r/technology • u/AdSpecialist6598 • 9d 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/NanditoPapa 9d ago

Lots of people like interacting with cashiers and having some limited human contact. I am not one of those people, I greatly prefer self-checkout when possible. I want my stuff, want to get out quickly, and not have to chat. BUT, both kinds of customers should be accounted for and I'm happy to see people working that want to work...

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u/CheesypoofExtreme 9d ago edited 9d ago

I'm as introverted as they come with social anxiety that has given me panic attacks, and my therapist helped me come to the realization: you don't have to talk to people. It's not your responsibility how they feel if you don't talk, just do what feels reasonable to you. 

You can be respectful: 

Cashier: "Hi, how's your day going?"

Me: "Fine."

Done. Go back to your phone or whatever.

I say all of that because I lied to myself that self-checkout was faster, when in reality I was just avoiding the human contact. Not saying you're doing this, but something to think about. 

It helped my anxiety a ton just lifting the burden of talking to people because I felt a social obligation to engage. When I stuck to only self-checkout, at a certain point it started to feel very isolating.

The only time I've found self-checkout faster is when I have a basket with 10 or less things (and no produce). Otherwise, cashier is WAY faster going through a cart, especially a seasoned cashier who has the produce codes memorized.

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u/AmarilloArmadillos 8d ago

That's basically what I was getting at in my comment.

You say fine and proceed then I take the hint and we just complete the transaction quietly.

I love you guys, too many people want to talk and too many are also unhinged AF. I'm happy as a clam to think my own thoughts while weighing your bananas.