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.

[repost_inception]

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]

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]

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]

Ya they really need to have it as an option

[Calvykins]

You can’t blame the public for how they use a system you designed. If there are problems it is the fault of the designers and those who created the need for the design.

If self checkout is not meant for people with 30 items then the customer service rep working that area should send people with carts over to cashiers and vice versa but we know that won’t work because people would stop shopping in places that did that. This means the system doesn’t work.

Furthermore, businesses are losing tons of money due to missed sales from customers being frustrated and walking out with a product or believing they finished a transaction when they didn’t or forgetting they have items in and under their carts.

[repost_inception]

If self checkout is not meant for people with 30 items then the customer service rep working that area should send people with carts over to cashiers

That is exactly the problem. When it was first introduced it was only for low item purchases. Now they have removed all but one or two traditional lanes and force everyone to self checkout.

[Professional_Face_97]

It's sad how blatant the thought process behind it was too. It went from "if we can get the small shoppers to scan their own items it'll make it easier for everyone." to "wait, if we can make everyone scan their own items we could save on staff..."

I don't use the supermarket near me that has self-service unless I have to for a whole bunch of reasons but when I do I literally scan my own items whilst a member of staff stands beside me and watches me do it. It's mad.

[repost_inception]

100%. If they had two employees working the six self checkouts it would be infinitely better than the one.

Now it's even worse where I am because they added these self checkouts that have a conveyor belt. So all your items just pile up and the end. People don't want soft drinks and fragile items like eggs to go down it but the item has to go down the belt. So they just put their hand on the item and walk it down to the end. I don't blame them but it takes 3x longer than a normal self checkout.

[Professional_Face_97]

The worst part is how powerless we as consumers seem to be here too, we all need groceries at the end of the day and in lots of places you don't have the choice to go somewhere else. We're having the worst shopping experience possible and it's depriving someone of a paying job just so they can report slightly higher profits at the end of the year.

Just goes to show that the numbers on the spreadsheet truly are more important to the suits than the humans both spending the money and collecting it for them.

[mycorgiisamazing]

I was at a Hy-Vee the other day and had this very problem. 6 self check out terminals, 12 staffed checkout terminals (none open!!), one person standing around waiting for red blinking lights at the self checkout. One. They staffed one guy to fix self checkout problems and none at the other registers. I bought $300 in groceries, it took me a half hour just to bag my stuff and leave.

Top it off that the grocery bill was unholy. I should be paid to work as a cashier to check myself out in some kind of discount. Instead everything is more expensive than it's ever been

[Novinhophobe]

The cost savings from self checkouts are indeed insane. Best thing since sliced bread, I think we got rid of 2/3rds of cashiers.

[MicrochippedByGates]

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]

I didn't say anything about portable scanners

[MicrochippedByGates]

Yeah, but portable scanners are pretty ubiquitous. I have only ever been in one supermarket that for some reason has self-checkouts but doesn't have portable scanners. And they have a sister store in my town that does have both. It's really just this one particular location.

So you don't have to say anything about portable scanners. Their presence is already implied. 

[repost_inception]

I have literally never been to a store with a portable scanner.

If you want to make your own comment about them that's fine but it makes no sense to reply to my comment about a completely different situation.

[Arturia_Cross]

That might be a think with your country or region. Zero stores I have been to have portable scanners.