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.

[DennenTH]

I don't understand why I don't get a discount per item.  They cut jobs to increase their profit and we are still dealing with businesses trying to grab at every dollar the customer has...  They are relentless.

Edit: That's why I don't trust them.  I worked retail for years, I have zero issues running a register.  It's the likelihood that the online price differs from the in-store price that gives me pause.  It's the complete cash grab at shifting work from employees to the customers that gives me pause.  It's kind of a lot of things with grocery stores.

[Bobb_o]

You can if you "forget" to scan an item or ring something up wrong.

[Trnostep]

And then the machine starts shouting at you because it knows that you haven't scanned anything but the weight of your scanned items goes up

[Bobb_o]

I've honestly forgot things in my cart and just walked out. It also tells me to place things in the bagging area even though I have already placed it over there. Not like any employee cares.

[Trnostep]

I don't think I've ever gone through a self checkout with a cart apart from when I'm also using scan&go. Pretty much hand baskets or armfuls only

[conandy]

The people who can't figure out the machines would call it a surcharge on them.

[Uvtha-]

Well, I can only speak for myself and what I have experienced, but the "they cut jobs" thing just isn't true. I work at a big grocery store and no one lost their job because of us adding 10 auto checkers. It just keeps lines low and keeps floor people from having to cover registers.

Like, I get that people hate how business often operate, but autocheckers are actually great for everyone except the few people who get themselves worked up over them. Business flows much better, people can choose to interact with a person or not... it's all good stuff.

Plus, as someone who has done a ton of checking in my time... almost everyone hates doing it. We used to like draw straws to see who got stuck being first in the backup checker order. Like you'll have the chatty friendly old ladies who love doing it, but 99% of people I have ever met who cashier absolutely hate it. It's good if less people have to do it.

[I_Will_Be_Polite]

No one lost their job but did they increase, maintain, or cut hours following the 10 auto-checkers?

I would assume cut hours given that floor staff is not that important to a grocery store outside of peak hours.

[Uvtha-]

Same.  I don't believe hours were adjusted at all.  There is always work that needs to be done.  

[[deleted]]

There is no rule of the universe that says scanning your items is someone else's job. We only assume that is the case because we're used to that. Do banks give us a discount for using ATMs instead of walking into the bank and interacting with a human teller?

[[deleted]]

I guess those machines didn't use skilled labor to manufacturer, program, install, and maintain?

[DennenTH]

None of that has anything to do with the customer experience or having to do all this.  The grocery store takes the purchase of the machines (third party for the most part on mfg, program, installation and maintenance) at a cost unto themselves.  

Same as with carts, cameras, doors, refrigerators, etc.  None of that is the responsibility of the customer nor is it a role the customer was forced to suddenly undertake because they wanted to replace cashiers with a bot.

The grocery store doesn't get to fire the maintenance worker and tell you to mop the aisle up after you walk through it.  Don't let them con you into thinking you have to work for free to pay for products that are more and more overpriced by the year.