Self-checkout Blues- Have any?

[sbandliz]

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To the best of my knowledge, there are no self checkouts in Australian retail stores, but perhaps someone else can tell me if this is right? I know there are a few of us Aussies on here!
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The only self checkout I have came across is at Big W in Macquarie Centre (Sydney). And I love it - shorter lines so it is faster to complete my purchase.

[Handofgod]

I know exactly how you feel. I used to work at a self checkout at Kroger(U-Scan) and it drove me crazy. Between the dull monotony, the idiotic customers, and the stupid machine itself I'm surprised I didn't get crazy on someone.

[Slow-Jo]

self checkouts are alright for the younger generation.
but dear god! dont let the older people near them! you pretty much have to take them by the hand and lead them the whole way.
i was going through one once and this lady and 2 kittens and a bird cuz she couldnt find her change. shes sitting there wailing for someone to help her, finally i turned around and pointed to the little dish RIGHT beside the screen. that shut her up for 10 seconds, before she proceded to bitch about the machines. dont use it then!

[Enigma]

So from what I've discovered, they are lovely to use (which I understand, I go there if I have a few items). But they are absolute hell to run. That and at my store, the self-checkout lines are never short, except in the late evening.

[Alpha Strike]

Do you work them? Hehe, I mean I suppose it's not so bad for people who use them, except for most of the time between waiting for system to recognize you've bagged the item and the standard delays, you really could have gotten out quicker if you went through a cashier!

I'm a big fan of self-checkout too, especially since I don't work at WallyWorld.

In fact, much of the reason I use self-checkout is because it's faster (at least at that particular time) then waiting for a cashier. My own experience is that most people still want to use an aisle with a cashier, especially if they have a huge cart of groceries. Given that, and the fact that I'm pretty quick at the self-servce lanes means much less frustration at WallyWorld.

[Captain Kidd]

I too enjoy the self checkout. But there are some criteria. Due to the relatively slow time it takes it to add in the new item's weight and check to make sure you bagged it, anything more than 10 or 15 items and I'll go to a regular line unless they're just way too long. Also, if I'm getting stuff other than easy to buy items (e.g. id required medicines or beer), I'll avoid the self checkouts to avoid hassling me and the cashier.

I've also dearly wanted to slap people silly (like trying to self checkout two carts piled high) and can see why working the self checkout can be a special sort of hell for cashiers.

[Pixagi]

I love to use self checkouts. However, I hate having to wait for slow/old people to muddle their way through, or for people who've never before rung anything up. It's annoying.

[LifeCarnie]

Like Geek King, I loathe Grocery store SC's, and I always frequent the self-checkouts at Fred Meyer. I now make sure to get the produce codes for anything I buy so I can punch them in myself without having to get help from the cashier manning them.

I've gotten the impression that there is a wide variation in self-checkout technology. My grocery store has machines with a menu which allows you to find the information. Also, food vendors, like chiquita, are putting the code right on the label of the produce.

I've had mixed experiences with using self-checkout machines. While, I think the technology has improved, it still has some flaws. Last week, I had to wait for someone to authorize my purchase of Dayquil.

Which to me, totally defeats the purpose of self-checkout. I'm not complaining, I just think that the staff of the store tends to have work created for them by these machines.

I've also been in a store that had open lanes, which were manned by store employees, yet there were lines for the three self-check out registers.

[CaroPhoenix]

I went to the post office today to mail off my CS Christmas cards, and I went to the self-check machines!! They were wonderful. The postal office near my house has 3 of the machines. 1 in the front lobby (which is always busy) and 2 in the main area - near the counters. I went to one of the ones in the main area. Took me 20 minutes to do all the international cards, and I bought 3 books of stamps for the regular ones. I was in and out and no long lines for me!

[TheSnakeLady]

I also love the self-checkouts. They usually have the shortest lines around, and unless I have a ton of items, I usually head there first. The only time I had a problem with the self-checkouts was when I was buying a bunch of seeds from the gardening center. They just don't weigh enough to register on the scale half.

[Finduilas]

I like to put the self checkout robotvoice on in Spanish (even though I don't speak a word of it!)... It's usually fine, because it's ridiculously obvious what you're supposed to do.
However, sometimes I do it when I have produce. The pictures are not very good. I don't know where the self checkout watcher person was, but I remember I just kinda winged it and hoped I picked the right fruit. (I think it was plums that time...)

To conclude, the moral of the story is: Don't put the robotvoice on in Spanish if you have fruit and don't speak Spanish.

[ThePhoneGoddess]

Like Geek King, I loathe Grocery store SC's, and I always frequent the self-checkouts at Fred Meyer. I now make sure to get the produce codes for anything I buy so I can punch them in myself without having to get help from the cashier manning them.

[Geek King]

I love self checkouts! Since I usually only have a hand basket worth of items, they save me from waiting behind people with cartloads, who don't want half of it, then wait to write a check until the very last moment. If it wasn't for the self checkouts, I would probably only shop at 2 AM. I loathe grocery shopping SCs.

[matty]

Well, I've certainly heard of self checkouts, but I have never had the pleasure(?) of actually using one, with the exception of those that allow to you to borrow books from your local library.

To the best of my knowledge, there are no self checkouts in Australian retail stores, but perhaps someone else can tell me if this is right? I know there are a few of us Aussies on here!

As I understand it, most of the major supermarkets and other general retailers think they would be too much of a hassle, especially in terms of shop-lifting, while I just don't think it's something most smaller stores would really consider.

Still, I guess it means that customers can argue among themselves while waiting in line, rather than getting the cashier involved?!

[CaroPhoenix]

I love to use self-checkouts! I haven't worked them though, so I don't know anything about the headaches they cause employees.

However, the self-checks at the local Harris Teeter hate me. Absolutely loathe me. They're always messing up, I feel so sorry for the chicks that are manning the little podium. I normally go through the regular lines, but if the lines are long, and Twinkle Toes (my daughter :lol) is acting up, I try the self-checks. What I don't understand is why the employee has to ring in the coupons and we can't do it at the self-check?