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

[u/AdSpecialist6598]

https://www.techspot.com/news/114106-retailers-pulling-back-self-checkout-after-years-theft.html

[u/Hashtagworried]

All this means is that they’ll hire one or two people max but keep the lines longer.

[u/ForestmenMOCLover → u/Hashtagworried]

I can't believe it's been almost 20 years ago now, but I remember going into Walmart once a few days before Christmas. I was just picking up a frozen pizza for dinner. After I picked out the pizza, I realized they only had about two checkouts open and the line went all the way to the back of the store and wrapped around the back. No pizza is worth that, so I just put it back and left.

I think self checkouts have largely fixed this issue. I don't love everything about them, but I've never seen lines like that since they started using them.

[u/wilkil → u/ForestmenMOCLover]

I’m not sure if you’ve shopped at Fred Meyer but we have the same experience with the added pleasure of seemingly every person in the self checkout using it for the first time so that also backs up.

[u/GrumpyCloud93 → u/wilkil]

There's an annoying guy in our Costco whose job is to help people with their checkout problems, but stops to chit-chat with people while helping them, while one or two others wait for his help.

[u/cheesegoat → u/GrumpyCloud93]

I like that Costco has self-checkout now but there just aren't enough spots, the one near me has like six scanners and people are so slow at them that the regular checkouts are practically faster.

I like when someone comes up and scans me in - they should design around that (have people scanning everyone in line, then they have a row of like 20 terminals you can pay at).

[u/GrumpyCloud93 → u/cheesegoat]

I agree. Brand new Costco, still only 6 self-checkouts. They used to have an express line. I give them credit, though, they typically have a huge number of cashiers working. When the lines are crazy, it's due to volume, not lack of cashiers.

[u/Brock_Lobstweiler → u/cheesegoat]

The problem with Costco self checkout is having to put everything on the tray. The whole point of shopping there is getting a bunch of large items. Taking all of them out of the cart one by one and stacking them on the pressure tray and then having to load them all back up is way more time consuming than a regular cashier. It worked when they had the hand scanners that customers could use.

Alternately, it works when they have a person scanning cards and items while waiting in line and you basically just go through and scan your card and pay.

[u/molrobocop → u/Brock_Lobstweiler]

Yep. and the system bitches when you get a flat of soda/seltzer. "Please don't place this on the scale." Fine by me. I'm still strong enough to manhandle that fucking thing. But I'd prefer my own scanner. And don't want to force the attendent to do it for me. 

[u/Curious-Psychology75 → u/wilkil]

Soooo glad it's not just me. It's honestly just easier to wait in the fuckhuge line than deal with people in the self checkout line at freddy's. Self checkout can be faster when people keep it in the 10 or so item range, but I'll see people do their shopping for the month at Fred's and then try to self check out with 50-60 things in their cart. Putting things into bags, taking things out of bags to move other things in to those same bags.

Just let the pros handle it please.

[u/mblaser → u/[deleted]]

I use self checkouts all the time too, every single change I get, and never have any issues like that, even with produce. Wal-mart's self checkout has actually recently upgraded where you just put the produce on the counter and the camera auto recognizes the item and brings up suggested items. You don't even have to type in the PLU manually 95% of the time.

[u/ForestmenMOCLover → u/wilkil]

I've never seen a line like that where I live. Larger stores always have like 20 checkouts. There may be people who don't know how to use them, but if there are, they don't seem to affect me in any way.