Checkouts in supermarket

Within the last two weeks my local Waitrose has opened 4 manned tills instead of one almost permanently and there are still queues but there is no more space as the till space was taken for more self-service aisles.

I do self check outs when I do my shops , its quick and easy just to swipe the goods barcodes , pack items and then using any instore cards to gain points which could at a later date give a free shop with say Nectar card and maybe may the odd difference, leave with purchase slip and use the bar code on that to get out of the self check out area .
Mick

Yes Janetashbolt our large branch of Poundland started out with loads of self serve tills then suddenly reverted to normal ones.

Went into a Pound land the other day They have taken out all their self service tills. There were 2 manned tills!!

Visited Sainsbury's yesterday; since a few weeks ago and my last visit, they have further reduced the checkouts and replaced them with four self scan positions. This is a large and much used store - but it's presumably easier and cheaper to have one harassed person trying to deal with all the queries on the self scan checkouts.

WelwynWitch3

I won’t use them unless I really have to, by using them I feel we are putting someone’s job at risk, plus I don’t work at supermarket, if we scan our own shopping we should get discount.

I agree about jobs at risk. That’s what all card payments have done to bank cashiers, which is why Banks have closed.

I won’t use them unless I really have to, by using them I feel we are putting someone’s job at risk, plus I don’t work at supermarket, if we scan our own shopping we should get discount.

Thank you for support. Also I’m not sure which supermarket it is that the staff get to stand around and chat, as with ours if! You are unlucky enough to be caught chatting, you know, as a few mins later you will be sent off to do some other task like wipe the shelves or take the cardboard out. I was in my 6 hr shift on Monday I racked up over 14,000 steps, that includes going for parcels click n collect, going to change people’s items, going to get x box games from a safe that, answering queries, helping people in general, plus at the moment going to the firework cabinet for fireworks, then making sure they go straight out the store, plus usually my job to help a partially sited lady with guide dog to do her shopping , or help people sort the app out or go and find the oxo cubes or the illusive risotto rice, believe me if you happen to come to me ( self scan) I would do my utmost to help you navigate) if I am on a checkout we would have a little chat and I would put your items through at your speed, help you pack or whatever. By the way I am 69 so yes an average of 12-14000 steps leaves one feeling a little exhausted at times . So please do have a little more patience with the staff, they are only following the rules .

A plug for small shops. For those of you that live in a town with independent shops - please use them. In our small country town we have an excellent butcher, fishmonger and a couple of bakeries. The food they offer is of a higher standard than the supermarkets who force prices down from suppliers who are themselves then forced to use cheaper ingredients. Of course it’s easy to shop in supermarkets with free parking so I get why people do.

The one and only time I dumped my basket and walked out, I dumped it on the end of the revolving belt at the till, so it was known exactly how long the half dozen items it contained had been there

It was such a long time ago I cannot remember all the circumstances, but I think it involved being second in the queue, waiting for over 20 minutes and having an urgent appointment elsewhere.

bikergran

For those of you who decide to “ dump” your basket /trolley. What do you think happens to the items in that basket / trolley?
If! The basket / trolley has been left any fresh , chilled, frozen items are then wasted out, as the staff do not know how long those items have been left out so all of it is wasted.

Example on Monday We came across a trolley that had 6 x 6 pints of milk, 3 fresh chickens, piles of veg, frozen fish fingers , many items of frozen and chilled food . All the lot had to be wasted . So if you do decide to “dump” your basket/trolley then at least have the courtesy to tell a member of staff( unless of course you love all the food waste) It is not the staffs fault that there are not enough manned tills, so no use giving the staff grief go and ask for a manager and complain to them, not the poor staff that are run ragged and yes I do work in a supermarket.

I work in a supermarket too and to see fresh and frozen items dumped around the store is heart
breaking - it always has to be thrown away. I think about how many meals the dumped items would have made!

Well put Bikergran
The best idea would be for dumpers to make their views known by shopping elsewhere.
Or using home delivery, where they can’t be offended by the collectors using scan and go as they collect their orders. They don’t lift stuff out of the boxes again to put it through the checkout.

I appreciate the need for choice and I do think there should be both manned tills self serve and scan&go available.

Mind you, I’d also like a slower till at Lidl.
I find using my Lidl plus card on my phone and my card to pay or finding the right change and reloading my trolley all at top speed is a challenge.

bikergran

For those of you who decide to “ dump” your basket /trolley. What do you think happens to the items in that basket / trolley?
If! The basket / trolley has been left any fresh , chilled, frozen items are then wasted out, as the staff do not know how long those items have been left out so all of it is wasted.

Example on Monday We came across a trolley that had 6 x 6 pints of milk, 3 fresh chickens, piles of veg, frozen fish fingers , many items of frozen and chilled food . All the lot had to be wasted . So if you do decide to “dump” your basket/trolley then at least have the courtesy to tell a member of staff( unless of course you love all the food waste) It is not the staffs fault that there are not enough manned tills, so no use giving the staff grief go and ask for a manager and complain to them, not the poor staff that are run ragged and yes I do work in a supermarket.

Well said, Bikergran!

I can’t believe the mentality of some people.

If you DO happen to venture into a place that worships self-service, then make a point of calling for help, LOUDLY yell at them at the stupid over-sensitive nature of the tech, and make sure you slap every button on the till, and bounce your shopping bag repeatedly up and down in the "bag area" until the wretched thing cries out for assistance on its own.

Good Grief!!

How old are you?

Very good point, Bikergran. If I see something dumped, I alert staff.
How irresponsible, when people can hardly afford to feed themselves.

For those of you who decide to “ dump” your basket /trolley. What do you think happens to the items in that basket / trolley?
If! The basket / trolley has been left any fresh , chilled, frozen items are then wasted out, as the staff do not know how long those items have been left out so all of it is wasted.

Example on Monday We came across a trolley that had 6 x 6 pints of milk, 3 fresh chickens, piles of veg, frozen fish fingers , many items of frozen and chilled food . All the lot had to be wasted . So if you do decide to “dump” your basket/trolley then at least have the courtesy to tell a member of staff( unless of course you love all the food waste) It is not the staffs fault that there are not enough manned tills, so no use giving the staff grief go and ask for a manager and complain to them, not the poor staff that are run ragged and yes I do work in a supermarket.

Morrisons near me have out in 4 more self service tills

Who would have thought that everyday shopping for essentials would become so complicated and for many so alienating. It doesn't stop in the store though. Back home you will be asked to report on your 'experience' or worse 'journey'. As if people aren't stressed enough.

Sara1954

We normally do self scanning, but we popped into Sainsbury’s one afternoon, I didn’t have my purse, and my husband only had cash, so we went back to the old fashioned way
When we got to the checkout, every one was closed, and I had to go and ask them to come and open one, which to be fair, they did.
But I think manned checkouts will gradually disappear.

To be fair I asked at the self serve if I could pay cash, even though it said card only- assistant altered something on the machine -so it can be done!

DrWatson

I had the impression that more stores were RETURNING to proper tills, due to the backlash of customers yelling about becoming unpaid checkout staff, and the rising problem re SHOPLIFTING!

If you don't like self-service, TELL the firm how you feel. Assure them that as ALDI has rocket fast tills, AND opens up a new till lane if needed, THAT is where you'll be going from now on (assuming you do have an ALDI nearby).

If you DO happen to venture into a place that worships self-service, then make a point of calling for help, LOUDLY yell at them at the stupid over-sensitive nature of the tech, and make sure you slap every button on the till, and bounce your shopping bag repeatedly up and down in the "bag area" until the wretched thing cries out for assistance on its own.

🤣👍🏻

I do shop and scan for a big shop I much prefer it to standing in a queue no loading unloading loading trollies pack as I go and use my phone to pay I no longer even take a purse out with me. Smaller shops I also use self service tills there is often either no till open or a long queue at the only one.
I don’t mind the odd till check it takes a couple of minutes. I hope manned tills remain for those who like to use them.

We normally do self scanning, but we popped into Sainsbury’s one afternoon, I didn’t have my purse, and my husband only had cash, so we went back to the old fashioned way
When we got to the checkout, every one was closed, and I had to go and ask them to come and open one, which to be fair, they did.
But I think manned checkouts will gradually disappear.

Rocket fast tills requires rocket fast packing, I don’t see ANY of that at Waitrose manned tills.

With AI whether we like it or not we are going to get more technology and less personal service. We havn’t seen discounts for scan as you go yet, that will probably be the next change.

I had the impression that more stores were RETURNING to proper tills, due to the backlash of customers yelling about becoming unpaid checkout staff, and the rising problem re SHOPLIFTING!

If you don't like self-service, TELL the firm how you feel. Assure them that as ALDI has rocket fast tills, AND opens up a new till lane if needed, THAT is where you'll be going from now on (assuming you do have an ALDI nearby).

If you DO happen to venture into a place that worships self-service, then make a point of calling for help, LOUDLY yell at them at the stupid over-sensitive nature of the tech, and make sure you slap every button on the till, and bounce your shopping bag repeatedly up and down in the "bag area" until the wretched thing cries out for assistance on its own.

Marydoll

Pinkrinse

I must be the exception! I love the scan as you shop and then just pay at the end. I only load the trolly once with everything being packed as I go and then I pay. I hate the manned tills now they take so long and you load your trolly, unload it then re-pack! Why would anyone want to do that?

Ditto!

Double ditto! I love scan and shop, so quick, so efficient. Even on those very odd occasions you're randomly selected for a scan check it takes but a few minutes and you're on your way. The assistants are very efficient and professional.