The baggers are faster than you only in the rare scenario that you are the only customer in line. Self-service checkouts are, at least in theory, always availab

The baggers are faster than you only in the rare scenario that you are the only customer in line. Self-service checkouts are, at least in theory, always available. Not only do grocery stores rarely keep all checkout aisles staffed, but they don't even set complete elimination of lines as a goal: If there's ten counters, three are open, and each of the three has three people in line, that's just fine from the store's perspective. They'd rather you spend your time waiting than have their counter staff waiting around when customer volumes are low. Self-checkout works because it's cheaper not only cheaper indirectly (through lower prices) but directly as well: The customer is given the choice of waiting in line for a human or doing it themselves, and they can ponder all of the economic variables, like their preference for not doing manual labor versus the value of their time.