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Can you describe why there's a big push for self checkout? I suspect there's a bigggg difference between countries, so this all sounds very alien. In my experie

Can you describe why there's a big push for self checkout? I suspect there's a bigggg difference between countries, so this all sounds very alien. In my experience at Tescos (outside the UK) checkout has been great. They tend to have a zillion aisles operating, with the cashier picking up and scanning every single item directly from your cart. At the exit there's always a 'check' but it's pretty farcical. Somebody glances at your cart, glances at the receipt, and then stamps it in about 0.5 seconds total. The only downside is the requirement for self bagging (she simply puts the items right back in the cart - even if you bring bags), but that obviously wouldn't change with self checkout. To me people pushing for self checkout sounds like somebody preferring self service over full service gas stations - I find it difficult to understand.

lotsofpulp 2y ago
> To me people pushing for self checkout sounds like somebody preferring self service over full service gas stations - I find it difficult to understand. For gas stations, it’s faster for me to not have to wait for an attendant. I don’t have to let someone else touch my credit card and/or give them my zip code. And I don’t have someone else continue filling the tank after the pump automatically stops, preventing gas to drip down the side of the car. For retail stores, self checkout is quicker, as stores are mostly not staffed well enough to compete with the self checkout lanes.
ForTheKidz 2y ago
> Can you describe why there's a big push for self checkout? Fewer employees to hire and manage. Seems like a straightforward benefit. I haven't seen a fully staffed grocery store in what feels like fifteen years but is probably more like five. This feels like a continuation of the same "disruption" that predated widespread self-checkout. There are also people who claim to hate interacting with cashiers but I have a difficulty imagining this is the majority of people.
djaychela 2y ago
For me it's because when I visit a store it's for a small amount of items. My main shopping is online and delivered (by Tesco) once a week. But there are always other things needed during the week. The big Tesco near me mostly has people doing their big shop at the tills so the queue will be 5 minutes plus. Scan as you shop ( as mentioned by the GP) now works well and doesn't check you each time so it's easy to do - particularly as you can use your bag as you go and don't need to repack when you check out.
Maxious 2y ago
>At the exit there's always a 'check' but it's pretty farcical. Hence moving to AI > Once you get to a checkout, hi-tech cameras above the self-checkout machines now track all items being scanned and bagged. > After that, smart gates will lock automatically to prevent anyone with unscanned items leaving the store, sounding an alarm in the process. https://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/food/eat/coles-introducing-new-technology-which-will-track-shoppers-every-move/news-story/86ea8d330f76df87f2235eeda4d1136e https://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/food/eat/coles-introducing... Those two points are infuriatingly well rolled out in Australia since that article - if your bagging technique does not match the AI model or the color of your fruit/vegetables does not match the AI model for the thing you choose, even if the weight is correct, it requires a staff member. If any shopper in the self checkout area has violated the AI, nobody is allowed to leave the store until the staff member does their check (it's like those automatic gates you'd see on an office building lobby).
Zanfa 2y ago
> Can you describe why there's a big push for self checkout? I suspect there's a bigggg difference between countries, so this all sounds very alien. I love self-checkout as long as they give you the scanner to carry around (or mount on the shopping cart). The entire shopping process is just so much quicker, havent waited in a checkout line in years. The same amount of space for 3 cashiers can have 10+ self-checkout machines as least. > To me people pushing for self checkout sounds like somebody preferring self service over full service gas stations - I find it difficult to understand. Might be cultural, but full-service gas stations sound bizarre. Why would you need an attendant to do something so basic? Like a lift operator to press buttons for you.
- somenameforme 2y ago
  Full service gas stations are popular for the same reason drive thru 'everything' is popular. It's just much more convenient. Drive in, hand some cash over, wait a few moments, perhaps have some random banter with the attendant, drive off.
fmajid 2y ago
In the U.K. specifically supermarkets are having a tough time hiring and retaining staff, but self-checkout is also popular in similar countries like France where the job market is not as tight.

lotsofpulp 2y ago

> To me people pushing for self checkout sounds like somebody preferring self service over full service gas stations - I find it difficult to understand. For gas stations, it’s faster for me to not have to wait for an attendant. I don’t have to let someone else touch my credit card and/or give them my zip code. And I don’t have someone else continue filling the tank after the pump automatically stops, preventing gas to drip down the side of the car. For retail stores, self checkout is quicker, as stores are mostly not staffed well enough to compete with the self checkout lanes.

ForTheKidz 2y ago

> Can you describe why there's a big push for self checkout? Fewer employees to hire and manage. Seems like a straightforward benefit. I haven't seen a fully staffed grocery store in what feels like fifteen years but is probably more like five. This feels like a continuation of the same "disruption" that predated widespread self-checkout. There are also people who claim to hate interacting with cashiers but I have a difficulty imagining this is the majority of people.

djaychela 2y ago

For me it's because when I visit a store it's for a small amount of items. My main shopping is online and delivered (by Tesco) once a week. But there are always other things needed during the week. The big Tesco near me mostly has people doing their big shop at the tills so the queue will be 5 minutes plus. Scan as you shop ( as mentioned by the GP) now works well and doesn't check you each time so it's easy to do - particularly as you can use your bag as you go and don't need to repack when you check out.

Maxious 2y ago

>At the exit there's always a 'check' but it's pretty farcical. Hence moving to AI > Once you get to a checkout, hi-tech cameras above the self-checkout machines now track all items being scanned and bagged. > After that, smart gates will lock automatically to prevent anyone with unscanned items leaving the store, sounding an alarm in the process. https://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/food/eat/coles-introducing-new-technology-which-will-track-shoppers-every-move/news-story/86ea8d330f76df87f2235eeda4d1136e https://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/food/eat/coles-introducing... Those two points are infuriatingly well rolled out in Australia since that article - if your bagging technique does not match the AI model or the color of your fruit/vegetables does not match the AI model for the thing you choose, even if the weight is correct, it requires a staff member. If any shopper in the self checkout area has violated the AI, nobody is allowed to leave the store until the staff member does their check (it's like those automatic gates you'd see on an office building lobby).

Zanfa 2y ago

> Can you describe why there's a big push for self checkout? I suspect there's a bigggg difference between countries, so this all sounds very alien. I love self-checkout as long as they give you the scanner to carry around (or mount on the shopping cart). The entire shopping process is just so much quicker, havent waited in a checkout line in years. The same amount of space for 3 cashiers can have 10+ self-checkout machines as least. > To me people pushing for self checkout sounds like somebody preferring self service over full service gas stations - I find it difficult to understand. Might be cultural, but full-service gas stations sound bizarre. Why would you need an attendant to do something so basic? Like a lift operator to press buttons for you.

somenameforme 2y ago
Full service gas stations are popular for the same reason drive thru 'everything' is popular. It's just much more convenient. Drive in, hand some cash over, wait a few moments, perhaps have some random banter with the attendant, drive off.

fmajid 2y ago

In the U.K. specifically supermarkets are having a tough time hiring and retaining staff, but self-checkout is also popular in similar countries like France where the job market is not as tight.