A surcharge might be illegal or perhaps not legal to implement in some places. In MA, or just a part of it, (and perhaps other places) if a item scans more then it’s price it is free. I don’t understand all the ins and outs of this law but that’s the gist of it. It is not however the wording of it. Adding a surcharge might run afoul of it because now one is paying more then the price.
Also in my experience CC’s are in general faster then cash per user, also using cash means that the cashier has to periodically change out bills and change which adds to the delay.
The problem of long lines at grocery stores is entirely the product of the stores themselves, who want to make you want next to high margin items in individual checkout lanes. Everyone knows that having a single line that splits at the head to the first available register is the fastest way through, but we all tolerate this horrible system that’s forced on us and instead blame our fellow shoppers for not being able to quickly count to 12. It’s misplaced anger.
I don’t think that’s the reason, because the stores I know that use the single queue for multiple registers still put the high-margin items next to the people in the single queue.
And what’s with supermarkets with 20 available registers, 3 of which are self-check (which I loathe) and 4 human beings ringing up items? Our local Stop and Shop is like that. 20 available lanes and I have never seen more than 7 registers going at one time. Ever. I know it’s cost savings, etc…but more and more I’m avoiding that store and going to the Shop Rite which is always well-staffed. It’s worth the extra 2-3 cents per item, sometimes.
Yeah. the high margin items are the same across all checkstands. Fry’s (not a supermarket, true) has a single queue system and you walk past all kinds of junk.
The self-checkout line is a single queue system, but it is rare that something doesn’t break. I brought my own bags - it doesn’t like the bags. The last time it rejected my cough syrup because it had gasp alcohol in it.
This is pretty good, but I’d tweak it just a little.
The sign says 12 items or less. After the 12th item, the scanner quits working ande the “Wait for Attendent” sign pops up. The cashier steps over, punches in the code and politely says, “Oh, this is the Express Lane. Go ahead.”
If the mild public humiliation doesn’t get them, having to wait for the cashier before they can finish checking out should do it.
Just like you said, cost savings. You may go elsewhere, but most people won’t. They did that at Kmart – it’s called “short staffing”, and it sucks. Deliberately schedule just enough people to barely cover the place. Customers bitch at you, you have one person covering three departments…etc.
You know, if you guys would plan better, you could make fewer trips and buy more items on each trip, which would let us all spend less time waiting in line at the store
This is a semi-regular to regular occurrence depending upon which local chain I go to. At the regular cashier you can enter a phone #[sup]*[/sup] for your discount card, at the self-serve ones, you can’t. If you don’t physically have the card, you need the attendant’s help to get the discounts. :smack:
***** I’ve never not had either (area code) + 867-5309 or 555-1212 work at any store.
The store I go to has a sign that says, “If there are more than two people ahaed of you, point it out yo the cashier and another register will be opened.” Never happens.
I’ve obeyed the sign and invariablely, I’m told, “We’re short staffed today.” Take down the sign, then!
Agreed. I’ve driven 10 miles to avoid a crowded grocery store. Grocery shopping is enough of a pain in the ass already, then waiting in line to pay them money is just adding insult to injury.
My 10 mile drive to a smaller and less crowded store was peaceful and I was jamming to some music, much better use of my time than standing in line.
FWIW I’m sure stores don’t enforce 12 items or less because an altercation with a customer who is willing to flout social convention and store rules isn’t something a cashier making minimum wage relishes. And arguing with someone would probably take just as much time as checking out their 18 items to begin with.
Here’s a tip, I own some Costco stock and buy most of my groceries there. Whenever I have to wait in line I think “Look at all these people putting money in my pocket.”. Then I don’t get upset at the line. Plus, no express lanes at Costco, “fill the cart people, we’re trying to make a living here.”
That’s odd. At Krogers there’s no problem putting your phone number in at self serve (provided you can remember which number your account uses, that is).
All my business is cash. You’d might be surprised how fast it is when you don’t have to wait for verification, for the credit card customer to rescan the card because it didn’t take the first 2 times, and for the clerk to tell them how to do it right. God help us if the card isn’t approved.
The systems I see won’t accept a card scan until there is a total available. If they scan too early, it’s an error, and holds everything up until fixed. Maybe that’s changing – I hope so.
I avoid self-checkouts for several reasons. The computer constantly nags me to put something in the bag or take it out within N seconds – very light objects don’t register unless I kick or punch the scale to jiggle it, it won’t accept my money because it often has a Where’s George stamp on it, and for liquor, the clerk has to come over anyway. Since she’s often busy helping another self-service customer, this takes more time than a regular checkout. Fuck that shit.
I’ve had baskets too full for quick checkout lanes, but all the regular lanes had lines and the clerk motioned me to her available lane. One said, “we don’t count.”
