# Are Walmart workers bothered by the self-checkouts? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 6, 2023, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-walmart-workers-bothered-by-the-self-checkouts/980807 "2023-03-06T21:58:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![GaryM](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garym/32/241_2.png) [@GaryM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GaryM)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2023, 4:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-walmart-workers-bothered-by-the-self-checkouts/980807/61 "2023-03-10T04:48:32Z")
> [@Broomstick](#): > > That, and a _competent_ check-out cashier is going to be faster than self-service because that would be a person who is doing this action full time Yes, in self checkout you unload, scan, and reload. While in non self checkout you unload, they scan, and you reload. So they are doing 1/3 of the tasks. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2023, 8:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-walmart-workers-bothered-by-the-self-checkouts/980807/62 "2023-03-10T08:27:50Z")
Actually at my store we now have gone back to baggers, who will also load your cart. So we’re doing 2/3 of it, and we have two people doing two things simultaneously. But beyond that - my full service register lets me do things like ring up multiple items at once, which the self-service does not allow you to do. You have 36 cans of the same flavor cat food? I can ring that up in one swipe and four keystrokes, which will be faster that you scanning 36 times, as just one example. ---
**Author:** ![nightshadea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/7ba0ec/32.png) [@nightshadea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nightshadea)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2023, 9:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-walmart-workers-bothered-by-the-self-checkouts/980807/63 "2023-03-10T09:56:17Z")
actually here in ca n a lot of places the check is basically a one-time use atm card because they fill out the check the cashier slides it in this scanner thing in the registers that one sees if they have the money in the account and two checks to make sure they haven’t written a bad check there before and if it passes they hand the check back to the person as a receipt it takes anywhere from about 90 seconds to 5 minutes depending on the store ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2023, 10:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-walmart-workers-bothered-by-the-self-checkouts/980807/64 "2023-03-10T10:05:11Z")
I think that’s become industry standard. Not only does my store do that, but I also see it in a lot of other big box stores, too. ---
**Author:** ![bob\_2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bob_2/32/3341_2.png) [@bob\_2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bob_2)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2023, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-walmart-workers-bothered-by-the-self-checkouts/980807/65 "2023-03-10T15:36:08Z")
> [@Seanette](#): > > I’m rather fond of delivery myself (back issues), but I do want to choose fresh produce myself (don’t trust a stranger to get bananas at the stage I want them, for example). > > I also like the Scan & Go option at Walmart (via their phone app), except if I’m buying produce, since I have yet to figure out coping with goods that are sold by weight in that app. I have just got back from Tesco. I ordered and paid for the bulk of my shopping online yesterday and just had to collect it at the delivery point. After that, I parked up and went into the store for soft fruit, fresh-baked bread and tomatoes. I also bought some flowers that were on offer. I scanned these items as I walked, and at the checkout, all I had to do was to tap my card. But! I was randomly selected for a check… This delayed me for at least five minutes, but I did have a chat about yesterday’s snow and today’s sunshine. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2023, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-walmart-workers-bothered-by-the-self-checkouts/980807/66 "2023-03-14T19:21:38Z")
> [@Mortimus](#): > > Our local Walmart tried an interesting experiment for a while. They had a cashier wandering in front of the checkout lanes, looking for people who appeared to be ready to check out with only a few small items in their cart. > > This person was equipped with a wireless handheld scanner/card reader. A small, wireless receipt printer hung on one side of a belt around the cashier’s waist and small roll of shopping bags hung on the other side of the belt. > > They’d walk up and ask if you were ready to check out and if so, were you paying by card. If the answer to both questions was yes, this mobile cashier would scan your items, bag them, scan your card and print out your receipt, right there in the aisle! Bingo bango, you were out the door without having to do SCO or go thru any line. Very cool idea, but I only saw it a couple of times, too bad it apparently work out. Both Walmart and Target do that around here when it’s especially busy. We went to three different Targets on Saturday (a wild goose chase inspired by boredom), Nashua & Salem, NH, and Haverhill, MA and one of them was checking people out that way while we combed through the Dollar Spot for the thing we were trying to find. ---
**Author:** ![Fir\_na\_tine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a587f6/32.png) [@Fir\_na\_tine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fir_na_tine)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2023, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-walmart-workers-bothered-by-the-self-checkouts/980807/67 "2023-03-14T23:16:07Z")
I was in a CVS store the other day. No cashier in sight. Went to the cursed scanner and it starts telling me to place items … I said in a rather loud voice “Shut the f\*\*\* up!” Store manager was coming around the corner at the time and he said it was the funniest thing he heard and saw all day. Hate the GD machines. ---
**Author:** ![actualliberalnotoneofthose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e79b87/32.png) [@actualliberalnotoneofthose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/actualliberalnotoneofthose)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2023, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-walmart-workers-bothered-by-the-self-checkouts/980807/68 "2023-03-15T17:30:17Z")
Pretty sure I’ve been using self-checkouts at Walmart for close to 20 years (at least 15). Prior and since, I’ve rarely seen more than 1 cashier/lane open at a time including when it’s super busy. If anything, it seems the number of employees has increased, as I usually see at least 4 employees for every cluster of self-checkouts. ---
**Author:** ![mordecaiB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mordecaib/32/7725_2.png) [@mordecaiB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mordecaiB)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2023, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-walmart-workers-bothered-by-the-self-checkouts/980807/69 "2023-03-17T18:39:12Z")
I’ll use either, depending entirely on whim. If I am going to use self checkout, I leave my bags in the car. As I shop, I put all items in barcode facing up. Then I just use the hand scanner (I haven’t seen one on a cord in a long time) for everything. No picking stuff up or placing it on the bagger tray. Nothing ever leaves the cart. When I get back to my car, I unload into bags and I’m good to go. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2023, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-walmart-workers-bothered-by-the-self-checkouts/980807/70 "2023-03-17T19:26:25Z")
> [@bob\_2](#): > > But! I was randomly selected for a check… This delayed me for at least five minutes, b Is Tesco a membership store? Because you do not need to stop for any checks unless it is. ---
**Author:** ![bob\_2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bob_2/32/3341_2.png) [@bob\_2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bob_2)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2023, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-walmart-workers-bothered-by-the-self-checkouts/980807/71 "2023-03-17T22:24:17Z")
To scan as you shop, you have to have a Tesco Clubcard. This also gives a lot of price reductions. I assume that when one signs up for the card, there is a clause that allows them to check a self-scanned basket of shopping. The benefits outweigh the minor inconvenience. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2023, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-walmart-workers-bothered-by-the-self-checkouts/980807/72 "2023-03-17T22:43:38Z")
Okay, that is a solid maybe, so why fight it. ---
**Author:** ![I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/i_love_me_vol.i/32/521_2.png) [@I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_Love_Me_Vol.I)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2023, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-walmart-workers-bothered-by-the-self-checkouts/980807/73 "2023-03-18T00:04:36Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Is Tesco a membership store? Because you do not need to stop for any checks unless it is. Is there some law saying you only need to cooperate with a search if it is in a membership store? Is there such a law in the UK (where Tesco is)? ---
**Author:** ![Mighty\_Mouse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mighty_mouse/32/7776_2.png) [@Mighty\_Mouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mighty_Mouse)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2023, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-walmart-workers-bothered-by-the-self-checkouts/980807/74 "2023-03-18T01:02:51Z")
What?? American laws don’t apply in the UK? Must be an uncivilized country! ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2023, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-walmart-workers-bothered-by-the-self-checkouts/980807/75 "2023-03-19T19:26:44Z")
> [@I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](#): > > Is there some law saying you only need to cooperate with a search if it is in a membership store? Is there such a law in the UK (where Tesco is)? I am not sure at all about the UK. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2023, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-walmart-workers-bothered-by-the-self-checkouts/980807/76 "2023-03-19T20:17:32Z")
I think that what @I_Love_Me_Vol.I meant was that if you are dealing with a membership store, the terms of your membership agreement probably state that you assent in advance to a search of your purchases and receipt on the way out. So although you’re practically free to tell the receipt checker to go screw themselves, in response the store is also free to terminate your membership and prevent you from ever returning. So probably not in your best interest overall to be a jerk about them checking. I have no clue what statutes in any jurisdiction may say about receipt checking, but IIRC retailers in the USA stores do have a general legal right to detain shoplifting suspects. Exactly how much suspicion and how much detention would require an expert to say. ---
**Author:** ![Mighty\_Mouse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mighty_mouse/32/7776_2.png) [@Mighty\_Mouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mighty_Mouse)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2023, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-walmart-workers-bothered-by-the-self-checkouts/980807/77 "2023-03-19T20:51:01Z")
Well DrDeth was saying that unless Tesco was a membership store, you can freely ignore any request to check your bags. This may be generally true in US law, where exercise of shopkeepers privilege is a perilous enterprise, but is utterly irrelevant to Tesco in the UK where Bob\_2 appears to be. In other words, another example of Americans asserting their xth amendment rights in other countries where comparable rights may not exist. It’s ignorant and asinine. ---
**Author:** ![bob\_2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bob_2/32/3341_2.png) [@bob\_2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bob_2)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2023, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-walmart-workers-bothered-by-the-self-checkouts/980807/78 "2023-03-19T21:34:27Z")
Tesco is NOT a membership store, but if you want the discounts and the ability to scan as you go, you have to join their Clubcard scheme. If you want, you can pay the full price and check out via an assistant. You can also self-checkout, but there are eagle-eyed assistants making sure that you don’t cheat. ---
**Author:** ![doreen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/858c86/32.png) [@doreen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doreen)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2023, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-walmart-workers-bothered-by-the-self-checkouts/980807/79 "2023-03-19T22:11:56Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > I have no clue what statutes in any jurisdiction may say about receipt checking, but IIRC retailers in the USA stores do have a general legal right to detain shoplifting suspects. Exactly how much suspicion and how much detention would require an expert to say. That’s the problem many people have with the “receipt checking” ( well, one of them , anyway). If you are detaining every single person leaving with merchandise, even for a few seconds, then it clearly isn’t based on suspicion. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-walmart-workers-bothered-by-the-self-checkouts/980807.md?page=3)