What is your opinion about self check out counters in supermarkets / myLot

Australia

February 4, 2025 2:41pm CST

Most of the bigger supermarkets here have self check out counters. They've slowly decreased the assisted check out counters as they seem to be cutting down on the workforce. I like the privacy of a self check out counters and that I can see each price clearly. It takes longer for me and it's annoying when there is an error and you have to wait for assistance from the one person allocated for the 10 counters! I also struggle when I don't have a bag!! I still use it when I can as it suits me. There is a huge debate as to whether these are annoying or useful. What is your opinion? And life is expensive. I spent more than 100 Australian dollars on the stuff you can see at the checkout.

15 people like this

15 responses

Eva James

@wolfgirl569 (135881)

• Marion, Ohio

5 Feb 25

I never use them as it does away with jobs and I don't get an employee discount. So I will not do the work

4 people like this

Pitstop

@pitstop (15551)

• Australia

5 Feb 25

That's a common comment that I've heard many people say. Quite right too

2 people like this

rakski

@rakski (156547)

• Philippines

5 Feb 25

I think self check out are useful but we do not have it here yet

2 people like this

Pitstop

@pitstop (15551)

• Australia

5 Feb 25

I've never seen one in India too

2 people like this

rakski

@rakski (156547)

• Philippines

5 Feb 25

@pitstop

2 people like this

Heather Echola

@GardenGerty (169489)

• United States

5 Feb 25

I hate them, I always break them. . . cause a malfunction. I especially hate the ones that talk out loud. I feel like I have to talk back to them.

2 people like this

Pitstop

@pitstop (15551)

• Australia

5 Feb 25

It gets annoying if there is a glitch or error.

snowy

@snowy22315 (209058)

• United States

4 Feb 25

I find them useful when I only have a few things, but if I have a big order I much prefer going though a regular check out counter.

2 people like this

Pitstop

@pitstop (15551)

• Australia

5 Feb 25

Yes, with many items I find having the employee scan them while I put them into bags making it more efficient

1 person likes this

RasmaSandra

@RasmaSandra (98026)

• Daytona Beach, Florida

4 Feb 25

I started using these back in Latvia but I did not like self-checkout, Now I am glad I order online,

2 people like this

Pitstop

@pitstop (15551)

• Australia

5 Feb 25

Online is so much easier if there's free shipping

2 people like this

RasmaSandra

@RasmaSandra (98026)

• Daytona Beach, Florida

5 Feb 25

@pitstop my case, I order straight from the store but have to pay $9 for the service but I do get the groceries the same day,

1 person likes this

Judy Evans

@JudyEv (382326)

• Rockingham, Australia

7 Feb 25

Mostly we refuse to use them if we have the option as we believe self-checkouts are doing someone out of a job. But to each his own. I'm glad it works for you - mostly. As in 'mostly works', not 'mostly glad'.

1 person likes this

Pitstop

@pitstop (15551)

• Australia

7 Feb 25

Love the way you twisted those words!

1 person likes this

Judy Evans

@JudyEv (382326)

• Rockingham, Australia

8 Feb 25

@pitstop

1 person likes this

Kareng

@kareng (80243)

• United States

6 Feb 25

I refuse to use self checkout and will until I get an employee discount! They are actually starting to close them down here because people using them are putting things in the bags without scanning them and paying for the items.

1 person likes this

Pitstop

@pitstop (15551)

• Australia

6 Feb 25

That's always a risk. Wonder how much loss the supermarkets make

1 person likes this

Kareng

@kareng (80243)

• United States

6 Feb 25

@pitstop Dollar General is another store that has closed theirs down. It seems to me more rampart in some areas more than others.

1 person likes this

Kayla Tsukino

@kaylachan (84823)

• Daytona Beach, Florida

5 Feb 25

I do think that it does have it place. While I do favor the help (more for the people who need jobs), I use it and like that the ones around me, talk. So I know the cost and if things scanned right.

1 person likes this

Pitstop

@pitstop (15551)

• Australia

5 Feb 25

That's right. Sometimes it can be a little tricky too.

1 person likes this

Kayla Tsukino

@kaylachan (84823)

• Daytona Beach, Florida

5 Feb 25

@pitstop Yeah. I have George to help me when we use them.

1 person likes this

@DaddyEvil (174590)

• United States

5 Feb 25

If they pay me to ring up my own groceries, fine. If they won't pay me, why should I do the work?

1 person likes this

Pitstop

@pitstop (15551)

• Australia

5 Feb 25

That's a common comment I've heard.

1 person likes this

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Baconstripsxxx

@BACONSTRIPSXXX (18114)

• Torrington, Connecticut

6 Feb 25

Too me they are only convenient when I have 3-4 items, I get frustrated when its super packed and busy and they have 18 registers but only 2 open and the rest self check out

1 person likes this

Pitstop

@pitstop (15551)

• Australia

6 Feb 25

Yes, the proportion of counters that are self checkouts is increasing

George B Vieto

@Deepizzaguy (122238)

• Lake Charles, Louisiana

4 Feb 25

I like the self checkouts at some supermarkets since I like the idea of checking out my groceries even though I would miss the chat with the cashier.

1 person likes this

Pitstop

@pitstop (15551)

• Australia

5 Feb 25

The modern world is cutting down real human to human interactions isn't it

1 person likes this

George B Vieto

@Deepizzaguy (122238)

• Lake Charles, Louisiana

5 Feb 25

@pitstop It really is changing from human to machine.

1 person likes this

Jim Bauer

@porwest (112864)

• United States

5 Feb 25

They are annoying personally. I prefer people to have jobs. I won't use them except in very rare cases.

1 person likes this

Pitstop

@pitstop (15551)

• Australia

5 Feb 25

Supermarkets are probably doing this to save on labour costs

1 person likes this

Jim Bauer

@porwest (112864)

• United States

10 Feb 25

@pitstop That is precisely why they are doing them. It is backfiring though since theft has risen dramatically since they started putting more of them in. Many here are now pulling back from them and limiting how many items you can use the lanes for.

1 person likes this

Marie Coyle

@MarieCoyle (59266)

•

5 Feb 25

I hate self checkouts. No matter where I go, if I try to use one, something doesn't ring up to be the right price. Then I get to wait for a customer service person to come and fix it. Besides, I am not on their payroll, nor do they discount my items if I check myself out. I just do not like them at all.

1 person likes this

Pitstop

@pitstop (15551)

• Australia

5 Feb 25

It does get frustrating of something doesn't scan well or it gives an error.