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Self serve tills

(73 Posts)
Cambsnan Thu 30-Jan-25 09:03:20

I often buy just a couple of items and am happy to use self-serve tills. However, I often struggle to tap the screen hard enough. Am I alone in this?

Oreo Fri 31-Jan-25 21:01:23

I haven’t had a problem with tapping the screen, maybe it’s your supermarket Cambsnan?

Oreo Fri 31-Jan-25 21:00:16

kittylester

I don't do a 'big' shop nowadays preferring a delivery but I am more than happy to do a self service checkout for a few things.

I have found the self service bits always have enough staff to help if needed. I do have trouble convincing them that I am over 18!!

It’s all that Nivea you use😹
I use self service for a few bits and bobs in a basket as it’s faster than joining a queue and have our weekly shop delivered.

Nightsky2 Fri 31-Jan-25 19:20:43

I much prefer the Scan and Shop. It’s much quicker than joining a big queue. It took a little while to get used to but now all is fine.

ViceVersa Fri 31-Jan-25 19:18:08

I also much prefer to use either the self-scan or scan and go tills. I find them much quicker and easier to use, even if I'm doing a bigger shop.

twiglet77 Fri 31-Jan-25 18:54:01

My preference is to use Scan and Shop, so I’ve already packed straight into my bags and all I have to do at the end is pay. Second choice is to self-scan at the till. I avoid using manned checkouts 1) because it’s dreadfully time-wasting to handle my shopping three times in store - to load the trolley, unload onto the belt, then load into bags, and 2) I don’t want my food handled more than necessary.

I’ve recently retired from part-time on checkouts at Waitrose, which I thoroughly enjoyed, but SO many people could be in and out very much faster if they scanned their own shopping.

It’s a silly misconception that you’re “saving someone’s job”. All shop floor staff, from 16 year olds to 80+, receive till-training as part of their first week’s induction. Some enjoy it, and if accurate and careful they might prefer to always be on a checkout. Some dislike it and prefer to be in the warehouse or replenishing stock on the shelves. Only the fresh food counters, welcome desk and café are options for more specialised training. Every cashier released from a checkout during quiet enough periods, when self-service tills are being well-used, will be filling shelves so all the customers get a better experience, and will be called to open another checkout if queues start to build. Same number of staff, better deployed, they don’t lose their jobs because self-service tills are there!

kittylester Fri 31-Jan-25 18:30:22

At our local, not very big, Waitrose it is usually much faster to use the self service tills as the manned tills have queues of old people waiting. Obvs, I'm not an old person.

GrauntyHelen Fri 31-Jan-25 17:27:09

I refuse to self serve it does folk put of a job and as a trade unionist I refuse to be part of that agenda Furthermore if I wanted a shop job I would apply for one No way I'm working for ASDA etc for free!

knspol Fri 31-Jan-25 17:11:42

I went into the local M&S this morning, 11 people queuing at the only manned till and the self service tills almost empty. The queue was down to 7 people before they decided to open another till. Most people in the queue had either trolleys or full baskets which are difficult to manage space wise at a self service point. Obviously the customer doesn't matter anymore.

jocork Fri 31-Jan-25 17:08:35

I prefer to go to the self service tills as I use the nectar app in Sainsburys which gives discounts I can't otherwise get - so they are paying me to do it.
The last time I used a staffed till it was because I was buying alcohol so knew I'd be held up at the self serve tills waiting for an assistant. It was in Tesco and the person in front didn't have a club card so the assistant let me have their points. It was a huge shop so I got nearly 2 pounds! I generally prefer the self service though as I rarely do a very big shop and I don't feel as pressured to pack quickly as I do at the staffed tills.

TwiceAsNice Fri 31-Jan-25 14:31:33

I hate self service tills and won’t use them on principle. It loses people jobs and I already pay for my items , nobody is paying me to serve myself .

Boots stores now sometimes only have self serve. I walked up to the till to pay a person and was told this was customer services till and she couldn’t help me. I said I won’t buy it then, gave her the item and left the shop. She was a bit gobsmacked and the shop lost a sale!

Foxyferret Fri 31-Jan-25 14:14:25

I always check my receipts as soon as I get back to my car as so many times I have been overcharged and had to drive back. I don’t understand why they ask you if you want your receipt, why wouldn’t you for a big shop?

Cateq Fri 31-Jan-25 13:59:50

The one store I always have trouble with touch screen systems is M&S, not so much the self service till which I rarely use, but the click and collect screens when picking up something I’ve ordered online. I’m terrified I’m going to break the screen if I hit as hard as it needs to work. The staff tell me I’m not alone thankfully.

Allsaints55 Fri 31-Jan-25 13:00:32

I tap with my knuckle. I find that soon sorts it 😉

Spanisheyes Fri 31-Jan-25 12:10:45

A few weeks ago I used the self scan in M&S, I only had 5 items. Two of the items didn’t register on the screen when I first tapped them so I did it again. It was very busy and there was a very impatient lady at the side of me, so I packed quickly and left. When I got home I noticed I had been charged twice for the two items that didn’t scan first time. When I went back and showed the receipt to an assistant, she sent for a manager to give me a refund. I’ll be very sure to check my receipt before I leave in future.

Shelflife Fri 31-Jan-25 00:42:44

I hate them ! However will use if necessary, M &S self service tills never give me a problem. When I do a supermarket shop I always use
a traditional till - if my supermarket goes fully self I will shop elsewhere!

OldFrill Thu 30-Jan-25 23:52:51

Granmarderby10

AGAA4 what if you are just browsing?

If it's a Getgo type store you turn the app on to enter and if you don't buy anything you won't be charged. If it was a store where you had to pay to enter that payment would be refunded on exit.

Granmarderby10 Thu 30-Jan-25 22:53:42

AGAA4 what if you are just browsing?

Thepanaramawoman Thu 30-Jan-25 21:27:13

I say keep tils manned with humans. For lots of shoppers it’s the only contact they have with anyone. My local Morrisons and Lidl have mostly nice friendly people in the til and if I was forced to go to one of those self service things I’d miss the human contact.

AreWeThereYet Thu 30-Jan-25 20:09:05

We nearly always use self-scan, either scanners or tills. Much faster than waiting around at manned tills. They are slightly different in each chain but I think we've learned most of the quirks now. Haven't had many problems with there not being staff around to help.

AGAA4 Thu 30-Jan-25 16:12:54

I think this will happen more oldfrill. BBC this morning showed shoplifters filling bags in front of staff and customers. It's getting more common and is costing each one of us £133 each year for stolen goods.

Staff intervening are assaulted or threatened so I can see that something radical needs to be done so these people can't access the shops easily.
I heard of one shop where you have to pay to get in and the money paid back when you pay for your shopping.

OldFrill Thu 30-Jan-25 15:55:49

sodapop

Mr Soda read on Google that Tesco are opening stores where you need an app to get in.
Is this really happening?

Yes, Tesco "Getgo" stores, you activate the app, pop your items into your bag and you're automatically charged as you leave, no tills no human contact. There are only a few Getgo stores but more on the way.

NonGrannyMoll Thu 30-Jan-25 15:18:00

I've never managed to get through a self-serve till without some problem or other cropping up. I'm not exactly brain-dead (yet), so I assume it's the tills and not me. If they can't make a screen sensitive enough to pick up everyone's touch, it's a pretty poor show.

sodapop Thu 30-Jan-25 15:05:51

Mr Soda read on Google that Tesco are opening stores where you need an app to get in.
Is this really happening?

Cossy Thu 30-Jan-25 13:50:53

Astitchintime

I much prefer to 'scan and shop' for the main grocery shop and if I have a few items I will use self-scan tills. On many occasions in the past when I have used a traditional checkout I have noticed that some staff were rather heavy handed with things like apples, which bruise very easily, and eggs.

Scan and shop is great, self serve tile don’t seem to like me haha

Anyway I have our main shopped delivered and buy the fresh stuff as needed.

Oldbat1 Thu 30-Jan-25 13:28:34

Hate self scan! Sains and I have a running battle regarding manning tills. I have to ask for a till cashier even though staff are standing around “chatting”.