Supermarkets & large stores

When I used to do scan-as-you-shop, I'd put each item into the front end of the trolley (there was a section there for fragile things) until I had several things there, then paused and transferred them all into the main part, scanning each as I lifted it. Then I resumed my shopping and putting things into the front section until it was time to pause and scan again. That way I knew that I had scanned everything. I also knew how much I had spent so far, and could stop if it was becoming too much.

Elegran, that sound like a good idea.
I have a delivery once a fortnight but shop twice a week at Al di for bits and bobs, as it is just a few minutes walk. Fortunately they have not yet introduced self-service or self-scan as I have no wish to use them. I would probably forget to scan something. I have tried to use self-service and every time, there has been a problem and by the time a member of staff has sorted it, it is no quicker. The other day I was in the Co-op where there is a choice and practically everyone chose to queue for a proper till. We were all saying we preferred this, and we did not want people to lose their jobs.

I must admit to being a bit baffled why people think that they would forget to scan an item?
I hold the item I have selected in my left hand, scanner in my right hand, ping and place the item straight into the bag in the trolley.

NotAGran55

I must admit to being a bit baffled why people think that they would forget to scan an item?
I hold the item I have selected in my left hand, scanner in my right hand, ping and place the item straight into the bag in the trolley.

I do that. I have had several checks come up when I have scanned, and I have never missed scanning anything.

rafichagran You do not have dyspraxia and ADHD.

....and I hate people who say they are baffled by people who do have a problem. There are all kinds of reasons why people have problems with doing and not doing and one should always remember this.

The above are my reasons.

I’m sure I could very easily forget scan an item. I don’t shop in supermarkets - home deliveries and small local shops only.

Apologies if my comment upset you Monica and anyone else.
It’s great that there is a multitude of ways these days to part us all from our money to suit all our needs!

Our Sainsbury’s is exactly the same : one till open with a long queue and a bank of self- serve tills with a crowd of staff gossiping! On a couple of occasions I have gone over and asked if another till could be opened and they have obliged. It shouldn’t be up to me!
Interestingly Lidl have got rid of their self service tills as customers didn’t like them.

M0nica

rafichagran You do not have dyspraxia and ADHD.

No, I do not have either of those. I am just posting my preference.
Other people are free to do what suits them.

Another here who hasn’t set foot in a supermarket for years. Press the ‘usuals’ choice on my laptop, add any extras and there is my shopping on the doorstep when I want it.
I do use the independent butcher and fishmonger, both deliver. They know what I like.
Life is changing, we will adapt. One day when robots are doing absolutely everything we’ll all be paid from a central fund to enjoy our leisure while they pour the wine and massage our feet.

I had my basket in place on the shelf and the person in front had almost had all their shopping put through in M &S today when an assistant said you can use self check out if you want.I was about to pick up my basket and go then thought Heck no I'm staying put.Why would that be quicker?I do use it for a few items but not a full basket.

MOnica I agree with you. Between coping with very arthritic hands and macular degeneration I much prefer to have an assistant scan my supermarket shopping.

rafichagran I attributed to you, something written by notagran, my apologies.

I’m glad they have both manned tills but I do like self service and self scan. It puts a stop to waiting for the endless conversations between customers and staff whilst I’m queueing.
I didn’t know Lidl ever did self service. The Lidl near us always opens another till when either there are 4-5 people queueing or when I or others have done a huge food shop and the conveyor belt is full. Something for other stores to take note of!
What bugs me is when you’ve either self scanned or used a self service till, they wait till you’re about to pay before telling you they want to check your shopping. I suppose it’s necessary for some.

M0nica

rafichagran I attributed to you, something written by notagran, my apologies.

No problem, there should be something for everyone, and the staff to do the job and help the customers.
I can see from this thread that everyone has different requirements.

Our local Morrisons has two full sized normal looking tills which are actually self service so are ideal if you have a trolley. However I think that I'm much slower at scanning than the normal till people and if anything goes wrong you have to wait for ages.
I prefer to go self service if I don't have many items though, just cross my fingers that everything works OK.
My husband doesn't shop much and always forgets to put his own bags on first, meaning that he can only pack when he's finished, which makes him very slow.

I hate it. Some of the supermarkets now have far fewer manned tills. So often can't avoid self service. I don't mind too much when the shop is quiet. But really resent having to queue in the trolley self service. I'm very tolerant of people who are elderly/disabled etc and are slow. But some people are so slow and drive me mad. I've seen couples intermittently putting items through and stopping to chat. Some people have bags but put their items through and straight onto the shelf, pay, and then load their shopping from the shelf into the bags in the trolley. I appreciate perhaps folks don't feel they should have to rush, but I always try to be as efficient as possible as I'm very aware of those queuing. Also, I have several of the supermarket hessian type bags and one of the supermarket tills won't accept weight of any of them, so I always have to call the assistant before I even start! Rant over.

Our local Tesco, which is a 5 minute walk from the hose, is exactly the same. When they first introduced self serve I refused to use it and I still don't if I can help it. One of the check out staff told me that the number of people they employed had halved since they introduced self serve and the level of shop lifting was unbelievable. I think we can safely say that the supermarkets have streamlined their processes at the expense of the customers.

I much prefer self checkouts. I can pack at my own speed - which is pretty speedy but I can get panicked at manned tills if it goes through too quickly.

Finally I converted DH (now deceased) to self-scan for all the reasons there are. It really makes sense in supermarkets. But in other areas it annoys me that a lot of admin labour is outsourced to the customer.

Has anyone else had a problem checking in online with RyanAir, for instance?
Or making an insurance claim online?
Or changing broadband and installing the new router?

I could go on. To be fair, most of the government websites are excellent, including those for tax affairs.

I'd be interested to know what other grans think.

I have a fear of getting something wrong and being an accidental thief. I don't want to be a thief. I do want to pay for what I buy. On days when you are lacking 100% concentration it is too easy to go wrong. - The supermarkets themselves make concentrating very difficult with all the music and announcements. I think these things really change the nature of shopping - and pricing, as they must be pricing in a higher level of losses.

I absolutely detest them. Refuse to use them. It’s the big business freeloading onto customers what should come as part of the service. I will not be giving them my free labour. A totally disgraceful practice

Oh for the days of Assistants who assisted, rather than colleagues who...?

Romola Has anyone else had a problem checking in online with RyanAir, for instance? Or making an insurance claim online?

Yes. We accomplish all possible tasks on computer. It's easier, don't have to leave home. I hate to leave home, apart from dog walks.