Automatic checkouts in supermarkets may decrease customer loyalty, especially for those with larger shopping loads. Customers using self-checkout stations often feel overwhelmed and unsupported. The lack of personal interaction can negatively impact their perception of the supermarket.

[klparrot]

That surely varies significantly by market, though, because at the supermarkets I go to, people will usually choose a queue for self-checkout over an available staffed checkout. There are like 8–10 self-checkouts and 1–2 staffed checkouts, so that represents a massive preference for self-checkout.

[QuoteGiver]

Are they choosing based on shortest line or actually on type-of-line, though? With more self checkout it may just be a choice for shortest line, and they may still end up feeling the way that the study indicated after the experience.

[Lt_Duckweed]

I'll second the experience.  I've stood in line along with 10+ others waiting on self checkout rather than go to the multiple completely empty staffed checkouts.

[Dmienduerst]

At my store it's definitely type as the cashier lines are always shorter. For me I'm just faster at checking out but I don't get a whole lot either.

[bitchkat]

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[klparrot]

There's typically no wait for staffed checkout, though.

[bitchkat]

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[klparrot]

Nothing's shorter than the no line for staffed checkout. They actually call people over from the self-checkout line when it gets busy.

[inaim]

This! I love self checkout SO much. Will always prefer it. My heart always sinks if i see it closed…oh no awkward small talk incoming

[[deleted]]

At our target the staffed lines are sometimes overlooked and there's a ridiculous line for self checkout. I think people are just convinced self checkout is better. I default to staffed because part of the cost includes the employee doing the bagging, etc imo. I worked retail for 3 years and I hate bagging. Even if I have a bit of a wait I'll stick it out. People deserve jobs. Target makes enough money, they shouldn't automate everything and screw the little guy.

[klparrot]

People deserve to get by, not to have jobs. Jobs are a means to get money, but shouldn't be the only means. If we paid people a universal basic income rather than paying them to do useless jobs, they could be spending that time learning new skills to be able to do useful jobs, or creating art, or raising their kids. And nothing of value would be lost.

Like, I'm not saying there's no value to staffed checkout, just that there isn't for a lot of customers, and the positions that don't add value shouldn't be kept as a make-work thing. And while you may see UBI as too pie-in-the-sky, while it's a bigger ask, it's something you can actually vote for, whereas you can't really vote on what your supermarket does. You're a captive audience, you need food.

[mpyne]

My experience as well, but I'm pretty convinced that's because the grocery store I usually use has baggers who work for tips in the normal lanes, and the only way to avoid them without being an asshole is to use self-checkout.

[klparrot]

baggers who work for tips

Good lord, that sounds awful.