| Using a self-serve checkout at a supermarket.
Posted: 11/5/2009 4:24:35 PM | Have you had the dubious pleasure of going through a self-serve checkout station at a supermarket?
One of the local stores has replaced several conventional checkouts c/w with a clerk with these self-serve checkout stations. Apparently these are just another way to cut operating costs in reduced wages.
Usually the staffed checkouts already have queues with several full shopping carts. I always prefer the personal experience and interface with a human being, and would like to keep the people employed, but when I face enduring a long wait to purchase just a few items I begrudgingly go to the self-serve.
I tend to readily adapt to computer interfaces and generally not intimidated by such technology, but only once have I managed the whole shopping transaction without having to call the attendant over to assist.
I find that using a grocer's self-serve checkout to generally be an experience in frustration.
Have you used a self-serve checkout station? | |
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| Using a self-serve checkout at a supermarket.
Posted: 11/5/2009 4:30:54 PM | Sometimes i do. I like them, they're fun...until a stupid error comes up ("please place item in the bag...item not detected, please place item in the bag *skip bagging button* item not detected, please pl...." aaaaaaarrrrrrrg), and it inevitably does and u have to get the person to come over. Sometimes it works great the whole way through.
The store I go to is just over 6 months old and kind of not in a super visible spot so i don't think it'll ever turn into a madhouse, which is fantastic. It's one of the major chains. I've never had more than one person wait in front of me at the check out, and it's more often than not free all together. So i only use self check-outs when I have under 20 things. | |
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| Using a self-serve checkout at a supermarket.
Posted: 11/5/2009 4:37:12 PM | I use them for small to moderate shops at Superstore regularily, but sometimes the lines are longer at them that at the 12 items or less aisle.
At first they were a bit of a pain, with some produce items, until you figure out how to do it. I think the whole round bag holder/weigh scale thing isn't set up very well, having to leave all of your items on the scale before paying. It is an awkward set up if you have larger or quite a few items.
For larger loads it is just much easier to go through the staffed check-outs, because you have to load your own cart anyway, less of a hassle. | |
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| Using a self-serve checkout at a supermarket.
Posted: 11/5/2009 4:39:45 PM | Yep, little nervous the first time 
But I decided just to use it when I had only a few items and it was very busy. Not sure if I am putting someone out of a job, so would probably stand in line most of the time. | |
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| Using a self-serve checkout at a supermarket.
Posted: 11/5/2009 4:58:09 PM | | Love the self check outs. Rarely have to wait in line behind someone who has a bajillion things in their cart when all I want to do is pay for my milk. | |
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| Using a self-serve checkout at a supermarket.
Posted: 11/5/2009 5:07:34 PM | Just another step away from customer service.
customer service, meh, not when they hire 19 year old cashiers who've never grocery shopped in their life and slam your bananas in the bag and throw the marg on top of them and when you comment how they must be having a bad day they reply snottily how they just hate it when people go slow, "it drives me nuts".
sorry, recent check out issues. I'm better now.
(luckily the guy at the door let me exchange for 3 new bananas because i'm positive they'd have been black and brown by that evening....and hopefully what we told him got her fired)
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| Using a self-serve checkout at a supermarket.
Posted: 11/5/2009 7:47:30 PM | Im in Australia and they're popping up everwhere here,too...
Thing is..................they're proving so popular that queues are forming at these,now.....................bah!
Anyway,i had an experience where id grabbed a small btle of iced tea and was sipping on it as i did my shopping................yes,i know,probably NOT the right thing to do....!!!!
But,when i went to scan it at the self-serve,it "beeped" coz it was underweight!
Id also like to know how the scanner can differentiate between royal gala,jonathon,and sweet lady apples which are all different prices per kilo............??
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| Using a self-serve checkout at a supermarket.
Posted: 11/5/2009 8:15:05 PM |
"please place item in the bag...item not detected, please place item in the bag *skip bagging button* item not detected, please pl...."
Yep, I know what you mean. The female voice coming from the machine doesn't mirror the text message on the screen.
Here there are two stations on each side waiting line. Until today I've always ended up going to a station on my right. The "flow" of items from basket to scale/scanner to the bagging area is in the same direction that customers go from the waiting line through to the exit. It is a natural flow.
Today I happened to go a station on the left and I found out the hard way from the attendant that all the stations are designed for right-handed people (which I am). I had to put the basket to my right (closer to the exit) and after scanning/weighing, transfer it towards the bagging area on my left (towards the waiting line). This flow is unnatural
I hate it when technology makes me feel like I'm a chump, and I know I'm not. It makes me think the technology was designed by a team of chumps. I may not have the expertise to actually design the technology but I am confident I can make it more user-friendly.
IMO the stations should have the same direction of flow from basket to bag, from waiting line towards the exit. It is how the goods from the check outs with cashiers... from cart/basket to conveyor to cashier to bags... towards the exit. I think I'll be having a talk with the store manager.
Id also like to know how the scanner can differentiate between royal gala,jonathon,and sweet lady apples which are all different prices per kilo............??
Here we can touch the screen to either look up the produce from an alphabetical list, or type in the product code. There is some expectation of the honour system and there is an attendant never more than a few feet away. | |
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| Using a self-serve checkout at a supermarket.
Posted: 11/5/2009 9:22:10 PM | | I won't use them. They keep on saying that because often times a staff person mans the self serve till it won't result in job elimination but I call BS on that. Once people get used to using them then I believe that peoples jobs will either, one, be eliminated or two, there will be less hires. | |
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| Using a self-serve checkout at a supermarket.
Posted: 11/5/2009 10:06:51 PM | I don't use them on a regular basis. I see it as a big slap in the face when I'm forced to check and bag my own groceries with no incentive.
They are good for times when you have one or two items, and need to breeze through.
I wouldn't be surprised to see the grocery stores go the way of the banks...you want face to face interaction? It'll cost you! | |
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| Using a self-serve checkout at a supermarket.
Posted: 11/5/2009 10:12:46 PM |
Anyway,i had an experience where id grabbed a small btle of iced tea and was sipping on it as i did my shopping................yes,i know,probably NOT the right thing to do....!!!!
I always crack open a bottle of water. I just press "skip bagging", if you have that option. | |
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| Using a self-serve checkout at a supermarket.
Posted: 11/6/2009 1:09:03 PM | As another poster mentioned, the machine has no way of telling the difference between various types of apples so one could buy a more expensive apple & punch in the code/price for a cheaper apple. And then you have those who will scan a bulk bag of an expensive item & punch in the code for a cheaper item instead to get it for a lesser price. 
I had a chat with someone who did this about the dishonesty of it, the fact that if everyone did this the store would have to jack up their prices to make up for their losses so we would ALL end up paying more for groceries, not to mention the risk of being caught. In order to prevent this sort of deception, the store would have to post a security person at each of these automatic checkouts so they might as well stick to having a cashier & bagger.
But, yes, for those who are honest & only have a few items, it can be more convenient if you don't have those error messages popping up which can create an even longer line-up while the shopper tries to resolve the problem. I had to wait until a customer service person came & punched in a code to eliminate the error message so I could continue scanning & people behind me were getting annoyed. I prefer having the full customer service for a no stress shopping experience. | |
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| Using a self-serve checkout at a supermarket.
Posted: 11/6/2009 4:11:31 PM | So far they are only something I have read about 
If they are a new thing down South; it will probably be another decade or so before they find their way North. | |
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| Using a self-serve checkout at a supermarket.
Posted: 11/6/2009 4:51:34 PM | The only store here with the self-serve checkouts is a Save On Foods store.
It used to be an Overwaitea store (also a Jimmy Pattison operation) which recently underwent a major overhaul and the switch to Save On, which included the installation of the self-serve stations. | |
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| Using a self-serve checkout at a supermarket.
Posted: 11/6/2009 5:04:12 PM | Where the heck is Pitt Meadows? I think I am a little more North than that 
We still have an Overwaitea here, and a Super-Valu... that is it for grocery shopping in Kitimat. I think Overwaitea has been doing some reno's and upgrading lately but, I also think self serve checkouts are still a ways off in our future. Especially with one of our major employers closing it's doors in the new year. | |
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| Using a self-serve checkout at a supermarket.
Posted: 11/8/2009 9:52:29 AM | Yeah, they seem to be cropping up all over.
I refuse to use them.
It's the beginning of staff downsizing.
I would rather wait in the 7 person line up, in the express lane, with 3 out of 7 people having more than the <12 items required, and it takes 15 minutes more, than the 5 minutes for me to do it myself.
My time is valuable, but employment for another is more important. | |
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| Using a self-serve checkout at a supermarket.
Posted: 11/8/2009 10:09:34 AM | | They are not much of a cost savings after I use one that decides to start talking back at me. So far, my record is 3 broken and 2 very flustered store managers after having a one way conversation with a lunatic customer. I'm just waiting to get banned from a grocery store or two now. | |
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| Using a self-serve checkout at a supermarket.
Posted: 11/8/2009 10:14:19 AM | there's something about seeing the same clerk that remembers me with a smile and a little chatter I don't want to replace..... and I am willing to patiently wait in line for
patience..... this fast paced world could use some hmmm? | |
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| Using a self-serve checkout at a supermarket.
Posted: 11/8/2009 10:37:26 AM | I only really shop at Superstore, and the one near me just got a batch of these self-check outs. I like it a lot more because I find half the time I'm going to customer service after leaving because the clerk double charged me for something or didn't give me a discount when i should've. I'm sorry to say but a lot of CSR's nowadays just don't care, they're paid minimum wage most times, are they going to put in the best of efforts a lot of the time? I'm sure some stores have great CSRs but I have to say, predominatly these places are chalked full of people who don't know what they're doing.
So now we have this self-checkout. I think it's lovely! For people who like to see a face attached to there purchase, there they are, still depressed and waiting for it to hit the end of the shift. For me though, I have received such poor service, so I just head over to the self check out. It's all done by me, I only have myself to blame if I don't scan a ticket or double scan a can of soup. It's great, I really hope a lot of other stores do it. | |
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| Using a self-serve checkout at a supermarket.
Posted: 11/8/2009 10:38:04 AM |
I don't know which other stores around the Lower Mainland have them too.
most if not all of the can. superstores have them (although i hate it there and wont go if i can help it).
I'm in burnaby and go to price smart, they have it. Same with the price smart on marine way, where all that new development is. I think all new pricesmarts do now. | |
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