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I'm not sure if the money my supermarket saves by getting rid of humans (and the humans' incomes) translates to cheaper groceries for me. I'd believe it if the

I'm not sure if the money my supermarket saves by getting rid of humans (and the humans' incomes) translates to cheaper groceries for me. I'd believe it if there were somehow a fine for using a human checkout. But there isn't. So every once in a while four bell pepper somehow scan as three. Accidents happen, full plausible deniability.

nkozyra 7y ago
> I'd believe it if there were somehow a fine for using a human checkout. But there isn't. Because there are easier, less abrasive ways of disincentivizing this behavior, namely by making fewer human checkouts available.
- jachee 7y ago
  There's a 24-hour Kroger near where I used to live that would routinely shut down the last human cashier around 10PM, which was about an hour too early. This resulted in a nightly backup at the two self-check lines they'd leave open, sometimes taking 20+ minutes to check out. Even as someone who prefers to self-checkout: It was a mess.
  - nkozyra 7y ago
    This is by design. Target often runs large metro stores with TWO cashiers. I once went into the Target on 14th St in Manhattan and saw just a single human. Most customers are already conditioned to go through the self checkout.
    - namibj 7y ago
      How are 20+ min waiting to do it yourself desirable for the store? Especially if done on a routine?
      - nkozyra 7y ago
        If people still buy the goods then you're willing to absorb the inconvenience.
Shivetya 7y ago
I am all for these setups because I can check out faster in many cases and I can bag it as I want it bagged. saving money or not its the convenience which sold me
- itronitron 7y ago
  > I can bag it as I want it bagged This exactly, in the US the norm is for cashiers (or baggers) to put just 2 or 3 items in a single plastic bag, and if you bring your own reusable bag they usually have no idea how to deal with that, unless you get a pro-level cashier who will then pack things in nicely.
- dwd 7y ago
  I prefer to self bag, mostly that I don't need some teenager just throwing the fresh chicken or detergent in with the loose vegetables.

nkozyra 7y ago

> I'd believe it if there were somehow a fine for using a human checkout. But there isn't. Because there are easier, less abrasive ways of disincentivizing this behavior, namely by making fewer human checkouts available.

jachee 7y ago
There's a 24-hour Kroger near where I used to live that would routinely shut down the last human cashier around 10PM, which was about an hour too early. This resulted in a nightly backup at the two self-check lines they'd leave open, sometimes taking 20+ minutes to check out. Even as someone who prefers to self-checkout: It was a mess.
- nkozyra 7y ago
  This is by design. Target often runs large metro stores with TWO cashiers. I once went into the Target on 14th St in Manhattan and saw just a single human. Most customers are already conditioned to go through the self checkout.
  - namibj 7y ago
    How are 20+ min waiting to do it yourself desirable for the store? Especially if done on a routine?
    - nkozyra 7y ago
      If people still buy the goods then you're willing to absorb the inconvenience.

Shivetya 7y ago

I am all for these setups because I can check out faster in many cases and I can bag it as I want it bagged. saving money or not its the convenience which sold me

itronitron 7y ago
> I can bag it as I want it bagged This exactly, in the US the norm is for cashiers (or baggers) to put just 2 or 3 items in a single plastic bag, and if you bring your own reusable bag they usually have no idea how to deal with that, unless you get a pro-level cashier who will then pack things in nicely.
dwd 7y ago
I prefer to self bag, mostly that I don't need some teenager just throwing the fresh chicken or detergent in with the loose vegetables.