Self Check Out or Cashier?
By EvrWonder
@EvrWonder (3571)
Canada
January 19, 2009 1:14am CST
It was busy but not as busy as it was at Christmas
when I pulled into the parking lot of the local
supermarket.
I was able to find a parking spot relatively quick.
The store was busy. I grabbed the few things I
needed and headed to the check out.
To my surprise, between last week and today,
suddenly the store has implemented self check out.
What a relief that was as the line ups at the cashier
were four to five people away from getting through.
I opted for the self check out.
Maybe our area has far less tech savvy people
because the self check outs were empty.
I whipped right through with my five items.
How handy.
That was the second time I have used self check out.
The first time when I was out of town, so I had some
experience, which helped get me through fast.
I asked one of the cashiers on the floor what will
happen to them now. The cashier assured me that they
will always be there. If not on the till then on the floor
to help.
I see many things becoming automated.
I hear that even the border, the toll booths and the
ferry boat terminals are all working towards becoming
automated.
I wonder what that will do for those currently working in
those positions.
What is your opinion?
Do you or have you worked in a position that has or is
to become automated?
Care to elaborate?
Do you have self check out at your favorite grocery
stores? If so, do you use them and what do you think?
6 people like this
26 responses
@frygirl (382)
• United States
20 Jan 09
I HATE THE SELF CHECK OUT LANES at walmart in the next town from me yeah they still have cashiers and i dont care if i have to stand in line for a few minutes thats there job and if enough people dont go through those lines the company will think that they are a waste of labor and start putting in more of those stupid self check outs and put even more people out of work.
1 person likes this
@EvrWonder (3571)
• Canada
16 Mar 09
True, it is a really good point to make that the machines, the self check outs don't get paid benefits, nor do they ask for days off or have attitudes. They do break down though and sometimes malfunction, in which case it is necessary to get some manual labor in there to find out what is wrong and correct it.
@EvrWonder (3571)
• Canada
26 Jan 09
Right.
Well you do have a good point there, I must say.
I wonder why they even brought them in?
1 person likes this
@lynnemg (4529)
• United States
22 Jan 09
I only use the self-checkouts when I am really in a hurry and the lines ar really long at the regular check-outs.
I think that things are becoming too automated and impersonal. If it keeps going, there will only be self-checkouts before we know it. These cashiers need their jobs, and I htink that the more we use the automated check-outs, the more we are inevitably causing many jobs to diminish.
1 person likes this
@EvrWonder (3571)
• Canada
26 Jan 09
I am going to likely be the same.
If the other lines are busy and the self check out is not and I am in a hurry, as I was the other day, then that option is nice and convenient to get out quick.
I hope that, like the cashier said to me is that they will always have a job, regardless.
I agree that too much is becoming too automated and impersonal.
What is with that anyway? Why so much automation nowadays?
Thank you for your response.
1 person likes this
@moondancer (7431)
• United States
20 Jan 09
I will go to the regular check outs and if they are too busy then I reluctantly will go to the self check out line. I rarely do this as I hate them. I have only used these lines a couple of times.
1 person likes this
@EvrWonder (3571)
• Canada
26 Jan 09
Same with me, I have used these lines, only a couple of times.
It is quite amazing to read how many people actually don't like the self check outs.
Points understood however.
Thank you for your response.
1 person likes this
@SukiSmiles (1991)
• United States
21 Jan 09
I like the self checkouts because I can get in and out quickly. I also like it because sometimes cashiers will bag items together that I don't like - for example, food and detergent, something hard with my bread - I don't like having my bread squished. But I don't like them when the person in front of me doesn't know how to use it. Then I can end up waiting for a long time. If I have a cart load of stuff, of course, I will go to a line with a cashier. I have noticed that stores will have one cashier overseeing 4 terminals, so there is still someone to help.
1 person likes this
@EvrWonder (3571)
• Canada
26 Jan 09
Yes, assistance on hand if needed is handy.
It would be a drag with someone in front of you who don't know how it works.
Those who use the self check outs have all been there, right?
I don't like hard goods with soft goods bagged together either.
Bagging our own groceries is nice.
Thank you for your response.
1 person likes this
@catdla1 (6005)
• United States
20 Jan 09
Some of our grocery stores have the self check outs, and I have tried them a few times. And I hate them! The design of the station is horrible if you have more than a handfull of items. There is no place to put your purchases before you scan them (I always like to arrange them so that similar items get bagged together), and no where to put them afterwards. You end up having to stick filled bags in the same cart that you still have stuff waiting to be scanned, or pile them on the floor. Twice I've had them get stuck in a loop of "put your purchase in the bag" and wouldn't clear for me to scan the next item. It was NOT faster!
Until improvements are made, I will stick with the cashiers. They are faster, more efficient and it's nice to have a little human contact.
1 person likes this
@EvrWonder (3571)
• Canada
26 Jan 09
Another good point.
I had my groceries in a store basket and it sat on the the little ledge on the self check out, situated just before the scanner on the machine.
I found that this made it simply for me to take groceries from the hand held basket and place them on the scanner/scale.
Maybe the machines where you are are designed differently.
I only had one bag too so I am unsure what the set up is for the other end, after making a purchase and bagging if you still have items to go through.
I think you are right though. There is no where to put your full bag.
I had the "put your purchase in the bag" loop thing happen but cleared itself to my surprise. That was lucky.
I agree that improvements could be made and can see why you would rather keep using the cashier. makes complete sense.
The human contact is nice, for sure.
Thank you for your response.
2 people like this
@redhotpogo (4401)
• United States
20 Jan 09
Self checkouts are nice. They are often faster than the ones with cashiers. So annoying when you get stuck in a long line with one of those really slow cashiers that takes forever to ring up small loads. Like they don't care, they're just taking their sweet time, trying to run the clock out or something. Or the ones that know someone in line,and will make everyone wait while they discuss their lives with them. Its also good to have them though, cause the self checkouts go down alot. Its nice to have the people backup incase things go wrong. I just recently started to use self checkouts. I wasn't sure how much was on my debit card, and I didn't want to be embarrassed with not having enough money with a line of people behind me, so I used the self checkout. Its nice as long as its working. Just hope you don't get behind a slow customer. "Push the freak'n button already lady! wtf!"
1 person likes this
@EvrWonder (3571)
• Canada
26 Jan 09
Lol. Luckily I haven't had anyone in front of me who took forever.
The second time I used the self check out, there was no one there.
I find if you go at night, the store is less busy so you can just go one through since not many people seem to be using the self check outs anyway.
I understand all of what you are saying about the cashier check outs and those who see someone they know and go on about their life story.
As well as the slow cashiers.
What I dislike about cashiers is when they are rough with my vegetables and fruit, get it home, only to find them all bruised.
Often I have had to tell the cashier to be more careful with my vegetables.
I like bagging my own groceries.
Overall I like the self check outs but am worried about those who once did the job.
I hope no one is going to become unemployed because of the self check outs and other automated areas.
I agree that if they work good, all should be well in that department.
If it isn't working do great, that could cancel out the speedy theory.
I have read responses where the self check outs in Wall-Mart are regularly not working correct. Problem with scanning the codes.
Well, Thank you for your response.
1 person likes this
@lingli_78 (12822)
• Australia
19 Jan 09
i also prefer to use self check-outs whenever i can... unfortunately, there are not many self check-out yet here in the place where i live... it is really more convenient and faster... also, you can bagged your items the way you like it without having your items squashed... take care and have a nice day...
1 person likes this
@EvrWonder (3571)
• Canada
20 Jan 09
I agree that we can prevent having our softer groceries squashed by bagging our own groceries.
I like the self check outs too because it is quicker and very convenient also.
Thank you for your response.
1 person likes this
@Aussies2007 (5336)
• Australia
19 Jan 09
Yeah... they did install automated cashiers at my supermarket last year... but I have not used them... as I do my shopping in bulk and I have a full trolley load.
Most of our tollways are also automated... and it is inconvenient for me... as you need to purchase a package... and I rarely use them.
Great for those who use the tollway to go to work everyday.
Not so great for me.
@EvrWonder (3571)
• Canada
20 Jan 09
Interesting. Thank you for your response.
I purchase in bulk at times too. Sometimes it is easier to just go through the cashier but the self check out is simple, even with bulk food items.
Just put it on and press look it up. Choose from the letters which the item starts with and it weighs it and gives you the price. I love that feature.
I have not yet experienced toll on the highways yet. I can understand why that idea doesn't work so hot for you. Thanks again for your reponse Aussies2007.
1 person likes this
@MsTickle (25180)
• Australia
20 Jan 09
Here in Australia it's service stations that are now automated, parking stations, toll booths, ferries, not sure but I think train and bus tickets now come out of a machine, automatic tellers, photo printing...I'm sure there are more.
Yes, I too wonder what happened to all the people that used to do those jobs
1 person likes this
@EvrWonder (3571)
• Canada
26 Jan 09
Exactly! It certainly makes one wonder doesn't it?
Thank you for your response.
1 person likes this
@AmbiePam (94142)
• United States
19 Jan 09
I hate the self-checkout lanes. It's not that I'm not willing to use it, it is that they never work when I use them. Now I admit the only place I've ever used them is at a Walmart Supercenter. But the three times I tried, I always ended up having to get an employee to help out. The automated voice would tell me I was doing something wrong. And it is embarassing when people are in line behind me. So now I just hope that I can get in the 20 items or less line. 
1 person likes this
@EvrWonder (3571)
• Canada
20 Jan 09
Awe gee, that must be a drag alright. I can sympathize with you. It is bad enough when you are going through the cashier and a line up behind you when suddenly the item isn't going through properly and they have to call for assistance. Suddenly, we hear sighs coming from some of those behind us.
I have always opted for the express lane when I have used the cashiers. I can understand why you would rather use the cashier than the self check out.
Best of luck to you that the 20 items or less line isn't a long one.
Thank you for your response.
2 people like this
@Ithink (9980)
• United States
19 Jan 09
Hubby and I tried the self-checkout once and I can say it wasn't a pleasant experience at all. Everything went fine until we got to some things we got in the clearance isle. This was at Wal-Mart. The thing went nuts and wouldn't do a thing. We had to have an employee come over and I tell you it took way longer then if we had gone to a checkout person.
Well then at Lowes I saw one but hubby said "NO WAY!" LOL! So it is the normal check-out line for us. Luckily I can usually go thru 10 items or less at Wal-mart.
1 person likes this
@EvrWonder (3571)
• Canada
20 Jan 09
Wow, sorry to read of your horrible experience. Don't you just get so frustrated when things designed to simplify the process turn out to make things extremely complicated and drawn out?
Another person responding to this discussion have commented about clearance items and Wall-mart self check out, not working so great.
Maybe Lowes would work better.
Lol, your husband is a smart man.
Glad you have the 10 items or less option. Thank you for your response.
1 person likes this
@fasttalker (2796)
• United States
19 Jan 09
We have the self checkouts and I love them for twp resons. First of all I can bag the items as I want and second I can monitor the price of the items that are being checked out. Our local Wal Mart is really bad about charging the wrong price for items. Especially Clearance items. And when you are in line you are in such a hurry you don't notice until you leave the store.
According to management it is because when items go to the clearance price they are sometimes missed and not entered into the system as clearance so they ring up at regular price. I don't know about that but I seem to have this problem quite frequently and in the self checkout I have time to watch the price it is charging me.
@EvrWonder (3571)
• Canada
20 Jan 09
Another good point. Thank you for your response.
I never thought about that one either but yes, we do have more time to double check what we are being charged. I know what you mean about going through the cashier and not noticing that you may of been over charged until you are out of the store and home with the items.
What happens when you use the self check out and a clearance item hasn't been programmed in yet?
Thanks again for your response.
1 person likes this
@EvrWonder (3571)
• Canada
26 Jan 09
A cashier button?
Nice, I will look for this next time I am shopping.
Thank you.
@fasttalker (2796)
• United States
20 Jan 09
There is one cashier over all of the self-checkouts and you can take the item to her or press the cashier button and she will come over to you.
@jenrl17 (420)
• United States
19 Jan 09
Yes we do have self checkouts at some of our stores and I prefer them vs a cashier. The only drawback is if you have some sort of problem with the equipment not working right, you have to call someone over, defeating the purpose of the quickness but what can you do. This only happened to me like twice though, so its not that often, in my experience.
1 person likes this
@EvrWonder (3571)
• Canada
20 Jan 09
Nice. Well that's goof but yes, it can defeat the purpose alright. I love how speedy I can get through. makes the experience of having to go shopping so much better.
At our store, I guess because they are new, there are several people on the floor to assist the customers. In a year from now, it will be interesting to see if that is still the same, since the girl told me that they will always be there to help.
Thank you for your response!
1 person likes this
@phairenglish (56)
• United States
19 Jan 09
I like self check out but prefer to go with the cashier. I dont know it's just a preference but if there are very long lines and I only a have a few items I will use the self check out quickly so I can just leave the store and get out of there instead of waiting in line unnecessarily.
1 person likes this
@EvrWonder (3571)
• Canada
20 Jan 09
Very good point.
I too like to get in, get what I need and get out.
Line ups can be a drag sometimes.
Especially if I am in a rush.
I am not sure if I will continue to use the cashiers or not.
I reckon it will largely depend on the line ups at either place.
I am all for short line ups. Regardless of whether it is self check out or cashier.
1 person likes this
@StrawberryKisses (2833)
• Canada
20 Jan 09
I love the self checkout and use them any chance I get. Here we only have them at walmart but most of our superstores have them now too and we were told the same thing when they came in that the cashiers will never go because there are to many people that want to go to a cashier and not the automated route.
@EvrWonder (3571)
• Canada
20 Jan 09
Really? Well that's a relief. Good to read that perhaps we will still always have the option of cashiers. At least for a while.
I like them too and so far do good. No complaints here, yet.
Thank you for your response.
@stephcjh (38473)
• United States
20 Jan 09
I always let the cashier ring up my items. I do not like the self checkout. Some of the items do not scan right and it takes forever.
@EvrWonder (3571)
• Canada
26 Jan 09
Fair enough.
I can appreciate that.
Likely, it will be after the first few problems as you have described above and I will go back to the cashier. Have to wait and see.
Thank you for your response.
@callarse1 (4783)
• United States
20 Jan 09
No, I don't like the U-scan. I think it's pretty annoying! I can see if you have less than 10 items. But what if you have a whole cart? Many times the machines do NOT scan the bar code correctly. Then you get some people that have NO clue on how to use the U-scan...they take forever.
Then some of the stores around me..after 22:00 hours (10 PM) they shut down ALL the registers and they only have U-scan...that can be annoying as H*LL especially like I said before..if you have a whole grocery cart...you have to spend forever scanning the items.
I'm sure there are LOTS of people who like the U-scan and it's very nice for small orders..but I wish we could stay with the regular cashier, right?
Cheers!
Pablo
@EvrWonder (3571)
• Canada
20 Jan 09
Got it! I understand your point.
It would be annoying when the machine isn't scanning right, that's for sure. Would drive me mad as well.
Being behind those who have no clue how the machine operates could take longer than going through a cashier as well.
We all have to learn sometime but at whose expense. Lol
I guess scanning a whole shopping cart and bagging could make the novelty wear off rather suddenly, yes. Thank you for your response. Good points.
@idowrite72 (2213)
• United States
15 Mar 09
They do have the self help lines in the grocery stores that I go to and I do not like them but I have used them out of necessity. I think that they are taking the jobs of someone, so I try not to use them if I don't have to. I have used them since I go to the store late at night and sometimes they are the only ones open unless you are buying large amounts or with WIC papers. If I have a choice, I will stand in line a little longer and wait for a person to check me out.
@EvrWonder (3571)
• Canada
16 Mar 09
I appreciate your response. Thank you. I too have began standing in line again. The last two times I have went to use the self check out, they have failed and I had to get someone to over ride the machine. Takes too long so i went to a regular check out.
@Angel3yes (455)
• United States
20 Jan 09
I definately can't see the elimination of cashiers because many people don't like to use self-checkouts and in large grocery stores where people buy an extreme number of items, it really isn't practical to use a self-checkout because generally they have to be placed on the register all at once to be audited and made sure that people are actually being honest. I am only 22 and I'm supposed to be of the "technical" age but I really am not a fan of self-checkouts because it always seems like there are too many things that can go wrong or I've got too many items or they are too large. For me, I just like using a cashier much better.
@EvrWonder (3571)
• Canada
20 Jan 09
I hope that you are right that there will be a limited number of cashiers that will be eliminated. Good point that not everyone even wants to use a self check out.
Thank you for your response.
@bookreadermom08 (5614)
• United States
20 Jan 09
I have used them on occasion and when we have we always had problems and had to have someone help because something wouldnt scan, or we needed a cashier to put in a code or something....so it was a pain...
they dont help me in my situation, but I know if you have like 5 items or less it is convenient....however I am afraid that they will do away with human jobs eventually so I stay to the cashiers and support humans in that position.
@EvrWonder (3571)
• Canada
20 Jan 09
I can understand your decision to stay with the cashiers to support their positions.
It is concerning to me also, wondering what will happen to those who once filled those cashier positions that the machines have taken over.
Perhaps, in all luck, they will be given other positions. We can hope.
I am sorry that your experience with the self check outs has been less than a success.
I hear more people saying that the less items, the better.
I will try them when I have 15 or more items and see.
The experience I had was fine. Except I had my own bag so, I didn't know how to tell the machine that.
The first itme, i was with someone who had used them previous so they showed me, making it a lot easier and less foreign to me the second time.
Thank you for your response.
