Do you ever use Self-Checkout?

@maezee (41997)
United States
December 31, 2009 4:04pm CST
..Do stores in your area offer it? The only time that I use self-checkout is at certain, big-chain grocery stores like Cub Foods & Rainbow Foods in my area (Minnesota, USA). They're really convenient and actually help me stay anti-social when I don't feel like dealing with an overly-peppy cashier. (Or an upsettingly rude one, for that matter). Sometimes the machines don't work, though, and get stuck and a cashier has to end up helping you anyway. Do you ever use Self-checkout registers at stores? Do you find them to be more of a hassle than they're worth? Or a convenient way to expedite your trip?
5 people like this
23 responses
@denagary (88)
• United States
31 Dec 09
I use the self checkouts as frequently as possible because I can move faster than most of the cashiers and I like to bag the items correctly. I mean, who puts ground hamburger meat with the bananas???? Most baggers at the grocery stores are horrible so any chance I get to bag my own groceries is a huge plus in my eyes.
@reichiru (748)
• Canada
1 Jan 10
I've never used self-checkout before but I remember when I first started seeing them I thought that it was a really great idea. It's very convenient and you don't really have to wait in long line-ups, especially since the holidays are such a busy time for most stores. Also, some cashiers just take forever and you get to avoid those kind of people too. The next time I get a chance to I will definitely try out the self-checkout counter just for the experience and see what it's like.
• United States
21 Jan 10
yes i use the self check out if it is a small item instead of waiting in line i will use the self check .
• United States
21 Jan 10
They make things way easier for me! I always go to the supermarket and there is always a cashier who has no idea what they are doing so I can get things done quicker and get out the store..
@donna22 (1116)
2 Jan 10
I use the self-checkouts in Tesco and Boots if they have them. They are much easier than waiting in a que. I have had to ask for help before when I wanted to get a DVD because it came up on screen about asking for assistance. I think this is because it was a 15 certificate and obviously if I was youger it would have been a problem.
@bounce58 (17387)
• Canada
2 Jan 10
The grocery that I go to for small items have one. It's for things that we forget at home. I love the self-checkout because like you said, I don't have to deal with an overly-peppy cashier. Plus, it saves me time as usually I just leave the kids in the car when I run for these errands. I could be in and out of the store in less than 10 minutes.
@olisaur (1922)
• United States
2 Jan 10
I like to use self-check out, especially when I'm only buying a few things. To me, its a lot easier than waiting in line and dealing with a cashier. w
@callarse1 (4783)
• United States
1 Jan 10
Hello! Yes, I have used it before. I don't like them. They mess up all the time. There are people that use it and they don't even know how to use it. If I have a few items, I guess the self-checkout is good. It seems to be annoying if you have a big order or other stuff like coupons. So, at times they can be convenient, but other times they can be really annoying. Take care!
@sid556 (30960)
• United States
1 Jan 10
I actually do use them if I only have a few items. It can be so much quicker and easier than standing and waiting in line which is something that I absolutely hate.
@JenInTN (27514)
• United States
1 Jan 10
I use the self checkout when I am jusy getting a few things. The scale drives me crazy if I have to get more. It wants you to bag everything and if you don't bag it right away it pauses until you prompt it that you are not bagging it. Most of the time i think I have three or four things scanned before I realize the @#$& scale needed to be prompted..lol..For a few things it can be pretty convenient though.
@benny128 (3615)
1 Jan 10
I am not a big fan of self service machines, when I go shopping I like to have the interaction with people I also like to be provided with a service if you know what I mean. Serving my self doesn't really seem right to me especially when my shopping still costs the same lol, I would prob use self service if you got a discount but as I say I do like to have a service when I go shopping and like the little bit of interaction, as if I wanted to serve myself I would just shop on the internet and have it delivered to my house. happy new year x
• United States
1 Jan 10
I ussually use them when I am getting more personal items. I like them and they usually work good, I hate when they mess up though, its a pain in the butt!
@artistry (4152)
• United States
1 Jan 10
...Hi maezee, Happy 2010. Yes, I have used the self-checkout. It was offered at Kmart. But I think they stopped using it after a while. Whenever I did use it, I would worry about double charging myself. It was pretty convenient and efficient to use. You do have to be careful though, maybe that was why they stopped offering the service, I am not sure. Or perhaps it was not cost effective overall. Take it easy.
• United States
1 Jan 10
No, I NEVER use self-checkout, because I don't really trust myself to do it correctly...lol. I feel like I'll do it wrong and end up ripping myself off...hehe. So I just go to a line where there is a cashier.
• Japan
1 Jan 10
The store near my house does offer self-checkout. I personally really like them, I find them fun and its just really exciting. Maybe that sounds weird but, still. lollol:D but anyway, I think that their convenient depending on how many items you want to check out, if its just a couple or about 5 or 10, then I think that you could do it yourself, and it would actually be better. But if its a large load, maybe just getting someone experienced to do it quickly is more efficient.
@charblaize (1026)
• United States
1 Jan 10
Yes I use the self checkout. There are times they really annoy me when they tell me to put the item in the bag over and over and I already have done that about 10 minutes ago!! I really enjoy using them and don't mind them especially when all the other lanes are full and I have other things to do. I do catch myself alot going to the cashier more, guess just out of habit.
• United States
1 Jan 10
yeah i tried them out but i prefer the real cashiers. i rather get that smile or frown from them. lately these machines especially in walmarts are so slow and always cause trouble. and i tried at a hannafords as well omg. your better off getting the real cashiers. well good luck with that. thanks for the discussion.
@happy6162 (3001)
• United States
1 Jan 10
Yes some of the stores do have self-checkout but I do not use them. I watch and you check yourself out but you still have to have a cashier come over to finish the tranaction anyway so I figure I might as well have the cashier sack my groceries and other items.
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
1 Jan 10
I love to use the self-checkouts at the stores. . .if I don't have my children with me. When I have the kids with me, I find that it takes far longer to get through checking myself out than it does when I am going through a line with a real cashier. There are several stores in our area that offer self checkout, it goes from the grocery stores all the way to some of the home improvement stores as well. It is especially convenient when we are only getting one or two different items from the store.
• United States
31 Dec 09
Yes I do use self checkout. It's tons easier to go ahead and use self checkout and its usually faster than the cashier. Use it as much as I can.
• United States
1 Jan 10
I do sometimes depending on my mood or how much of a hurry i am in. It depends weather I or not if I am in a big hurry or not because the bigger of a hurry i am in the more the machines hate me.