Again with Wal-Mart and the self check outs

[greensinestro]

I really am about to give up going to Wal-Mart, whether it's the normal store, or the grocery store. I go to the grocery store because it's close to home and they have good deals on things like potato chips and cheese. With that said, this is why I am looking at just paying more so I don't have to deal with the self check out headache any more.

I went yesterday to buy some things to make BLT's. I get the stuff I wanted and head right over to the self check out. There are four total, all of them were open. When I got there, two of them had green shirted employees helping these women who didn't know what they were doing. The one I was waiting at had one woman there, but wasn't sure how to scan her coupons. The last one had someone with a jillion items, so I wasn't going to get to that one soon.

The two with the green shirted guys didn't know what to do, and actually had these guys scanning each item for them and putting them into their carts (after bagging them). I don't know about anyone else, but this is self check out.

My guess is pretty simple. These people either don't know how to use the self check outs, or they go there with the intention to get help because they can get around waiting in other lines. If there wasn't any better loophole to be found from waiting in long lines at the grocery stores, I think this is it.

I've had this happen at the regular Wal Marts as well. Many people simply use these but intend to get help, not caring if they are taking up someone else's time, as long as they get their turn.

I think I may just go to Publix from now on. It's more expensive, but worth it sometimes.

[SG15Z]

I hate to say it, but it's a common problem appearing in more and more companies that have a Self Checkout. Have someone do it for you over there so you won't have to wait in line at the full service checkstands.

[notlovinit]

One time I went to a grocery store that had one of those and I chose not to go to it, because I was buying beer and I knew that that is a pain to deal with on the self checkouts so I just waited in line. The girl manning the self checkouts saw us and had us come over and she rang up every item for us. She was just providing good service and I appreciated it, but I was so embarassed.

[sweetj82]

We have a self check out guy who works them everyday. He tells people that need all this help to just go to a normal lane. We have the customers who dont want to walk the 5 feet to a normal lane than bitch the whole time.


We had this group of people who each had 2 cart fulls of stuff they used all 4 self checks. They kept passing things back and forth and just fooling around. The self checkout guy went over and kicked them all out. He has balls.

[Fish Taco64]

I'm glad most of the stores in my area don't have those, especially mine. People are just not smart enough.

[b2addm]

...People are just not smart enough.

Damn straight!
They are HELPLESS morons. They can barely shop, much less operate a self checkout with any amount of success.
Ugh!! I can't stand an attitude of helplessness.

[Draco]

A few months back, our SCOs got a software upgrade. Now in addition to the voice, it has moving pictures that circle the things you need to touch/do/look at. People still are clueless. No matter how idiot proof they make these machines, somehow "better" idiots are also made.

There is a sign near our SCOs that mentions "we'll be glad to scan your order for you!" It's technically for overnight when only the SCOs are open. I turn it to the other side so it can't readily be seen, but some people try to point it out. I flat out tell them: This is a self checkout and there are registers open. If you don't want to scan your own items, you have to go to a line.

I will NOT scan someone's order for them. The only exception are the little old ladies who seem lost. I will help them. I won't do it all for them. If they want to use the machines instead of wait in line, it is my personal viewpoint that they need to learn how to actually use them.

I have six machines to watch. I cannot spend all my time focused on an individual. Sorry.

One of the ladies who work overnight on the SCO has repeatedly mentioned an older man who comes in around 3 or 4 am every few nights with a basket of stuff, pushes it towards them at the attendant station and says "You. Scan." He speaks English. It's his native tongue. It's not a language issue. He's just a rude SOB. I told them flat out, I'd refuse until he treated me like a human being.

*mutters about customers*

[Hellzar]

I guess I am lucky usually when I use the self checkouts they are empty and it is really quick. Last time I used it though I forgot I got I had an itunes card and the attendant had to come over and scan it. She was pissed about it and I was a bit embarrassed but usually it better than waiting in line.

[Anakah]

Hubbie and I used the self checkouts at a store and he was buying beer. Funny thing is it asked for an attendant but still let us pay for it and leave. We waited for someone, looked around for a few mins then gave up and paid. Luckily for that store we are over 21.

[underemployeed]

I hate self checkouts, and the places that go, "but sir the self checkout is open", and I go NO I HATE THOSE, they go "ITS EASY", me "NO seriously, I got asked last time to quit kicking that piece of shit, you REALLY don't want me on it". I scan shit all day at work, no way in hell am I coming to your work to scan more stuff.

[Kogarashi]

Last time I used it though I forgot I got I had an itunes card and the attendant had to come over and scan it. She was pissed about it and I was a bit embarrassed but usually it better than waiting in line.

Having been an SCO attendant before, I think she can deal. It's part of the reason there is an attendant, for things that require age verification and a couple extra steps. Of course, at the store I worked at, we didn't have anything that couldn't be rung up at the SCOs; some just required a little more effort. Whether it was me confirming age for things like white-out and paintballs, constantly assisting people paying with a gift card on how to swipe and then scan the cards, or suspending their order so I could take their check at the attendant station (arguably the most annoying because it was the most involved). Activating someone's music card shouldn't be the deal-breaker for the attendant.

[blas]

I never have a problem with self checkouts. It might be years of experience as a cashier, though.

And if I ever am trying to buy age-restricted items, I just go to a normal checkout so the person doesn't have to walk over and ID me and stop the whole transaction.

I LOVE SCOs. The people that work at my local Wal-Mart are too notorious for forgetting bags (they have those little carousels for bags) or mixing up orders, bagging your items wrong, etc. I'm so picky, I do it myself.

[Estil]

I hate self checkouts, and the places that go, "but sir the self checkout is open", and I go NO I HATE THOSE, they go "ITS EASY", me "NO seriously, I got asked last time to quit kicking that piece of shit, you REALLY don't want me on it". I scan shit all day at work, no way in hell am I coming to your work to scan more stuff.

They're forced to do that because their store (especially if it happens to be Kroger) has a quota system where they want a minimum percentage of customers going through self-checkout. Needless to say they pressure the self-checkout attendant to meet that quota; hence why you're getting that pressure.

Obviously nothing more than a scheme to in the long run put all the cashiers/baggers out of a job, or at the very least cut even more hours.

[SG15Z]

They're forced to do that because their store (especially if it happens to be Kroger) has a quota system where they want a minimum percentage of customers going through self-checkout. Needless to say they pressure the self-checkout attendant to meet that quota; hence why you're getting that pressure.

Obviously nothing more than a scheme to in the long run put all the cashiers/baggers out of a job, or at the very least cut even more hours.

Exactly. Kroger family of stores have a certain percentage of customers that they want going through SCO (percentage varies by store). So yeah that's why they're so insistent.

[Bardmaiden]

I don't have problems with SCO's well using there of, the only thing is I'm till trained so I tend to scan at the speed I'm used to and the machines don't like it. I'm fast, in fact way too fast. So I go to manned checkout if possible.