What do you think of self checkout lanes in stores?

I think they are there primarily to reduce the store's need to pay as much for checkout staff.  These self checkout machines sometimes have to be used when there are no cashiers on duty.

Unfortunately, too many people think that it is okay to steal.  They do not scan all of their purchases properly.  Some give excuses of "big, bad capitalism" or stores have insurance, so "no one" gets hurt.  False thinking.

Many stores are removing self checkouts because of theft by consumers.  I wonder if this will encourage the use of "apps" where people need to sign in and scan items and get charged automatically before they leave, the placement of more cashiers, or some other use of billing technologies.

The self checkouts do have some benefits to consumers, such as quicker exits, but at the same time, I can see many closed checkout lines that could be run by cashiers.

Do you think that if the cashier does not see the big bag of dog food at the bottom of your cart that you are entitled to free dog food because you were not charged for it?  If so, that is bad thinking too.  You could have informed the cashier the food was there instead of leaving it up for the cashier to find it.  Instead, there are many people who wish for the cashier to not see it. 

All of this lack of honesty is driving up prices.

Chrissy

I don't like them, because they mean fewer jobs for people who need them.  The stores save money, but much of the money they might save is eaten up by theft.  What savings they do realize, they don't pass on to the consumers.  Given the choice, I prefer to use a human cashier. 

Before I came out of the closet I would use them to buy female clothing but since I came out I no longer use them. I don't like supporting companies cutting jobs.

I like self checkout, it's quicker in most cases. I make up for costing a cashier a position by just abandoning my cart right where I parked. 

Since I was a teenager in the 1990s, I wondered why they didn't exist. The technology needed to have them existed and even back then I would wonder "why do I need to stand here and wait for someone else to slide a barcode in front of a scanner?". I much prefer self checkout over the old kind. It's faster and I don't have to worry about some weirdo trying to make "small talk" with me. I loathe "small talk".

Quote from: Devlyn on Yesterday at 02:23:14 PMI like self checkout, it's quicker in most cases. I make up for costing a cashier a position by just abandoning my cart right where I parked. 

I make up for it by doing most of my shopping online. We place our grocery order for the week, schedule a time to pick it up, and park outside. We don't even have to enter the building or get out of the car. Instead of employing a cashier, the store employs someone to collect the order items, and another to take the orders out to the cars and load them.

I never used the park and deliver to the car method.

Is it appropriate to tip the person who brings you your groceries?


Also, what happens if something like your bread is smashed or there is a bad leaf in your bag of salad (all it takes is one bad leaf and the rest of it seems to go quickly)?  I suppose you can get a replacement but by that time you are already home with the bad food.


Chrissy