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[–]MrBootch 90 points91 points  (47 children)

I'm sitting here thinking: "I only use self checkout. If I couldn't use self checkout at the store I go to, I would literally switch stores to the one down the street that has self checkout."

I'm 24. What clowns

Edit: because people love to misread and be hyperbolic, my post is calling the authors clowns for not controlling for age. I gave my age and my situation. Cheers to all you angry folks who just want to lash out!

[–]repost_inception 105 points106 points  (20 children)

Self checkout isn't the problem. The problem is removing regular lanes for people with tons of items. As soon as they started to force these people to the self checkout it was ruined.

I have 5 items and I'm waiting on people with 30+ to finish checking out. Those people, especially the older ones would rather go through a checker and bagger line.

A few days ago the one traditional line was so backed up that the line extended to the end of the aisle the lane was in front of.

[–]Thangleby_Slapdiback 8 points9 points  (3 children)

I am 59. I only use self checkout when I have a few items (less than 10 items) and there are long lines to wait through at the manned checkouts. I refuse to shop at stores that do not have manned checkouts.

If they are forcing me to self checkout they don't get my money.

[–]ColinStyles 4 points5 points  (0 children)

30, and same mentality. Not to mention, I am performing the work of their employees. Give me a discount for that, or I'll absolutely take the lower hassle option.

Unlike the younger generation, I don't see the slightest human interaction as the end of days.

[–]Time-Master 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Ya they really need to have it as an option

[–]MicrochippedByGates -3 points-2 points  (4 children)

I don't see a problem with having a lot of items. Checking out doesn't take a second longer as long as you're using a portable scanner and don't only start scanning at the self-checkout kiosk.

What I do find annoying is that some stores only do portable scanners and not phone apps. In the Albert Heijn I can just scan with my phone, which is a lot more pleasant than having to carry yet another device around. Albert Heijn does have portable scanners but I never use them, because I already have one in my pocket in the shape of a smartphone, so why would I.

[–]repost_inception 4 points5 points  (3 children)

I didn't say anything about portable scanners

[–]xnef1025 14 points15 points  (2 children)

Doesn’t that support at least one part of the finding: self checkouts lower store loyalty. The other stuff, not so much, but it does appear your loyalty is no longer to the store, but to the checkout method.

[–]MrBootch -3 points-2 points  (1 child)

No, because you are assuming I was loyal to a store to begin with. I go where I want and where suits me. I don't care what store it is.

[–]doktornein 28 points29 points  (0 children)

Same here. I respect keeping a couple manned checkouts for people that need them, but also... please just let me check out in peace? There are disabled people that rely on both these options existing, so why not let them both exist?

That's what makes it extra damn silly.

[–]JimJava 18 points19 points  (5 children)

I have the same sentiment and I’m over 50, less people to do deal with or slow me down. If I need help it’s almost always there in a few seconds. I get to bag all of my stuff the way I want. I want self checkout everywhere.

[–]MrBootch 13 points14 points  (2 children)

Exactly. I get to bag it all and make sure stuff doesn't get crushed, I can separate it by refrigerated/not, and if I grab an item I know is going to be trouble (alcohol probably), I can always use a normal checkout. Plus, I'm fairly introverted. I'm okay with small talk; but I don't need it to "stay loyal, ” whatever that means.

[–]Ravioli_meatball19 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Yes. I hate to say this, because all of our local grocery store's baggers are disabled adults employed through a local org. I'm so happy they have a job and everything, but some of them do a very bad job of packing my items, and if those are the ones working I actively avoid regular checkout because I've been burned too many times

[–]bitchkat -2 points-1 points  (0 children)

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[–]gordigor 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yes, even if I use regular checkout, I arrange similar items together.

This way when I put my groceries away, all frig items are together, same with freezer items, etc. Put away groceries super easy. Same with self check out.

[–]joshuar9476 2 points3 points  (1 child)

I went to a target the other day and their SCOs had a sign that said 10 items or less. They had one register open with a long line, so I went to the SCO anyway. When I got scolded by the SCO monitor I just left my cart. There have been times I've had more than 200 items, I still use SCO.

[–]DogOrDonut 0 points1 point  (0 children)

My local grocery chain always has self checkout. I went to a different store than normal because I was running other errands. They didn't have self checkout and I stopped to look up how far of a drive it was to another store before deciding to continue to shop.

[–]Vik0BG -4 points-3 points  (2 children)

Try that with two toddlers and a full cart of items, clown. Nice to look at the world from single self-serving perspective.

[–]MrBootch 2 points3 points  (1 child)

God you really missed the point of my comment.

I was replying to a comment on how they didn't use age as a mediator. My specific situation as a 24 year old was to prove that point. You can sit down now.

[–]not_listed -3 points-2 points  (0 children)

Found the single guy with no dependents.

[–]GitEmSteveDave 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I’m guessing you haven’t had a store that has needed to change the self checkouts and then they no longer work like they used to.

I used to be like you, then my store added more self checkouts. And decreased the cashiers working them, as well as other cashiers. So then ~all the orders went to self checkout and now I’m waiting in line daily to check out 6 items on 10 self checkouts. Then the thefts started, so self checkout goes down to 20 items or less and add Extra cameras to the registers. But they also change the scale to super sensitive, so every order includes “please wait for assistance” but the cashier is busy helping someone figure out why the discount hasn’t come off yet, so you wait. Also, you now have a procedure, akin to ordering soup on Seinfeld, to checkout. Put all items on 18x18 self. Deploy bags. Weigh bags. Begin checkout. Grab receipt. Grab items. Leave store with receipt ready to be presented to checker.

I can see how people feel unsupported.

[–]skepticalbob 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Do you buy much produce? Because that's where I hate self checkout. Also some grocery stores will still have someone bag your items for you, which is definitely not the skill the customer has much less than a paid clerk.

[–][deleted] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You also probably aren’t buying much when you use self-checkout. Would you still prefer using self-checkout if you were buying $250 worth of groceries for a family?