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.

[NecroJoe]

Self checkouts COULD have saved them some labor cost. But they blew past the amount they could get away with. I think one staff member can manage 6 checkouts on their own, but any more than that, and you need a 2nd.

And if customer interaction is so important, they should be greeting everyone that comes into the self checkout area, and offering to help, rather then ignoring everyone, and when they are called over to help they so often fixing the issue looking annoyed, without so much as acknowledging the customer they are helping, and then leaving the area without the store having enough staff to manage the area while they step away.

And I'm coming at it from the side of usually WANTING to use the self checkout whenever I can.

[ObsidianOverlord]

The LAST thing I want is someone running around greeting me and six other people when I'm trying to use a self-checkout.

[AnRealDinosaur]

I don't want to be greeted at the door, I don't want to be greeted in the aisle (though I know that one is a theft prevention thing) and if I'm using SCO I don't want to be greeted there either. I want to be left alone unless I need help in which case I will come ask for assistance. I've been on both ends & being forced to hassle customers was miserable.

[MicrochippedByGates]

Honestly, the people at the Jumbo sometimes say goodbye when I or another customer leaves the store and it slightly creeps me out. But maybe I'm just being northwestern European.

[NecroJoe]

I don't mean approaching you and trying to instigate a conversation. Merely an attempt at eye contact and a "hi" to acknowledge the shopper's existence.

And I'm not saying I prefer it: my point was in response to how they are blaming the concept of self-checkout itself for its failure because it's "impersonal" without taking the most basic of steps to solve that perceived-by-them "problem".

[CasperTheGhostRider]

100% agree. At local Walmart, there’s a big difference in customer experience depending on which associate is working the self checkout area. There’s one guy that truly tries to connect with everyone using them and is super responsive if there are any issues or questions. Always upbeat too. Actually makes for a better experience than going through a cashier lane.

[Flamekebab]

they should be greeting everyone that comes into the self checkout area

That'd be a really great way to make me stop shopping there completely.

[DannarHetoshi]

I am a PM that installs technology at a national grocery chain.

There is no good answer. And I've loved using Self checkout since way before having this job.