Checkouts in supermarket

No manned tills at all in Sainsbury’s on Gosforth High Street yesterday.
I’d bought bits of fruit for DGS2 and what a palaver to put that through.

I refuse to use them unless they have a left handed one.

The world is designed for right handed people and most people have no idea how very difficult it can be for lefties to operate and use things made for right handers.

I noticed a couple of weeks back that our large Sainsburys has a more self service now than staffed ones.
I don’t mind personally but think they should increase the “customer service” section to more than just one for enquiries especially as they sell clothing.

Could this be why: merseynewslive.co.uk/2023/11/21/two-in-five-retail-staff-abused-assaulted-or-threatened-at-work/
but there is this going on as well... www.theguardian.com/business/2024/feb/04/self-checkout-theft-security

At the self-service tills in Tesco on Saturday, there were three members of staff hovering around to help customers who needed it. They were standing chatting although one did come to my aid as soon as I had a problem.

They might as well have opened three extra tills. I don't think the staff are happy about it as it could lead to job losses.

If I have a few bits in a basket I use self service is better than standing in a queue with several people ahead of me, but always use a check out for a big shop.

Ditto.

However, one very large supermarket/hypermsrket I went to had only self-service tills. It was chaotic at the tills!

We haven't been back there since.

My local Waitrose expanded the self-service area and like other stores, left one poor lady manning the checkout. When a queue starts to form I find a manager and get another up and running.

I am partially sighted but could easily manage the self-service till but all of a sudden I am close to the white stick stage.

A small Lidl's was forced to reopen a manned till because people like me spoke with the manager to say we could not possibly work the self service till.

It’s very patronising for Waitrose (or any other supermarket) to assume that anyone over a certain age needs help or training with self-checkouts.
I’m sure the vast majority of us are perfectly capable - we just prefer a manned checkout, thanks, especially if we’ve got a lot of shopping.

And they wonder why there is an increase in shoplifting! M&S in Reading seems to be entirely self service and our local Morrison’s has no - one on the tills in the evening. I guess they think the oldies don’t shop in the evenings.

ferry23

I refuse to use them unless they have a left handed one.

The world is designed for right handed people and most people have no idea how very difficult it can be for lefties to operate and use things made for right handers.

I haven't found our Co-op self-service tills a problem in this respect.

Strangely our Lidl has no self service tills (as yet)

I suppose if you have a big shop you can use self scan which means you are not unloading onto the conveyor belt and then reloading into your bags. So it saves time and effort...until you have a random check of course.
I am very happy to use the self check out tills. I often have to wait however for someone to check I am old enough to buy paracetamol. I use a Waitrose trolley and my shopping trolley and if I get in the way well I don't give a damn.
I shop every day so have only 6 or so items.
I do miss the nice check out staff to chat to except one who would talk about every item I bought. That was irritating.

I knew one assistant quite well after several years and when she left she said it had been a horrible place to work for the last couple of years and she was glad to retire. And this was Waitrose where all the staff used to be happy.

If I’m doing a small shop I’m happy to use the self service tills. But with a large shop I use the self scanners . It’s so easy and your shopping goes straight into your bags . No unloading at the till and no packing bags after .

I always use self service it’s quicker and easier in my mind
I ve never used self scanning Tenno how does it work if you change your mind can you minus the item ?

For me, the self-scanner is the answer. No more unloading the trolley, no more loading into bags - I've done that already. And I can see how much I'm spending as I go. Even if you get checked, it's faster than queuing and going through a till.

Isn’t there a supermarket chain up north which has all manned checkouts now following customer demand?

I can’t remember the name but it wasn’t one I am familiar with here in the south.

So many people do not like change and cannot be bothered to get their head around new technology. I think the speed of it can be confusing so just go your own pace and it will become second nature.

www.booths.co.uk/

This one JenniferEccles

When directed to a self checkout, I will always say 'no thank you, I prefer a paid employee'. I know the message doesn't get to management, but the data from the till does get counted. (how many customers go through).

They are not as prevalent here in my town.

HelterSkelter1, I was checked the other day because I had a Drain unblocker in my self checkout basket!

My local Tesco is gradually turning over to self checkout, with around 10 self service to 3 assisted. The last time I waited in the queue, a conversation around me began about the replacement of manual to self service and it turned out all of us were there because we felt strongly the human touch was important, for some just a little chat whilst putting their shopping through, for others to support the workers in keeping their jobs.

Think I read Morrisons are going to take some away and put on more staff onto tills

I’ve just had a delightful conversation with a young woman in Tescos.
There is slow life and faster life and now I can enjoy slower.