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

[Disnydad]

Ours are all posted "15 or less items".

 

[zoemurr]

That is my thought too. if I'm doing all the work then give me a discount on my groceries.


I've used them a few times for less than 10 items and they just annoy me. They are way too slow for me...ex cashier. I hate the whole scan 1 item bag 1 item and then if it doesn't register the light item you put in the bag it holds up everything because you have to lift the item and drop it in again. I do like them in the stores that have them set up like a normal register where you scan the items and send them down the belt but not the ones with the very small bag stand. I would be so frustrated if I took my 200.00 order through them to cash out.



I worked for Wegmans for a long time (17 years) and actually trained the cashiers for 7 of those years. Back when the owner Robert was alive there was a very well known corporate stance that the stores would never get self scanners because it takes away from the personal customer service that the company is known for. Once Robert passed and his son Danny and the daughters took over things changed dramatically. I actually ended up quitting because it just wasn't the same company and was so dissappointed to see they put the self checkouts in. I was totally shocked when they put them in because Robert was so against them...but with Danny and his kids it became more about numbers than people.

I know my Wegman's doesn't have it, and I'm not sure I've ever seen one in this area that does, but I haven't ever looked for them. Wegman's does a very good job of making sure the wait is only one or two people in a line.

That being said.. how do the self check outs work? Isn't it very easy for someone to steal something?

Guess I'm spoiled.. I like that they ring it up and bag it for me. At Wegman's they will even tote it all outside and load up your car if you ask them too.

 

[epfootballcutie04]

The only time I go to a self check out lane and have a full cart is when my ONLY option is to do so. I work crazy hours and can't always go shopping during "normal" hours. Sometimes I'm forced to go 10pm or later. The store we like closes all of it's regular cashier lanes most nights around 9/10pm but they do have a decent number of self check out lanes.

In all fairness, I would never call anyone an "idiot" for having a full card in self check out. Sometimes it's their only option. Unless you know that person personally, you don't know why they are doing what they are doing and I don't think anyone should be called names for doing such things. I sure wouldn't like to be called an idiot for having no other choice.

 

[ols386]

I always go to the regular check-out line if I have more than just a few items.

I use the self check-out when I have a small amount of items.

But the grocery store where I shop, doesn't have a sign that says "express" check-out, or a limit of items you can scan at the self check-out, so I don't see anything wrong with using self check-out if you have a lot of items.

I just think it would be more convenient for me, if I use a regular check-out when I have a lot of stuff.

 

[Nancy]

I know my Wegman's doesn't have it, and I'm not sure I've ever seen one in this area that does, but I haven't ever looked for them. Wegman's does a very good job of making sure the wait is only one or two people in a line.

That being said.. how do the self check outs work? Isn't it very easy for someone to steal something?

Guess I'm spoiled.. I like that they ring it up and bag it for me. At Wegman's they will even tote it all outside and load up your car if you ask them too.

They have someone standing there monitoring the area...so if there are any issues the cashier is right there. I too like my scan/bag and driveup at Wegmans. Shopped the other day and took the cart out by myself and my daughter was all "what are you doing? You never take the cart". LOL. I was thinking she would load the car up..silly me. (which she did BTW)

 

[tvguy]

They have someone standing there monitoring the area...so if there are any issues the cashier is right there. I too like my scan/bag and driveup at Wegmans. Shopped the other day and took the cart out by myself and my daughter was all "what are you doing? You never take the cart". LOL. I was thinking she would load the car up..silly me. (which she did BTW)

They usually have someone at ours too, but I swear those darn self checks lock up after every 3rd or 4th item. If I just scanned a gallon of milk, how on earth can there be "an unexpected item in the bagging area". You just read the bar code, and charged me for it, it should be an EXPECTED item. Then that monitor has to come over, put in a key, key in a code, turn the key, put in another code, before you can continue.

 

[ChrisFL]

I remember a commercial about 10-15 years ago for some company promising that we could eventually check out our entire cart full of groceries without removing them to be scanned (RFID I'm guessing)

...hasn't happened yet and it still doesn't solve the issue of bagging them!

 

[Enchantress01]

Our express check out is the revolving 6 bag type; stores near my mom have the conveyor belt type. Neither are marked express and I have seen patrons with varying sized orders use them. I check out with anywhere from 1 or 2 items to half a cart with one or two coupons, no problem. It has a feature that lets you put items right into your cart after scanning & bagging so that helps to avoid the "unexpected item" message. I can't see scanning a full cart with stacks of coupons but understand why some do if their store accommodates that. One cashier here ask so many questions about my order it feels like she's going through my underwear drawer. Just bag 'em honey! So I usually go express to avoid the interrogation and speed away! Anyway, people may be doing this since it varies so much by store. You would think common sense would kick in though.

 

[monorailsilver]

At stop and shop we have the self scan lanes but one is labeled 12 items or less.

I have used the self scan with a full cart, the one that isn't express.

But now I use 'scan it' and scan and bag as I shop. So since I am already bagged and scanned if the express is open and the other self scan rows have a few people waiting, I will use express.

I love scan it!

 

[Cindy B]

I know my Wegman's doesn't have it, and I'm not sure I've ever seen one in this area that does, but I haven't ever looked for them. Wegman's does a very good job of making sure the wait is only one or two people in a line.

That being said.. how do the self check outs work? Isn't it very easy for someone to steal something?

Guess I'm spoiled.. I like that they ring it up and bag it for me. At Wegman's they will even tote it all outside and load up your car if you ask them too.

Wow, I want to go to your Wegmans. My Wegmans (one of the newer ones in NJ) always has 3-4 people deep in registers. They will bag for you, but I have NEVER seen them tote it all outside and load up your car. This location has been in business for about 6 years.

To solve the stealing problem, they have two cashiers watching you on both ends of the self checkout.

 

[vicki_c]

Wow, I want to go to your Wegmans. My Wegmans (one of the newer ones in NJ) always has 3-4 people deep in registers. They will bag for you, but I have NEVER seen them tote it all outside and load up your car. This location has been in business for about 6 years.

To solve the stealing problem, they have two cashiers watching you on both ends of the self checkout.

I have never seen a Wegmans (and I've been in many all over NY, VA, PA and MD) that did not offer Helping Hands service to take your bags to your car.

We do have self-checkouts at our new Wegmans in MD.

 

[ronandannette]

I remember a commercial about 10-15 years ago for some company promising that we could eventually check out our entire cart full of groceries without removing them to be scanned (RFID I'm guessing)

...hasn't happened yet and it still doesn't solve the issue of bagging them!

We used to have a real cool system at a local grocery chain where you picked up a hand-held scanner as you entered and then scanned and bagged your groceries as you shopped. When you were done you turned the scanner in at the cashier, they downloaded the data into the register and you paid. They did a quick visual of your contents to see that it roughly matched and one in every so many random times the register would call for a "re-scan" as a fraud-prevention measure. (When this happened you just lost all the time you saved, but it was actually kind of exciting to see if you "made it"!!). That system went by the wayside when self-check outs started to emerge, but I LOVED IT and it was the only reason I shopped at that store.

 

[Aliceacc]

We used to have a real cool system at a local grocery chain where you picked up a hand-held scanner as you entered and then scanned and bagged your groceries as you shopped. When you were done you turned the scanner in at the cashier, they downloaded the data into the register and you paid. They did a quick visual of your contents to see that it roughly matched and one in every so many random times the register would call for a "re-scan" as a fraud-prevention measure. (When this happened you just lost all the time you saved, but it was actually kind of exciting to see if you "made it"!!). That system went by the wayside when self-check outs started to emerge, but I LOVED IT and it was the only reason I shopped at that store.

We have it at our local Stop and Shop. It's fairly new; I haven't used it yet.

 

[ronandannette]

We have it at our local Stop and Shop. It's fairly new; I haven't used it yet.

It was called "Easy-Shop", although it wasn't exactly easy in every way. There was a trick to learning how to scale produce and to correct mistakes if you wanted to put something back, for example. What I loved most about it was how great it was for keeping to a budget and seeing exactly what you were spending. At the time I was a SAHM and was really into food and meal planning so grocery shopping actually became sort of a "hobby"!

 

[zoemurr]

Wow, I want to go to your Wegmans. My Wegmans (one of the newer ones in NJ) always has 3-4 people deep in registers. They will bag for you, but I have NEVER seen them tote it all outside and load up your car. This location has been in business for about 6 years.

To solve the stealing problem, they have two cashiers watching you on both ends of the self checkout.

So if they are paying cashiers to just stand there how are they saving money? I think I would hate that job.

I'm surprised your Wegmans doesn't have helping hands. They ask me almost every time I shop if I want help getting the groceries in the car. You can pull your car up to the front of the store and someone will take the cart out and place it all in the trunk for you. I've never used it but I see it done all the time.

I am in Rochester where there is a Wegmans in every town. Maybe it doesn't get as busy? I have never seen long lines here. It is always very well managed.

 

[WDWJDS]

So if they are paying cashiers to just stand there how are they saving money? I think I would hate that job.

At the stores I'm familiar with, there is one cashier watching over 6-10 self check-out registers.

 

[Cindy B]

I have never seen a Wegmans (and I've been in many all over NY, VA, PA and MD) that did not offer Helping Hands service to take your bags to your car.

We do have self-checkouts at our new Wegmans in MD.

I've been shopping at this NJ Wegmans since opening day- and while I have seen the signs- I have never noticed anyone using the service!

 

[Cindy B]

So if they are paying cashiers to just stand there how are they saving money? I think I would hate that job.

I'm surprised your Wegmans doesn't have helping hands. They ask me almost every time I shop if I want help getting the groceries in the car. You can pull your car up to the front of the store and someone will take the cart out and place it all in the trunk for you. I've never used it but I see it done all the time.

I am in Rochester where there is a Wegmans in every town. Maybe it doesn't get as busy? I have never seen long lines here. It is always very well managed.

This Wegmans is extremely busy all the time. Like I said in another post, I have seen the signs that they offer it- but I have never seen anyone using it.

I have never been asked either if I need help! The parking lot is extremely busy and is part of a massive complex- with huge parking issues. There are accident all the time and pedestrians have gotten hit! Maybe the people at Wegmans don't want the liability.

 

[MIGrandma]

I don't like the self-check out so I never use them.

But I've seen people at them with a few items, and some with a cart full. Never thought about them being "express" check-outs as there is no signage to indicate that so I think anyone who wants to use them is welcome to.

But. I think people do steal a lot that way. Scan one item, bag up two.

Just the other day, while standing in line at a regular check-out beside a self-check, the woman tried scanning a shirt and for some reason it didn't scan. She tried a couple more times, looked around to see who was watching and put the item in her bag. She quickly changed her mind though and did take it back out and asked the clerk manning the self-checkouts for help. But I do wonder how many times other people would simply just bag it and not think twice about it.

DD is a zone-supervisor at our local Wal-Mart and she knows a lot of theft from the store comes from the self-checkouts. I really don't even know why they still have them.

 

[sam_gordon]

I don't like the self-check out so I never use them.

But I've seen people at them with a few items, and some with a cart full. Never thought about them being "express" check-outs as there is no signage to indicate that so I think anyone who wants to use them is welcome to.

But. I think people do steal a lot that way. Scan one item, bag up two.

Just the other day, while standing in line at a regular check-out beside a self-check, the woman tried scanning a shirt and for some reason it didn't scan. She tried a couple more times, looked around to see who was watching and put the item in her bag. She quickly changed her mind though and did take it back out and asked the clerk manning the self-checkouts for help. But I do wonder how many times other people would simply just bag it and not think twice about it.

DD is a zone-supervisor at our local Wal-Mart and she knows a lot of theft from the store comes from the self-checkouts. I really don't even know why they still have them.

The self scanners here weigh what's in the bags. So if you put something in the bag that it's not expecting the weight, it lets you know.