arch13

I feel the cold chill of agreeing with Art about something. Oh wait, this isn't politics... We're okay then.

Likewise, I'm not going to help a company put more people out of a job while charging the same prices. That helps no-one but themselves. I prefer to actually have interaction with others, have my groceries bagged in old fashioned paper (And yes, I do demand it), and actually help make sure that there are opening level jobs in our market. I also still expect the bagger to bring the groceries to my car.
And yes I do tip.

You'd think from my response that I was a little older than 23....

Florida, Home of Publix.
They still make all baggers carry your groceries out to the car, you cannot tip them, and they have to be dressed in a dress shirt and slacks.
I should also point out that PUblix is the most profitable employee owned company in the united states, and they have a service record that has all but eliminated Walmart from competition in South Florida. How do you beat a store that still carries your groceries, bags them in paper bags with handles, and has atm's that don't charge a service fee no matter what bank you use?

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Demeter

Hey, don't rain on my parade buddy!
I am in the file department. Hopefully I'll still be needed for a while longer than cashiers. (Counts how many years to retirement).

irseg

And the best part -- no telemarketing..err.."bonus" cards! I miss Publix.

Anyway, the first self-checkout I ever saw was 4 years ago at a Super Fresh, near DC. It was great. You'd scan your item and then throw it on the conveyor like a normal checkout, and it scanned/weighed the item as it was moving. Then you'd go to the end of the conveyor, bag your stuff, and leave.

Ever since then, the only self-checkouts I've seen are those monstrosities that refuse to scan effectively, and force you to put your crap in a bag and leave it there even though there's only room for about 4 bags at most. And if it's a really light item, it's not always detected so it freaks out and make you stand there and wait for a cashier. Plus most I've been to don't do electronic signature capture, so if you pay via credit card you still have to go to the cashier's station and sign the receipt. The first generation versions were a lot better.

MEAD

self checkout scares me, I feel like Im going to screw it up and hold up the line, end up looking like a dork.

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irseg

Where the heck do you live? I've lived in MD, FL, and OH, and I've only ever encountered a few really crappy supermarkets that made you bag your own stuff. I avoided them.

dX927

I love the self checkout lane so much that I hate going to the Super Walmart near my house now because they don't have them. The only time I've ever had trouble with them is when I was trying to buy a Rated R DVD. Then I had to wait for someone to come in and put in a code and of course the person working the area forgot their code so it took even longer. Then after all that hassle the manager said "Make sure you look at his ID" Cuz yeah I'm gonna skip school to go and buy this movie...especially when I'm 22 and in college. I think I might have even been wearing my school's jacket at the time.

My mom REFUSES to ever use them and won't give me a reason why.

analog

People still write checks for everyday purchases?

Weird.

EDIT: Oh, and for the topic-

1. I've never been to a place with auto-checkout registers that doesn't have a person standing there making sure the auto-checkouts are running smoothly.

2. I've never seen a line at the auto-checkouts, even during the most peak times.

3. The auto-checkout is for convenience of speed when purchasing what most places consider "under 10 (or 15? 20?) items. It's meant as a quick, in-and-out.

4. People said the same damn thing about ATM machines giving people cash and taking away from tellers in the banks. No meltdown occurred, the banks and tellers are just fine where they are... the ATM has not led to job instability. No one is trying to replace the regular cashiers, they're just freeing up a few lines for all you "I buy $600 in groceries once a month instead of making more trips" people who take 15 minutes to ring up.... and THEN you get out your fucking checkbook to fill it out. I've started giving you people shit, btw. Fill out the damn check WAY before they're done ringing you up, so all you have to do is add the amount in.

5. Get a fucking check card- it's the same fucking thing as a check, but faster for EVERYONE. (See #4) Checks are for exchanging large sums of money between people where using a card is not possible and carrying the amount in cash is inappropriate or dangerous. Checks don't mean shit, they're a "promise to pay"- so don't get mad when a machine won't take your bouncy check.

/unintentional rant

shakran

I don't use them because the damn things don't work well.

If you're scanning something that's too light, it doesn't detect it when you put it in the bag and then sits there yelling at you for 10 minutes.

If you go too fast for it - put it in the bag after scanning but before it tells you to, it doesn't detect it and then sits there yelling at you for 10 minutes.

If something doesn't ring up for some reason, you're screwed. Unlinke a real cashier, you can't call for a price check.

They're an interesting idea that was implemented half-assed. If a technology is nothing but kludge, I don't use it.


Plus, I'm paying the same amount whether I use self checkout or I use a regular checkout. In other words, I'm still paying for the cashier to do all the work, including bagging my stuff up, yet *I* am now doing all the work. That strikes me as pretty stupid. If they factored in a "cashierless discount" then maybe I could see the point.

THGL

If I have a handful of items and there's an opening, I'll use the self checkout, otherwise I'll stand in line to have the cashier do it.
The prices at the grocery have the cashier/bagger factored into them. If I'm paying for a service, I'll use it... that's also why I won't bag my groceries (even if the line is backed up and cashier doesn't have a bagger available).

If the self-checkout lines offered a small incentive to use them (couple % off total) I think I would use them more.

Cynthetiq

i agree.

not to mention I also am paying for a total service... which I expect human interaction. If I was going to just deal with machines.. I'd order online.

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Cadwiz

I'd rather be kicked in the bag, than use one of those things. Half of the time you see one cashier running around trying to put out four fires. If I am going to have to deal with a cashier anyway, I'll just go for the nickle tour.

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outdoor

I think that a lot of people on this board like self checkout lines because we are all (at least somewhat) computer literate and interested in new technology. My parents are afraid of new things that beep! People think they are going to embarass themselves or make a mistake or something.

meembo

Human interaction covers a lot of things, like "Is this on sale?", "Can I use this coupon?", etc.

Also, I like the cashiers to bag. I just do, don't know why.

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Lockjaw

In stores that have them I use the self check ones. The Neighborhood Wal-mart(think mostly groceries and a few self-hygene products on my way how has half self check out and half regular check outs. I go shopping once or twice a week so I usually don't have that much to check out. And because I worked in a retail job for so long I can check,pay, and bag my stuff appropriately a lot faster than a checker can. I can get roughly 15-20 items including produce scanned,bagged and paid for in 3-5 minutes.
So it's a great time saver being able to do a bunch of shopping in and out of the store in like 10 minutes. But I never really considered the whole "taking a job away from a clerk" thing. So I guess if there's time I'll let a clerk do it. But selfscanners are just so cool and it's fun to me. I race people in the other lanes sometimes to see if I can get my stuff done first. Nothing more fun than getting in line after some soccer mom with half the items getting it done and paid for before she gets close to being done.

Carno

Indeed. I fucking love Publix.

But unfortunately their ATM now charges me $2.00 for each transaction. Doesn't really matter thought since I can use my card at the register and get cash back for free.

Gilda

Damn. I'm going to have to consider relocating to Florida just to get me some Publix goodness.

Blackthorn

I've used the self checkout option a number of times but it seems like I always end up fighting with it to take my cash or whatever. I won't use those things when I have a large order. It would be about a 10 item max that I'd go through there. I guess when it comes to groceries I'm just lazy about doing the bagging :-). Kroger still bags them for you but Bigg's however does not. I go to Kroger even though Bigg's is slightly less expensive.

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betula

Man Meijer's rules! I miss going to the local Meijer's ever since I moved away from Michigan. Now I have to go to multiple stores when I need to get a few odds and ends, whereas Meijer's had everything!

I like the U-Scan lanes for small purchases. Like said before, it is not good for produce, but if you're picking up some chips and bread, it's great as a time saver. I think the time saved not waiting in line to purchase a handful of things makes up for the cost of paying for a cashier's job while doing it myself.

As a sidenote, don't ever try buying a bunch of Kool-Aide packets with the U-Scan... you'll be there for a LONG time because the weight is too miniscule to be picked up by the tray!

rhaevyn

I can't stand the self-checkouts. Everytime I've used one, it hasn't worked properly.

Maybe they just don't like me?

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yellowchef

WTF Publix do you go to its a $1 service charge(which is mad cheap) and I use Bank of America so its not a big deal its free.. but here in South FL its the best way to go. I prefer Albertsons because I like the selection of goods better, but as far as customer service Publix is GREAT. I dont know if our paper bags have handles on them, I get plastic simply because I use them as trash can liners around my apartment and just keep a few bags in my car for everyday litter. Both Albertsons and Publix have generally friendly staff, bag and offer to carry things to your car, and are always well groomed. Publix and Albertsons seem to pay well and have EXCELLENT benefits. Now, here is my beef with Publix; the ones near me that are more focused on the Latin/Hispanic community near me seem to be lacking in social skills. Many employees ONLY speak Spanish, and many have been rude to me. My ex works for Publix so Ive been pretty vocal in my complaints. Publix also does not have a specific way to bag your items. Their goal is to use the least amount of bags possible. Albertsons has like a little segment in their training to tell you about safety of cross contamination, and soap doesnt go with meat, eggs dont go with heavy things..etc. Albertsons however has begun to install Self Checkout lanes at the one near my Parents house. I only use the Self Check Out at Wal Mart when I have like less than 5 items. Otherwise I LIKE the interaction.

Carno

Well you do live in Miami....

As for the bagging thing, I have worked as a bagger at Publix and they did teach me how to bag properly. Must be differences in managers or something.

Stompy

All the time. I love it.

I hate slow people. Cashiers take too long. It's much quicker doing it myself. I just wanna get in, get what I need, and get out - skip all the bullshit.

Aggrivates the shit outta me when people use the self-checkout that shouldn't be using them... people who take FOREVER, or the jackass that goes there with a cart full of stuff.

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alansmithee

I'll echo that. I personally don't like all the small talk at stores, it comes off insincere to me. I'd prefer to buy whatever and get out.