Supermarket self-checkout lines

[rocksolid]

@abel29a

I tried a neat self checkout version of this in a grocery store once. When you enterd the store you grabbed a hand held scanner from a rack, then you would scan each item you purchased as you put it in the trolley.

They tried that once over here years ago but it didn’t last long. Not sure what the problem was but it sure seemed a good idea. I suspect it was too open to abuse and/or error.

Roll on RFID, now that is definately the silver bullet for check out lines.

[wolfman]

I’m curious about the concept “Regular checkout with no line” as I have never encountered such an animal in captivity.

As for me, I love the self checkout. First of all it’s usually a 1 to 4 or 6 line. So if there is some moron, the other stations can proceed normally. Opposed to normal, where you are just stuck behind the moron in front of you. Normal line always takes at least 10 minutes, self checkout is always about 2 minutes or less for me. As for produce, it’s pretty damn fast. Just hit the produce button which brings up the menu with big colorful pictures. Hit onions, and the second menu come up. Hit Green onions, throw em on the scanner. wait 2 seconds, throw em in the bag. Total of about 5 seconds.

[MarcusF]

Originally posted by *** abel29a*:
I tried a neat self checkout version of this in a grocery store once. When you enterd the store you grabbed a hand held scanner from a rack, then you would scan each item you purchased as you put it in the trolley. (Either scan the bar code on the product or the bar code on the tag on the shelf) This way you could see exactly what the things you’d purchase would cost.

When you then got to the checkout machine you just plugged the handheld scanner into the unit, the total would show up and you’d pay with a VISA/Mastercard or similar. Done in about two seconds, and you could proceed to bag the groceries. There were occasional spot checks that owuld take some time, but those were rare as far as I understood.

*Originally posted by * Usram:
Those hand-held scanners are surely quicker though, because you just scan your items as you walk around the store, and then just pay and go at the machine. I’ve very rarely had to queue to pay, either. The downside is you have to have an account with the store.

I like these handheld scanner systems - they have one in our local Waitrose. To me they are the only system that really can save you time. The only advantage of the standard self scan systems is that most people won’t use them - if most people used the self scan the queues would be even longer than the standard checkouts. With the standard self scan you still have to unload the trolley, place on conveyer, scan, and repack before paying. As noted up-thread the systems are prone to error and anyway the customer is not likely to be as quick scanning as the employee who does it all day.

With the handheld scanner system you do the packing as you go along so there’s no unpacking and repacking at the checkout - hence each customer only spends a few seconds at the checkout paying. I think Waitrose get round the abuse Rocksolid mentions by limiting it to customers with accounts with them. They only accept card payments which prevents the delays caused by cheques.

Anyway, I love the Quick Check system - I would truly hate it if they ever removed it :mad:

[Baron_Greenback]

@MarcusF

I like these handheld scanner systems - they have one in our local Waitrose.

Ah, Waitrose! I fondly remember being borne through the aisles on my sedan chair whilst I flicked my ivory-handled whip at the sweetmeats presented. “Would Sir like another grape?” asked the Head Functionary, as the attending catamites packaged my meagre purchases in finest vellum.

Damn good stores Waitrose, and run on collectivist principles too. Wish there were more of them up here.

/OT

[MarcusF]

*Originally posted by * Struan:
…as the attending catamites packaged my meagre purchases in finest vellum.

Now, now - no jealousy please! Anyway, half the minions are female - the John Lewis Partnership is an equal opportunities employer And, bare in mind vellum is an environmentally sustainable packing material. We care about such things down in the softy south.

[Khadaji]

I usually only use them if I have a few items. But today I was in a hurry and had several items.

Count me in with the people who find them annoying! Once the bag was full and I put it in the cart, the annoying voice started chiming: Please put the item back on the scale. Please put the item back on the scale.

I probably won’t use them in the future.

[Lamar_Mundane]

@Khadaji

I usually only use them if I have a few items. But today I was in a hurry and had several items.

Count me in with the people who find them annoying! Once the bag was full and I put it in the cart, the annoying voice started chiming: Please put the item back on the scale. Please put the item back on the scale.

Yes, as it should have. That’s the way the system works!

If you have a cart, you’ve got too much stuff to use the self checkout.

I was behind a moron yesterday who had half a cartful with about six cases of soda in the bottom of it. Despite the cleary maked sign saying “12 items or less”.
To the thrill of everyone in line, they made him put his stuff back in his cart and use a cashier.

[Khadaji]

@Lamar Mundane

Yes, as it should have. That’s the way the system works!

If you have a cart, you’ve got too much stuff to use the self checkout.

I was behind a moron yesterday who had half a cartful with about six cases of soda in the bottom of it. Despite the cleary maked sign saying “12 items or less”.
To the thrill of everyone in line, they made him put his stuff back in his cart and use a cashier.

If we aren’t supposed to use it with a full cart, it should be *marked *as such. Dunno about your store, but at the one I go to, there is no sign limiting the self checkout.

[Kilvert_s_Pagan]

I actually got so mad at one of these things a few years ago that I hauled off and kicked it. :rolleyes: (“That’s not going to solve anything, sir…”) But now that I am careful about moving stuff around in the right order, it’s OK.

Fringe benefit: Not that it makes a hill of beans difference to cashiers, but I like the relative privacy of being able to do my own checkout when buying, say, Preparation H.

[Diceman]

@Kilvert's Pagan

Fringe benefit: Not that it makes a hill of beans difference to cashiers, but I like the relative privacy of being able to do my own checkout when buying, say, Preparation H.

Heh. I blessed the Self-Check lanes when I picked up a pack of condoms recently. (Things are starting to heat up around my place, and I figured I should be prepared.) The cashier would inevitably have been either a matronly middle-aged woman, or a cute girl. Neither of whom I want to slap down some Trojans in front of.

I love the Self-Check lanes. As others have mentioned, the people using Self-Check usually have only a few items, while the normal lanes are usually filled with people who have about 7000 items in their carts.