Self Checkout Rant

Drewsifer wrote: I use self-check out lines when it's convenient and I've only ever had a few problems with them, most of which were caused by me doing something out of order. And to everyone ranting about how a machine 'is taking a job' form someone think about it for a second. Someone had to make that machine, and they probably get paid a lot more than a cashier or a bag boy. Someone had to install it, someone has service it, someone has to train people on how to service it, someone had to make the various parts that went into, etc.

bravenrace wrote: I won't use the self checkout lines. First, it puts people out of work. Second, If I'm going to do the work for them, then I want a discount to go with it.

The same "someone" has to make a cash register, install, service, blah,blah, blah. Plus the kid bagging and the cashier are local...not outsourced. When I go to a self service gas station, there's a discount, compared to full service. No discount-no free labor.

I have gotten some weird looks from the self checkout before. They don't like it when you attempt to buy- Soldering irons, M rated video games, Rated R blu rays, spray paint, MAP torches, saw blades, power tools lighter fluid, 50$ worth of nail polish....... I get weird looks from the attendants.

aircooled wrote: I don't use computers because it puts typewriter repairmen out of business. - Send from my Underwood portable

That's kinda funny, but hardly relevant. The same companies that are putting in self-checkouts are giving cashiers their walking papers. The net result is fewer open checkout lines.

I'm not opposed to businesses using technology to enhance customer service. Unfortunately, a handful of malfunctioning machines and fewer cashiers is a step in the wrong direction and nothing more than a bald-faced money grab.

Sure it is. The comments are about taking someones job, a job the machine is (theoretically) making unnecessary.

I am not saying they are a complete solution, but to complain that they take jobs is a bit silly.

If you will excuse me, I need to get home so I can get the ice that the iceman dropped off into the icebox...

I used to shop at a local military commissary that had 5 of these check outs. 1 was for folks with really huge shopping carts and the other 4 were for "casual" shoppers...folks who usually had only a basketful of items.

My gripe? After a few months, they put up signs saying you could not use the self checkout registers unless you had LESS than 10 items. I often had 12 to 15 small items that fit quite easily into 1 or 2 shopping bags.

Other BIG gripe? One of the registers was known to the attendants to screw up on a fairly regular basis...yet they never posted signs or directed customers to use the other registers.

I hate bagging my own groceries, but sometimes when the cashier is slow I do it, even in "full-service" grocery stores.

jrw1621 wrote:

carguy123 wrote: I have 3 Walmarts near me, but only 1 has the self check outs. When I've complained about the lack at the other 2 I was told that Walmart was going to phase them out.

Are the stores that lack the self check in lesser neighborhoods? I suspect that the reason for removal is theft is too high. Self check increases the honor system. Sure, there is a risk trade-off in saved wages but when the risk outweighs the benefit...

The thefts continue, now the lowlifes have worked out ways to beat the checkout. One caller to a national radio station offered tips on how to get cheap vegetables, fruit, meat etc by weighing the package (making sure any barcode is not scanned) and choosing the cheapest vegetable, for example carrots. Steak, lamb, cauli, whatever, just tell the machine it's weighing carrots. (And hope the attendant is not checking on their screen what you are selecting vs what you are weighing). This loser obviously kept an old luncheon meat barcode and scanned it: A Rotorua mother who stole $900 of groceries from a supermarket by using the barcode from ham and chicken luncheon has been sentenced to home detention.

Rotorua District Court was told that Betty Roha Te Runa, 42, had 46 previous convictions for shoplifting.

She pleaded guilty this week to 18 charges of fraudulently using a ham and chicken luncheon barcode to gain a pecuniary advantage.

She was sentenced to two months' home detention and 250 hours' community work, with Jude James Weir giving her a final warning that prison would be next.

According to the police summary of facts, Te Runa went to a local New World supermarket 13 times between September 10 and October 30 last year.

On October 30, she attracted the attention of security staff. They approached her but she walked out of the supermarket, leaving her goods behind.

Te Runa's lawyer Annette Sykes said all the items Te Runa had taken from New World were to support a child.

Ms Sykes said Te Runa's mental position was not strong and pleaded with the judge to be merciful as a jail term would "push her over the edge".

Judge Weir said Te Runa had 76 previous convictions for dishonesty, including 46 for shoplifting.

I love them especially in the grocery stores. Most of the time when I go to the grocery store by myself I am only getting a few items. The self checkout is much faster than waiting in line.

Yesterday I went to pick up a couple things and the self checkout weren't woking so I had to get in the express line. Two ladies with 5-6 items in line in front of me. First one waited untill the cashier had rung up every thing before she put her purse up on the counter and stated digging for the money. Spent 3 minutes digging around to come up with the exact change.

Second lady also waits till everything is rung up and then has to dig out her checkbook. Another 3 minute wait! If the self checkout had been open I could have been done and driving out of the lot in the time I waited just to get my stuff rung up.

And the trick for lightweight items on the scale type checkouts is to make sure the bag is fully open before dropping the item in. If the item is not heavy enough to push the bag open it never will get down to where the scale will weigh it.

When the wife and I do our big grocery shopping I scan while she bags. I have even memorized the codes for the veggies we usually get so it goes very fast. We can get thru the checkout in half the time it would have taken to let the cashier scan and bag the order.

ditchdigger wrote: They scan the item, place it back in the cart and then start shouting at the machine.

stupid berkeleying machine...

i LOL'd