I like them, especially late at night on the way home from work and/or if I have only a few items. They don’t seem to like me, though, and act up all the time, necessitating a delay and the help of the checkout person.
That’s what I do, too. I’ll say something to the effect of “If you’re running out of room, you can place some bags on the ground or in the cart and I’ll cancel out the weight.” As long as we’re both aware of the order, it goes pretty well.
I missed my bus once (and since it was Saturday the next one wasn’t for another hour) because I tried to use the self-checkout and it seems like everything I did required the clerk to come over.
I had to wait for the clerk to notice that I had put my own bag on the counter and press the override button (one of my pet peeves, although I’ve noticed that lately they seem to be watching for that so I don’t have to get their attention as much).
One of my items wouldn’t scan, and I had to have the clerk come over and scan it; it was a package of mushrooms, and the sticker with the bar code wasn’t flat enough for the reader to scan it properly.
I had coupons, which cannot be scanned but have to be input by the clerk. I don’t understand why the clerks in the regular checkout lanes can scan coupons, but I can’t.
I had an electronic coupon that was supposed to give me $5 off a purchase of $30 or more, which didn’t show up in my total. This required a manager to fix, for some reason.
And of course every time I needed the clerk to do something for me she was busy helping another customer who apparently was incapable of doing anything without her assistance.
Generally I don’t mind using them, but there are times they are a pain in the ass to use.
I’m assuming from your posts you are a self-checkout attendant? Perhaps a thread like “Ask the self-checkout attendant” might be helpful, where you could give people insight and helpful hints to make their self-checkout experience better? I think some of the problems are that people don’t understand and/or don’t know how to use them.
At one point, during a slow time at the store, I asked an attendant to walk me through how to use the machine and that’s how I learned, but not everyone will do that, or have an opportunity to do that.
I like them in theory, but the only place that has them locally uses an awkward configuration. If I put my cart behind the scanner area, it blocks the front aisle for everyone else; if I put it flush with or ahead of the scanner, it blocks the scanning and bagging area for me; if I try to leave space for myself between my cart and the self-check-out module, I end up partially blocking the module on the opposite side of the aisle. Basically, the store tried to fit eight self-checkout units in a space that can only hold six.
It’s also a little awkward using my own bags; all the items have to stay in the bagging area until I pay, but if I put my own bag in the bagging area, the machine sees it as an “unexpected item” and locks me out until I remove the bag. So I end up setting everything on the pressure plate in the bagging area, paying for my groceries, and bagging everything at the end while the machine descends into a cadence of “please take your items.” I guess I could put my items in the store’s plastic bags and then put those in my bags at the end, but that just seems wasteful.
Despite all of that, I prefer self-checkout to waiting in a long line, because it feels like I’m accomplishing something instead of just standing there.
I wondered if anyone felt the same way I did. I won’t use them on principle because they put people out of jobs and generally result in shittier service all around. There’s a certain store back in my old hometown whose general quality has plummeted dramatically since they cut a bunch of workers and installed self-check out lanes. I hate them.
This reminds me of something that happened to me once. I was getting in line at one of the regular checkout lanes and I heard a clerk call that she could take care of me. I headed toward her and she led me to the self-checkout section and began checking me out there. When she started to put my items in a plastic bag I handed her the canvas bag I had brought. She took my stuff out of the plastic bag, but instead of putting my bag on the pressure plate and filling it, she started stacking everything on the pressure plate. Then after I paid for my purchases I had to load the bag myself, trying to put everything which was scattered around so it would fit properly.
Love them - I can usually scan just about as fast as the checkers at my local stores, who seem to be rather surly and unmotivated.
I can also fill my grocery bags the way I want them filled and double-bag the things I want double-bagged.
I also don’t get asked to ring the bell, buy a shamrock for MDA, or whatever other things the cashiers are charged with asking about.
I do go through the line when I have anything that requires an age check, is clearance marked, or that I otherwise expect to not be in the system.
The people who frustrate me at the self-checkout are almost invariably in their late 40s or older, and have apparently never in their lives watched the checkers actually scan things, or who somehow, after decades of nearly ubiquitous computer use in the work place and POS credit card systems at retail stores, cannot figure out how to operate the menus (which are really, really simple) pay their bill, or do something idiotic like go through the self checkout then want to pay with a check.
They ought to make them credit-card only- even cash seems to be a PITA with the machines if your bills are wrinkled or old.
I like them, but there should be posted guidelines similar to the “12 items or less” signs at the express lanes.
No more than a certain number of items (generally no more than will fit in a handbasket), and no produce would be a good start. The computers shouldn’t even have the ability to except PLUs from customers.
Hmm, I don’t think 4011 is the code for bananas.
As to the OP; I love them when I use them. Hate them when others use them.
That’s a good idea, I think I’ll do that! It’s like I tell people who are new to them, the more practice you get with them, the easier it becomes.
Shakes, notice on that screen that those are variations of bananas that aren’t, well, the usual banana. The good ol’ yellow, Chiquita/Dole/whatev banana is 4011. I don’t have to worry about those fancy shmancy bananas like the ones on that page. 
4011 is the default code for everyday bananas.
I clicked on love them, but which ever is quicker tempted me. I don’t know if it is part of the learning curve or not, but some people take forever looking for the bar codes. Quite often it is on the back or bottom. You don’t need to see it. You have over a 50% chance of it scanning if you just grab something and wave it over the scanner. It approaches 100% if you quickly turn it around and try again.
Often I can get out quicker self scanning and that is more important to me than an insincere ‘‘Have a nice day.’’ from some stranger. Nor do I have to answer the same old questions about the dog. Or listen to ‘‘Wow, look at those paws, he is going to be big.’’ for a female old enough to have most of her adult size.
I hate them.
[ul][li]There isn’t enough room in the bagging area for a week’s worth of groceries.[]There aren’t any paper bags. I use the paper bags for my recycling, and they hold a lot more than the plastic ones and are easier to carry.[]I do not want to put the groceries in the bagging area. I want to put them into a paper bag in the cart, so I don’t have to lift them again until I get them out to the car. [/ul]Forget it. Besides, some of the cashiers are cute, and will flirt with the old guy.[/li]
Regards,
Shodan
I find self checkout’s to be slower mechanically and as a process. They are slower mechanically for reasons I don’t understand and they are slower as a process because each transaction is monitored.
“place the item in the bag”.
it’s already in the bag.
“place the item in the bag”.
look you clinking, clanking, clattering collection of caliginous junk, it’s IN THE BAG.
“enter item code”
there’s no listing for Belgian Endives. Good thing there’s an associate helping one of the other 4 hapless souls trapped in self check out purgatory. Ah, I see it’s too complicated and requires another associate who is at the help desk. Probably involves an iphone scanner coupon on Belgian Endives. Apparently there’s an inside joke between the computers and they can’t function while laughing. Or maybe the scanner bar code for Belgian Endives tastes funny to a computer. I don’t know. All I know is that the bananas have turned brown while waiting patiently for my computer overlords to finish. That doesn’t usually happen until the ride home.
“sir, just look under Australian Endives”
Silly me. Do I enter the numbers clockwise or counter clockwise, I forget.
“place the item on the scanner to be weighed”
It is.
“place the item on the scanner to be weighed”
I swear at this point the computers voice just changed to John Cleese. Maybe if I place it in the bag it will recognize it. Yes, it did, the friendly associate is now reaching for her gun.
“sir, you have to weigh the item first”
I did, the computer is apparently on a union break. The associate then pushes the screen through 27 menus and enters what looks like a launch code.
I then get the official associate “There you go” applied with the same smile you see on a flight attendant as you leave the plane. I’m sorry, did you just say bubye under your breath?
Meanwhile the store manager is giving the checkout person I was going to use a gold watch and there seems to be little paper plates of cake everywhere.
But my efforts are rewarded with store points plus a coupon for 20 cents off Belgian Endives. The ink is smeared around the scanner code. Did the computer just say bubye?
You forgot the impatient “Please take your bags” reminder that the computer starts chirping literally the second that your receipt is printed. I swear they programmed that thing to sound ever-so-slightly more and more irritated each time it says that. :dubious: (which is every 15-20 seconds)
This should be the self-checkout themesong. 
puttheiteminthebagputtheiteminthebagputtheiteminthebagputtheiteminthebag. . .
This. This is the reason why, when I finally snap and run amok, wreaking bloody vengeance on an uncaring world which refuses to arrange itself to my convenience, self checkouts will be the first thing to go.
For starters, I just put it there, it’s entirely expected. It is hardly a surprise. Secondly, this is a supermarket and that is a banana. Were it a unicorn, say, or a small portable black hole, THAT would be unexpected, but it’s F***ING FRUIT!!!
It is demeaning to have to modulate my actions to accommodate the slowness and stupidity of the machine.
I made the mistake once of using item lookup for bananas. It rang up around $4 :eek: . I called the attendant over and she said they were a special import variety. She canceled that out and entered the 4011 which is your regular, banana and cost about $1.50.
I also have to enter a code for my favorite coffee. Millstone beans that I grind in the store.