Do you enjoy self-checkout?
By Lena Kovadlo
@lovebuglena (43080)
Staten Island, New York
March 18, 2024 12:21pm CST
It may seem weird but I actually enjoy checking out items at the store myself. I am able to keep track of any errors and address them before I actually pay. And I bag things the way I want to. Plus, it can save me time, though sometimes the self-checkout line may be very long.
The self-checkout process is not enjoyable though when the following things happen.
I can't seem to find an item I need to scan in the system (if it's produce, a bakery item, or something else I don't know the PLU code for). I try to scan something but then for whatever reason it doesn't work and it says I need to wait for assistance. I put the scanned item in the bag yet it keeps telling me to bag the item. There is an issue with the price after scanning or I mistakenly select the wrong item and need it adjusted. I swipe my credit card but it doesn't work. The touch screen is having issues.
In all cases I have to ask for help and it can take a very long time before someone finally comes up to me and addresses the issue(s) I am experiencing.
14 people like this
13 responses
@kaylachan (57877)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
18 Mar
George and I use self-checkout at Winn-dixie and Walmart. We don't mind. Actually, George surprised me by using self-checkout when we went shopping at Walmart I want to say last week. He said it was "hard" but he did it.
1 person likes this
@lovebuglena (43080)
• Staten Island, New York
18 Mar
Some self-checkout systems can be hard to figure out.
1 person likes this
@kaylachan (57877)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
18 Mar
@lovebuglena No. It was the first time he did it since the stroke. He was slow and almost robotic in his motions. That's why he said it was "hard"
1 person likes this
@lovebuglena (43080)
• Staten Island, New York
18 Mar
@kaylachan Oh. Good he was able to do it though.
1 person likes this
@lovebuglena (43080)
• Staten Island, New York
19 Mar
Sometimes it’s a headache to do it yourself.
1 person likes this
@RebeccasFarm (86776)
• United States
19 Mar
Self-checkout has its pros like control over bagging and catching errors, but also frustrating cons - items not scanning, unknown codes, bagging issues, payment problems, and long waits for assistance when tech glitches arise. Convenient when it works seamlessly, but bigger headache than regular checkout when there are hitches. Having the choice between self and full-service is ideal.
1 person likes this
@lovebuglena (43080)
• Staten Island, New York
19 Mar
You are so right. It’s not a 100% win either way. Sometimes you end up with a cashier that’s a newbie so it takes longer for them to scan everything. And they can make mistakes.
1 person likes this
@lovebuglena (43080)
• Staten Island, New York
19 Mar
Many prefer a regular cashier. And they also think “why should I do their job for them?”.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (325984)
• Rockingham, Australia
20 Mar
@lovebuglena We're more inclined to think we don't want to do them out of a job.
@Happy2BeMe (99392)
• Canada
19 Mar
Some of them seem to work better than others. Some can be so annoying with every little thing and others stores I never seem to have any problems with them.
1 person likes this
@lovebuglena (43080)
• Staten Island, New York
19 Mar
I definitely hate it when things malfunction.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (157623)
• United States
19 Mar
I personally do not care for it as I always seem to "break" it.
@snowy22315 (170164)
• United States
18 Mar
It's OK, but I usually just use it when I only have few items.
@lovebuglena (43080)
• Staten Island, New York
18 Mar
If I have a lot of items to scan I prefer to use the self-checkout that has the long conveyer belt. If that's not available then I go to a cashier. It's hard to check out when self-checkout register doesn't have much room for things.
1 person likes this
@LeaPea2417 (36469)
• Toccoa, Georgia
19 Mar
Only when I have a few items to buy.
1 person likes this
@JESSY3236 (18920)
• United States
19 Mar
My mother loves the self checkout, but she always scan things twice though, I like doing it, but I don't mind going through the cashier line.
@JESSY3236 (18920)
• United States
19 Mar
@lovebuglena yeah. With her, it happens alot. I do good with not scanning things twice.
1 person likes this
@lovebuglena (43080)
• Staten Island, New York
19 Mar
I don't mind the cashier but I hate it when they start scanning my stuff before I've unloaded everything onto the conveyor belt and approached them. I can't keep track of what they are doing if I am not by the register screen.
@lovebuglena (43080)
• Staten Island, New York
19 Mar
Scanning things twice is not good. You always have to ask for help to get the double scan charge removed.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (156588)
• United States
19 Mar
I don't think I'd care for self-scanning. Have a good day.
@lovebuglena (43080)
• Staten Island, New York
19 Mar
Some people find it inconvenient.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (156588)
• United States
20 Mar
@lovebuglena There was always something that needed assistance.
1 person likes this
@lovebuglena (43080)
• Staten Island, New York
19 Mar
But the self-checkout registers exist. And whether you use them or not doesn’t change the fact that there are less cashiers available. And it’s not like you’re actually taking the job away from someone by checking out yourself. So why not use it at least if you have only a few items?
1 person likes this
@lovebuglena (43080)
• Staten Island, New York
19 Mar
@porwest I didn't know that a store could choose to get rid of the self-checkouts. I thought once they are in they are in for good.
1 person likes this
@porwest (78759)
• United States
19 Mar
@lovebuglena Not true. If no one uses them, they serve no purpose and they go away. If one chooses to use them they vote for them to stay. If one chooses to not use them, they vote for them to go.
According to the numbers, cashiers have lost jobs. It was the whole point of putting them in.
I am not chiding anyone for choosing to use them. I am simply saying I will not.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (28754)
•
19 Mar
I do not use self checkout at all. I don’t get paid or get a discount to do the work. The products I am purchasing belong to them until I actually pay for them. I can’t help it, I just hate them.
@lovebuglena (43080)
• Staten Island, New York
19 Mar
Sometimes I feel like I can do a better job and even save time by checking out stuff myself.
1 person likes this
@lovebuglena (43080)
• Staten Island, New York
19 Mar
@MarieCoyle yeah. That would be time consuming for sure if you have to ask for help many times during checkout for a price issue.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (28754)
•
19 Mar
@lovebuglena
I do but quite a bit of produce that has to be weighed. I have discovered that they often do not update the prices and there is always something I have to get a clerk for. Then, I have to wait on the clerk, so for me it saves no time. Most stores now are updating their prices via online automated daily updates from their headquarters. They hardly ever change the shelf tags. For example, romaine lettuce said $1.49lb, but the lettuce rang up $1.79lb. So I can just settle it with the clerk then and there.
1 person likes this
