items.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Our Costco put in self-checkout last year and it's been the best thing ever, especially when we've just popped in for one or two items.

Ours removed ours a few years ago. It was a sad day when they left