Self check-out at the grocery store..a vent

[Angelhalo]

I used to work in a grocery store and am very comfortable with the self check out machines. I quite often take an entire cart full of groceries through the self checkout as long as it isn't marked express. I just prefer checking myself out. I don't have to talk to anyone, and I enjoy the process. Never in a million years would I have ever thought that people think that they are for express customers only, simply because it annoys them when a larger order goes through.

 

[clutter]

My local store has two checkers that are s-l-o-o-o-o-w, two guys that don't stop talking (and not just to the customer), one woman that is good, but really really cranky, and a few that don't hit any extreme. I generally use whichever line will get me out the fastest and with the least drama, whether it is self-check or a clerk. Based on the loads of people standing in the lines and whichever employees are working, I make my pick.

 

[OHmomof2]

If they gave me some sort of discount or incentive for self checkout, then I would use them...until then, nope.

 

[Pigeon]

I don't use self-checkouts. When the store starts sending me a paycheck, I might reconsider.

But to assume they are all for express use strikes me as bizarre. If they are marked express, yes, that's what they are for, but otherwise they are open to everyone.

 

[Aliceacc]

If they have no line and the full service ones do, I'll use self check. It's less about the profit/loss for the supermarket than about me getting on with my day.

 

[aaarcher86]

We have both. The express 12 items or less lanes and the self check out with no limit. I always use self check. I don't like being rushed and I can bag my stuff in the way I prefer. If I have my kids with me they bag for me and it keeps the, occupied instead of them standing still with the urge to reorganize the candy bars.

 

[scrapquitler]

I often shop at Stop and Shop and our self-service check outs have some for any order and some for 15 items or less.

But I much prefer to do the 'scan as you go' thing...my ds loves to scan and bag the items, and when we get to the register everything is already scanned and already bagged and...voila, out of the grocery quickly!

I love the scan as you go at Stop and Shop. Unfortunately, the scanners are often all in use! I love having my groceries all scanned and bag and the cart completely full, and then I get into the EXPRESS LANE to pay because you are allowed to do that (the cashier only has to scan the barcode for 'end transaction") and I'm out of there really quickly. But inveitably, someone complains "you shouldn't be in the express, you have ALL those groceries" yeah, lady, but they are already scanned and bagged, it's gonna be quicker than your two items, I promise.

 

[bgirldeb]

What I find inconsiderate is when a person with one item gets behind me and my week's worth of groceries in the regular check-out lane, then proceeds to give me nasty looks because they don't know how to use the self check-out.

That's my pet peeve, too, although in my experience, when I nicely pointed out the self check-outs with no lines, they turned their nose up like it was beneath them to scan their one item. I let them wait.

 

[Music City Mama]

What I find inconsiderate is when a person with one item gets behind me and my week's worth of groceries in the regular check-out lane, then proceeds to give me nasty looks because they don't know how to use the self check-out.

That's my pet peeve, too, although in my experience, when I nicely pointed out the self check-outs with no lines, they turned their nose up like it was beneath them to scan their one item. I let them wait.

OMG, this drives me crazy. I'll be filled to the brim and then someone gets behind me with a couple of items and huffs and puffs -- meanwhile, every self check-out machine is open.

 

[njmom47]

I checked other people's groceries (at times) for 20 years.
I'm not checking my own groceries now.
Or ever.
I know where I shop has them, but I never looked to see if any were just express. My store does have 6 express lanes, from 10 or less to 20 or less. They're not all open at the same time unless it's super busy, though.

 

[zoo2tycoon]

Meijer in my town has two different ones. The smaller ones for 12 items or less (think there are 6 of these) and 4 regular ones that are no limit. Believe me people with cart fulls go in the 12 items or less all the time...I have no problem making a loud comment when they do. It is rude...there are the regular order ones and these are clearly marked.

We were in Walmart yesterday (I HATE THAT STORE) and there were people in the cashiers line clearly marked 20 items or less with cart fulls....Why are people so rude. Once I asked the cashier about that and she said they aren't allowed to say anything to the people.

I am always careful and count...if I have 15 I won't go. I am afraid I'd get caught!
Wish people would read and be considerate.

BUT OP...if they are not marked with a limit the are free reign....

 

[mamasuf]

One time I was in human cashier line with a cart full of groceries. The store was very busy and every human cashier line was long. I started talking to a women behind me who only had a few items. I suggested she go to the self-checkout as that line was moving a lot faster. She said she would never use them because they put people out of jobs. Interesting. I hadn't thought of that.

 

[kwelch10377]

One time I was in human cashier line with a cart full of groceries. The store was very busy and every human cashier line was long. I started talking to a women behind me who only had a few items. I suggested she go to the self-checkout as that line was moving a lot faster. She said she would never use them because they put people out of jobs. Interesting. I hadn't thought of that.

They don't really put people out of jobs. I was a Food Marketing major in college and one of my senior year projects was on self checkout (this is when it was first being introduced). Basically if there were no self checkouts there would be longer lines at the regular checkouts because people wouldn't have the option to use self checkouts. In all the case studies I did (about 10-12 of them) not one company eliminated any employees or positions when they introduced self checkout. Most of the companies also where not in a position to add more staff if they didn't introduce self checkout and some of the companies that used self checkout actually did add more staff becuase they needed people to monitor the self checkout areas and they didn't want to take them from the normal checkout lanes.

 

[BellePrincessBelle]

I use the self check outs & I usually have 2/12 to 3 baskets. I bring a bagger from home ;-) and we're done in less than 20 minutes. 2 weeks ago all my baggers were sick so I had to go by myself and use a regular check out. It took the cashier almost an hour to check me out!! I was alternating between bagging & loading the belt at times just waiting for items to bag. Aside from the fact that it took forever, I wasn't able to keep an eye on the register while she was scanning so I stepped aside to go over my 6ft long receipt only to find that she had double & even tripled scanned several items. Because of this I had to wait in the customer service line behind 6 other people buying lottery tickets in every imaginable combination, the cs rep had to come from behind the counter, dig through my bags, verify that I was infact overcharged, and refund me. What a hassle. Never again, self checkout all the way.

 

[Bob NC]

I use the self check outs & I usually have 2/12 to 3 baskets. I bring a bagger from home ;-) and we're done in less than 20 minutes. 2 weeks ago all my baggers were sick so I had to go by myself and use a regular check out. It took the cashier almost an hour to check me out!!

An hour is a long time. I can't imagine that. I have gone thru the checkout line with an overflowing cart before and it's taken maybe 5 or 7 minutes to ring it all up. 1 hour is crazy.

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I don't see any reason anyone would assume a self check line has an item limit unless there is a sign that specifically states that.

 

[AlohaKeke]

I use the self checkout all the time and I'll explain why. I usually don't have a completely packed cart because it's just DFiance and myself.

Mostly though, I started using the self checkout even more often after a checker sneezed directly into her hand and didn't use any sanitizer or anything afterwards. I was so grossed out to have to hand her my club card. I literally came home afterwards and sanitized that card and anything that might have touched it.

 

[pyrxtc]

I used one yesterday for my grocery shopping. The rest of the lines were 3+ deep and the express lanes were empty. I liked being able to pack my own stuff and actually fill my bags instead of carrying twice as many half empty bags. The receiving area at the store I was at fit 5 or 6 reusable bags plus 2 gallons if milk. I think it will be my go to line from now on.

 

[wvjules]

I did my weekly shopping yesterday after work. It was blizzard coming busy and all lines were super long. I opted for a shorter self-checkout line with my full buggy, so did a lot of people. It never occured to me that it was for 'express'.

 

[Janepod]

I use the self check outs & I usually have 2/12 to 3 baskets. I bring a bagger from home ;-) and we're done in less than 20 minutes. 2 weeks ago all my baggers were sick so I had to go by myself and use a regular check out. It took the cashier almost an hour to check me out!! I was alternating between bagging & loading the belt at times just waiting for items to bag. Aside from the fact that it took forever, I wasn't able to keep an eye on the register while she was scanning so I stepped aside to go over my 6ft long receipt only to find that she had double & even tripled scanned several items. Because of this I had to wait in the customer service line behind 6 other people buying lottery tickets in every imaginable combination, the cs rep had to come from behind the counter, dig through my bags, verify that I was infact overcharged, and refund me. What a hassle. Never again, self checkout all the way.

Whoah! How many people are you shopping for and how infrequently do you shop? Even when I'm hosting Thanksgiving I've managed to fit everything in one cart.

 

[BellePrincessBelle]

Whoah! How many people are you shopping for and how infrequently do you shop? Even when I'm hosting Thanksgiving I've managed to fit everything in one cart.

I shop weekly plus 1/2 weekly fill ins. We have a fairly large family & often have various children to feed snacks & such.