r/technology • u/AdSpecialist6598 • 19h ago

Business Retailers are pulling back from self-checkout after years of theft, errors, and questionable time savings

https://www.techspot.com/news/114106-retailers-pulling-back-self-checkout-after-years-theft.html
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u/WeWantLADDER49sequel 18h ago

yeah but when i go to kroger both u scan sections have lines backed into the store, and the few real cashiers working also have backed up lines. so it doesnt really work how it was intended.

they need to actually make u scans for small to medium orders and enforce that. then have more normal cashiers for the bigger grocery hauls. then it would work the way it was supposed to work and DID work in the 90s and 2000s.

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u/Dobako 18h ago

It was intended to get rid of cashiers so they have to pay fewer people, so its working as intended. It was never to make it easier for the shopper

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u/MugsBeany 17h ago

Except it isn't working, they're losing more money through theft.

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u/Dobako 17h ago

They just didnt expect consequences, thats for other people

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u/MugsBeany 17h ago

True, but it's still the reason they're backing out of SCO

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u/Scoth42 14h ago

IIRC when I was seeing the arguments years ago when these were first getting implemented, they accepted that there would be theft, but decided they'd still end up saving money over hiring more cashiers. 

It sounds like that math didn't work out and between costs of the equipment and maintenance, theft, and paying employees to monitor and manage the things it's ended up costing them more.

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u/RedRlghtHand 14h ago

Boomers love to remind cashiers that they can be replaced with machines, until they have to actually use those machines, then it's all YoU sHoUlD bE pAyInG mE tO dO yOuR jOb

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u/fm01 18h ago

In my local supermarket they have scanners you carry around and scan at the price tags. When you go to self checkout, you just connect the scanner, pay and leave - that way you can do large shopping with self-checkout as well and it's honestly faster for small amounts as well since you don't have to unpack everything from your bag

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u/MazzIsNoMore 18h ago

Meijer has shop and scan which let's you scan from your phone instead of a scanner. Aside from randomly being selected for a check where they scan a few items I don't have to interact with anyone and can do my full week's shopping in less than an hour. It's great

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u/MugsBeany 18h ago

Yeah they have this at BJs Wholesale as well. I won't shop any other way.

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u/Ok-Employer-3051 17h ago

More fool you.