More self checkouts being allocated

I prefer self service or scan&shop.

Davida1968

Like a lot of other GNs here, I choose not to use the "self service" tills. I hate them!

It’s good that you can do that. Let’s keep pressing for that choice to remain available.

Like a lot of other GNs here, I choose not to use the "self service" tills. I hate them!

This isn’t meant to sound unkind but supermarket chains are busy places and many shoppers are short on time or don't want to spend a lot of time in the shop. One of the reasons I like self checkouts, not so much that I am short on time now, but because I dislike shopping and just want to be in and out without being stuck behind people who want a chat. There are plenty of other places if people want social interaction.

For those who claim that self checkouts lead to loss of jobs then what you are saying is that a store needs to employ more people because some people like a chat. That’s simply nonsensical from a business point of view.

AI: It costs a UK supermarket approximately £155,000 to £195,000 per year to staff a single checkout till continuously 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. If the store is located in London or within the M25, higher regional pay premiums can push this cost closer to £170,000 to £210,000 per year. Remember, it isn’t just the wage cost but NIC, pension contributions, sick and holiday pay, apprenticeship levy etc.

Tesco have over 5,000 stores. At the lower end that would cost an additional £750 million, costs that would be added to prices.

seasider I’m really in favour of both, but that’s a good reason for keeping some manned tills. I’ve heard at least 2 young mums who use manned tills for much the same reason-as one said, “A chance of normal conversation with someone who doesn’t scream at me!”
What else could be done though, for the people who have to rely on a shop for daily conversation, especially since many supermarket cafés closed during Covid and have never reopened?

I work in a large supermarket. We have a few older people who come in every day for just a couple of items and always come to a manned till. I think it’s so they can have a little chat . It may be the only human interaction they have all day and it would be a shame if that disappeared.

We have just had a massive Home Bargains open near us, and it is all manned tills, I kept looking for the self checkout, but you can't!

I don't like self service, there is always a problem when I try to use one. I tried again last week and had to call for help whereupon I was told that "this always happens, they're temperamental". I would rather stand in a queue than try to deal with a temperamental machine.

As someone who hates pointless human interactions I'd prefer it this way. I haven't used a manned till for so long I can't remember, I get my big shop delivered and any other time I will use the self scan tills without doubt.
Unfortunately losing jobs to autonomy is happening and we might as well get used to it because it's only going to increase.

Mollygo

IMO There should be both/all three.
Those who prefer to load once, or take their time, or find standing a queue difficult can get through more quickly.
They actually benefit those who want manned tills, by not taking up spaces in the queue.
There is a problem as some have already mentioned, if you have too much shopping to fit on the space available.
Our Sainsbury’s has basket only checkouts with smaller spaces -enough to accommodate the contents of a basket, and the trolley checkouts have longer loading spaces, but Aldi and Lidl don’t.

Losing jobs is a good point.
Over the years that has already affected garages-finding one that isn’t self service is almost impossible.
Bus services have been cut because people go by car.
Banks have closed because people pay by card or use ATM to draw cash.
The postal service is poorer because people communicate on line, whether it’s cards or emails or even letters to the editor of the newspaper.
Imagine if we had to write to GN instead of just sitting down and tapping! Maybe we wouldn’t be reduced to fewer mail deliveries, but does anyone on here want to go back, and use only snail mail to save post office jobs?

Sainsbury’s big SM must thing with cost of living we all must do tiny shops as out of ten ss tills there are only two large areas to place shopping. So most people in the queue are waiting for those larger ones, holding up the queue behind.
It’s really annoying.
This why I won’t use them.
As for every thing else like cash, libraries, etc.. use them, or loose them.

IMO There should be both/all three.
Those who prefer to load once, or take their time, or find standing a queue difficult can get through more quickly.
They actually benefit those who want manned tills, by not taking up spaces in the queue.
There is a problem as some have already mentioned, if you have too much shopping to fit on the space available.
Our Sainsbury’s has basket only checkouts with smaller spaces -enough to accommodate the contents of a basket, and the trolley checkouts have longer loading spaces, but Aldi and Lidl don’t.

Losing jobs is a good point.
Over the years that has already affected garages-finding one that isn’t self service is almost impossible.
Bus services have been cut because people go by car.
Banks have closed because people pay by card or use ATM to draw cash.
The postal service is poorer because people communicate on line, whether it’s cards or emails or even letters to the editor of the newspaper.
Imagine if we had to write to GN instead of just sitting down and tapping! Maybe we wouldn’t be reduced to fewer mail deliveries, but does anyone on here want to go back, and use only snail mail to save post office jobs?

I prefer them

I refuse to use them.. if we don`t use them and queue to be served they will have to consider our views! I read of one store that indulged in all self service , customers left and they had to reinstate check outs... putting people out of jobs as well as not what we want..

SS tills are an annoying scourge of modern society. I don't stack their shelves and for the same reason, I wont use a SS till.

One of our Matalan stores has totally gone. TBF, I didn’t shop there much.

Pinkrinse

Why would anyone not use it? I love it! Pack as I go, only pick up each item once, whereas on a manned checkout you pick it up 3 times.

Better things to do with my time than queue and wait in a supermarket. 🤷🏼‍♀️

I like it too, but I want to keep these manned till going. My aunts get flustered using any other method.

AuntieE

Until you get used to them, there may be glitches, but honestly it does n ot take long to accustom yourself to using a self-checkout.

What is annoying is that there are different kinds of checkouts in the different chains of supermarkets, and most of them do not accept cash.

Ours do. I went to card only till & said I want to do half n half, the assistant faffed about but I was able to use my cash.

Why would anyone not use it? I love it! Pack as I go, only pick up each item once, whereas on a manned checkout you pick it up 3 times.

Better things to do with my time than queue and wait in a supermarket. 🤷🏼‍♀️

PamelaJ1

Well Ambergran I am one who is concerned about jobs and I very very rarely shop online. I can’t be the only one.

We rarely shop online either. Mainly because I like to try things on and see what I am buying.

But going by what I have read on GN over the years a lot of people stopped visiting shops a long time ago. Some people because they are physically unable to, others because they would prefer to sit at home and shop.

I asked the assistants whether it was because my card had been hacked, and all except one denied it was the case.

We had our Nectar card hacked too, and got the points back. I don't think it made any difference to the number of times we got random checks. When we first started we were picked every other time but it got less and less. Then we stopped shopping at Sainsbury for a while, went back, and it all started again but now it seems to have eased off again. DH joked that we never buy alcohol and they are expecting it so they're checking that we've scanned it!

Greciangirl

Well, I prefer queuing up.
The manned checkouts are always busy and popular at my local Tesco’s store.

As others have mentioned, to run a large weekly shop through the self scan is difficult owing to lack of space.
I could see myself getting into a right pickle with them.
I don’t think staff are losing their jobs.
They are probably being redirected to the self scan machines.

You might as well queue up in the manned checkpoint, unless you are doing scan & go.
Plus you can’t rant at the till about prices going up yet again 🙄😂

Trying to guide us all towards shopping online.

Greciangirl

Well, I prefer queuing up.
The manned checkouts are always busy and popular at my local Tesco’s store.

As others have mentioned, to run a large weekly shop through the self scan is difficult owing to lack of space.
I could see myself getting into a right pickle with them.
I don’t think staff are losing their jobs.
They are probably being redirected to the self scan machines.

When they try & redirect me I just tell I am ok stood where I am 👍🏻

Lathyrus3

I’ve never used Scan and shop so enlighten me🙂

How do they stop people slipping in unscanned items or scanning a cheaper and putting in a more expensive one or scanning 100g of cherries say and then just adding a few more?

Not that I’d ever do such things. I still have prickles of conscience over a small wedge of Brie that lurked unseen in the corner of the trolley.

It just seems the possibilities are endless.

I’ve done that scan & go. It is better than self serve.
Yes people do slip the odd pepper in there.
They do check so many customers bags though.
You can use cash, or card.

I absolutely refuse to use them 1.if I wanted a retail job Id apply for one 2As a trade union member I refuse to participate in people losing jobs!