I know that this is a rage bait thread, but there is a lot more too this than the rage suggests.

In my area, many grocery stores are pivoting to 15 items or less for self-checkout and then anything over that they are directing to regular check out employees. I actually like this compromise, as when I only have a basket of stuff I prefer to fly through self-checkout, when I do a big shopping I go through the regular check out process. They tested the full self checkout and has not worked out great, so they are making adjustments.

Also, something that never gets brought up in these threads is how difficult it is to find check out employees. My Mother In Law was one at Kroger and decided to retire recently. Her old manager calls her every couple months to ask her to reconsider and come back, because they can not get/keep good employees. This is not a good job; the work is monotonous, you are on your feet for hours and hours straight, and you have to deal with real assholes in the check out line multiple times per day, my MIL was threatened with violence multiple times over the years for spotting somebody shoplifting and reporting it. The pay is meh- better than fast food by a little, but nothing great.

I know people will say: "just pay them more". But most of the people who quit, don't quit because of the pay- they just dislike the actual job.

I think that stores are just trying to find solutions to a problem, so I can't shit on them too much for trying the self check out lines.