Unexpected Item in the Bagging Area / myLot

Cambridge, England

June 29, 2016 12:41pm CST

I was shopping at Sainsbury's the other day and was using the self-service checkout. I had chosen one of those bakery items which you have to look up on the system. Actually, I had two different items in the same bag and I didn't see how I could choose one and then the other without triggering either the "Now put the item in the bagging area" or the "Unexpected Item in the Bagging Area" message. I could, of course, have taken one bread roll out of the bag and put it unprotected amongst my other shopping but that didn't seem right. In the end, I typed 2 of the more expensive item and put them in the bagging area. That worked (and I didn't mind paying a few pence more than I should for the other item) but an assistant was at my side in a moment, pointing out that I was over-charging myself. He waved his card at the machine and entered the two items correctly, for which I was grateful. It only occured to me later, of course, that the assistant in the self-service area is really there to prevent customers from cheating the system but his vigilance certainly saved me a few pence! I believe that the machines no longer say "Unexpected Item in the Bagging Area" but I'm sure that the jokes about it will live on for a long time. Do you use the self-service tills or do you prefer to wait in line for a staffed till to be free? I find it quicker to use self-service when I can and I don't at all miss the small talk and well-disguised raised eyebrows which say "Whatever does he want THAT for?".

22 people like this

20 responses

much2say

@much2say (53909)

• Los Angeles, California

29 Jun 16

Well that was kind of the assistant to even take notice! Oh, but machines do still say "Unexpected Item in the Bagging Area". As it goes by weight, my little son often triggers the message because he lays his hands on the bagging area - HE is the unexpected item

. If I only have a few items and the line for self service happens to be much shorter than the regular lines, then I go check out myself. Otherwise, I don't mind the chit chat with the cashier . . . it makes me think I'm helping the employees with their customer service skills

3 people like this

vanny

@vandana7 (98728)

• India

29 Jun 16

LOL... at that last line. lol We do not have those self-service tills. So we have to go through those lines. :) But sweet of him to have told you that you would be overpaying. :)

3 people like this

sishy7

@sishy7 (27169)

• Australia

30 Jun 16

Yeah, messages on problems in the bagging area put me off using the self-service checkout at first. But now I never receive the messages anymore when I use it - either I have mastered it or the machine is no longer too sensitive around the bagging area...

2 people like this

Just an Ordinary Owl?

@owlwings (43915)

• Cambridge, England

30 Jun 16

In Britain, at least, they have replaced the bossy female voice with a more 'acceptable' (to some) male one and it now says 'Please check your bagging area' or something similar if you put something there which weighs 2 or 3 grams more ot less than it should do.

2 people like this

Pat Z Anthony

@PatZAnthony (14752)

• Charlotte, North Carolina

30 Jun 16

No-because we hope they will keep more employees and not add more self-service aisles.

2 people like this

Judy Evans

@JudyEv (325348)

• Rockingham, Australia

30 Jun 16

Now I'm curious - wondering what THAT was. But you don't need to tell me. :) Nice of the guy to fix the problem for you.

2 people like this

minisam

@miniam (9154)

• Bern, Switzerland

30 Jun 16

I have never used self-checkouts since they arrived.Always wanted to but in the beginning, they were slow, now that most people know how to use them, l feel shy to ask for assistance to be shown how to use one. I feel like if i said i have never used one,they will be like asking $3what part of the world has she been all this time* so l always wait for the cashier

2 people like this

koopharper

@koopharper (7463)

• Canada

29 Jun 16

I try to use the self service if I know how to work the thing. Good service people will try and make sure customers are charged fairly. It makes for a good experience and actually helps the company.

2 people like this

Jabo

@jaboUK (64362)

• United Kingdom

29 Jun 16

I prefer to go through a staffed line - let them do the work.

2 people like this

Jekca

@Jessicalynnt (50525)

• Centralia, Missouri

29 Jun 16

I use it, but tend to bag stuff in seperate bags, so they dont get their taste on other foods, lol

2 people like this

crazyhorseladycx

@crazyhorseladycx (39515)

• United States

29 Jun 16

kudo's to that person fer tendin' to such fer ya. i'm stubborn 'n refuse to use those self check-out thingies 'nless they knock some off my bill :) don't mind waitin' 'n line.

2 people like this

RasmaSandra

@RasmaSandra (73198)

• Daytona Beach, Florida

29 Jun 16

These self service areas are relatively new to Latvia and not every store has them so my hubby and I used it once and luckily did it right @owlwings

2 people like this

Jo Ann

@akalinus (40432)

• United States

29 Jun 16

I hate them. They rob you of change by shorting you a bit. They also go berzerk when something does not get in the bag. Bells ring and things clang and they act like you are robbing the place. Sheesh, so something did not get in the bag. It is not a federal crime.

2 people like this

Gary Marsh

@garymarsh6 (23393)

• United Kingdom

29 Jun 16

I have used the self service till and took twice the usual time to be served by the cashier. I won't use them now unless I only have one item.

2 people like this

Mike

@Mike197602 (15487)

• United Kingdom

29 Jun 16

I never use them I hate them. When I did use them they never worked so I gave up.

2 people like this

changjiangzhibin89

@changjiangzhibin89 (16518)

• China

30 Jun 16

The self-service tills can free you from lining up,but it just allows you to swipe card ,not pay cash.It isn't here to stay for most stores.

1 person likes this

Anna

@LadyDuck (457413)

• Switzerland

30 Jun 16

I always use the self-service tills, I do not like to wait in line. I wanted to take some photos of Italian grocery stores, but everywhere there are signs that warn people that is forbidden to take photos. I suppose the new Italian laws about privacy.

peggy baker

@softbabe44 (5816)

• Vancouver, Washington

29 Jun 16

I wait till one comes available as well but I think those machines think their human.

2 people like this

pgn

@pgntwo (22412)

• Derry, Northern Ireland

29 Jun 16

Dilemma solved, great story. I must admit to having faced a similar dilemma, not in Sainsbury's tho. I'll opt for the self-service checkouts when 12 items or less has been violated.

2 people like this

Marsha

@MarshaMusselman (38616)

• Midland, Michigan

27 Jan 17

I hope you don't mind a response to an older post. I happened to see this one when looking at a similar post Barry did recently. Maybe you'll make a few 'pence' with this one too. In the future you could always,probably, as for the assistance of the assistant and they could put each in individually themselves for you. We have an option to not put something in the bagging area, although you can only do that three times. Our u-scans still have the message, 'unexpected item in the bagging area'.. When that happens people should take out the last item and then check to see if it was scanned. Most just hit the button after being told that and that calls us over there anyway.

1 person likes this

Just an Ordinary Owl?

@owlwings (43915)

• Cambridge, England

27 Jan 17

I could have called the assistant, of course, but what amazed me was the politeness and quiet vigilance which brought him over when he saw I had a problem!

1 person likes this

Cynthia Owens

@cindiowens (5120)

• North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina

29 Jun 16

I have tried it a time or two, but only if I have very few items.

2 people like this