3 ms·

I too prefer human check-out lines. I always find that self-checkout system that everyone uses to be slower and clunky. The worst is at the grocery store where

I too prefer human check-out lines. I always find that self-checkout system that everyone uses to be slower and clunky. The worst is at the grocery store where I have to search and find each item of produce, weigh it and then carefully place it in the bag. If any step in that flow goes slightly wrong, the system freezes and waits for an employee to come by and check what I'm doing. However, in the "fast casual" space, where I'm able to order food items on a touch screen system, or a mobile website, I have actually become much happier to do that. Sometimes it takes me a while to know what I want and having access to pictures or longer descriptions helps me on my journey. I'm not too worried about systems like completely replacing human contact though. I've seen similar attempts at sit-down restaurants and bars fail, likely because people go to those places expecting to interact with another human.

jrochkind1 4y ago
There are sit-down restaurants near me that now the only way to order is by scanning a QR code, which identifies your table, and ordering on a website. Someone drops your food off when it's ready, you've already paid with a credit card on the website. (You can add a tip). Started during the pandemic, pretty sure it's never going away. (The folks who made those apps bet right). I try to avoid them. But in the area of CVS (USA-style drug stores) or Royal Farms (chain convenience store, often attached to a gas station) -- as well as grocery stores in general -- self-check-out is already predominant around me, and I also don't see it going away. I suspect you're right it will never totally win in the restaurant space, but in the grocery store and convenience store space, it pretty much already has over here.
roughly 4y ago
I prefer human check-out lines because I don't particularly like having to do work for the store I'm shopping at.
bobthepanda 4y ago
Self checkout is generally annoying in a few cases: * You use reusable bags. In general most systems I've used dislike when you put a bag in the area with the weighing things, so now I have to spend double the time moving items around because they can't just go directly into the bag * with fresh produce, the cashier will most likely have the most common items memorized and punch in the code without a hitch, whereas I have to navigate a clunky UI to figure out which kind of green onions to charge * anything involving an ID check is much faster; a human is legally required to be there to verify, and the cashier is already conveniently there, as opposed to a self-checkout register where I have to wait for somebody to come to me
- stjohnswarts 4y ago
  The only issue I have with them is limited area to put your bags. Is the space made for ants? In college I was a cashier so I still have a 6th sense about where UPC/QR codes are and I can buzz through items as fast as most cashiers, however the limited bagging areas are very annoying.

jrochkind1 4y ago

There are sit-down restaurants near me that now the only way to order is by scanning a QR code, which identifies your table, and ordering on a website. Someone drops your food off when it's ready, you've already paid with a credit card on the website. (You can add a tip). Started during the pandemic, pretty sure it's never going away. (The folks who made those apps bet right). I try to avoid them. But in the area of CVS (USA-style drug stores) or Royal Farms (chain convenience store, often attached to a gas station) -- as well as grocery stores in general -- self-check-out is already predominant around me, and I also don't see it going away. I suspect you're right it will never totally win in the restaurant space, but in the grocery store and convenience store space, it pretty much already has over here.

roughly 4y ago

I prefer human check-out lines because I don't particularly like having to do work for the store I'm shopping at.

bobthepanda 4y ago

Self checkout is generally annoying in a few cases: * You use reusable bags. In general most systems I've used dislike when you put a bag in the area with the weighing things, so now I have to spend double the time moving items around because they can't just go directly into the bag * with fresh produce, the cashier will most likely have the most common items memorized and punch in the code without a hitch, whereas I have to navigate a clunky UI to figure out which kind of green onions to charge * anything involving an ID check is much faster; a human is legally required to be there to verify, and the cashier is already conveniently there, as opposed to a self-checkout register where I have to wait for somebody to come to me

stjohnswarts 4y ago
The only issue I have with them is limited area to put your bags. Is the space made for ants? In college I was a cashier so I still have a 6th sense about where UPC/QR codes are and I can buzz through items as fast as most cashiers, however the limited bagging areas are very annoying.