4 ms·

....apart from the rest of the civilised world. Self check out has teething problems mainly because users need get trained on how to do it but once you grok it

....apart from the rest of the civilised world. Self check out has teething problems mainly because users need get trained on how to do it but once you grok it, you never go back - its simply faster, more efficient experience.

tunap 4y ago
The removal of the cash option is a hard nope for me. I don't always use cash, but if it's not an option, I vote with my feet, regardless if paying with cash or plastic.
- c22 4y ago
  Last time I went to the self-checkout lane I dutifully scanned all my items and clicked "Pay" and it brought me to a list of payment options with cash all grayed out. There was only one real cashier working that day with a long line stretching back into the aisle. I left the stuff I picked out right there and just walked away, so I guess they had to pay someone to put my stuff back anyway. Not sure what these companies are getting at with these user-hostile changes to their checkout flow. I drove to a small local quick-mart and did my shopping there instead.
  - stu2b50 4y ago
    Cash is a hassle to process, and includes fixed costs, while use of cash declines every year since the advent of payment cards. So it's expensive to support and has little traffic. It's not exactly surprising more and more stores, especially high volume ones, let their cash payment processing decline.
jwilk 4y ago
> faster "Stores today are catering to shoppers who perceive self-checkout to be faster than traditional cashiers, even though there's little evidence to support that. But, because customers are doing the work, rather than waiting in line, the experience can feel like it's moving more quickly."
- hunglee2 4y ago
  superior UX confirmed
MivLives 4y ago
Not sure it's faster. I worked as a cashier for awhile at a grocery store. A 2 person team, one scanning/keying in items and one bagging, is a ton faster then you doing it all yourself. Customers who would do this were great. The worst ones were the ones who just sorta stared at you as you rang up then bagged their groceries for them while complaining about long lines. The other big speed enhancement is memorization of common PLUs. Seeing bananas and just knowing the code (4011 or 94011 for non organic/ organic respectively) Is a lot faster than trying to navigate through the menus. It's on the label but most people don't seem to realize that. That said I still think it should be self check out all the way, letting one person run 6 self checkouts at midnight so I don't get caught behind the person buying two shopping carts of misc stuff while I'm just trying to grab an orange juice is miserable.
- theamk 4y ago
  Replacing 1 cashier/bagger with 1 self-checkout station is definitely slower. Replacing 1 cashier/bagger with 10 self-checkout stations with 2 attendants? That'll probably be faster, especially once majority of the shoppers get used to the new system.

tunap 4y ago

The removal of the cash option is a hard nope for me. I don't always use cash, but if it's not an option, I vote with my feet, regardless if paying with cash or plastic.

c22 4y ago
Last time I went to the self-checkout lane I dutifully scanned all my items and clicked "Pay" and it brought me to a list of payment options with cash all grayed out. There was only one real cashier working that day with a long line stretching back into the aisle. I left the stuff I picked out right there and just walked away, so I guess they had to pay someone to put my stuff back anyway. Not sure what these companies are getting at with these user-hostile changes to their checkout flow. I drove to a small local quick-mart and did my shopping there instead.
- stu2b50 4y ago
  Cash is a hassle to process, and includes fixed costs, while use of cash declines every year since the advent of payment cards. So it's expensive to support and has little traffic. It's not exactly surprising more and more stores, especially high volume ones, let their cash payment processing decline.

jwilk 4y ago

> faster "Stores today are catering to shoppers who perceive self-checkout to be faster than traditional cashiers, even though there's little evidence to support that. But, because customers are doing the work, rather than waiting in line, the experience can feel like it's moving more quickly."

hunglee2 4y ago
superior UX confirmed

MivLives 4y ago

Not sure it's faster. I worked as a cashier for awhile at a grocery store. A 2 person team, one scanning/keying in items and one bagging, is a ton faster then you doing it all yourself. Customers who would do this were great. The worst ones were the ones who just sorta stared at you as you rang up then bagged their groceries for them while complaining about long lines. The other big speed enhancement is memorization of common PLUs. Seeing bananas and just knowing the code (4011 or 94011 for non organic/ organic respectively) Is a lot faster than trying to navigate through the menus. It's on the label but most people don't seem to realize that. That said I still think it should be self check out all the way, letting one person run 6 self checkouts at midnight so I don't get caught behind the person buying two shopping carts of misc stuff while I'm just trying to grab an orange juice is miserable.

theamk 4y ago
Replacing 1 cashier/bagger with 1 self-checkout station is definitely slower. Replacing 1 cashier/bagger with 10 self-checkout stations with 2 attendants? That'll probably be faster, especially once majority of the shoppers get used to the new system.