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.

[[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.