posted in Technology
Retailers are pulling back from self-checkout after years of theft, errors, and questionable time savings
www.techspot.com/news/114106-retailers-pulling-back-self-checkout-after-years-theft.htmlemoji1
Replying to @BillionaireStew@lemmy.world
Self checkout in theory is better for both sides - business and consumer.
That said most self checkout as implemented is insufferable. The modern experience is waiting 5 minutes for someone to clear out your order because you accidentally clicked the version of Limes that this store doesn’t sell, despite it being an option on the POS, or to tap no / decline on the 5 different “Donate? Round up? Bag? Survey? Phone number?” prompts, or for the POS to lock up because you scanned a single can 3 times rather than 3 cans once, or for the cart to lock up so you slam your shin into it because the camera determined you were a thief.
Personally I avoid all self checkouts.
Replying to @NotAnOtter@lemmus.org
Is this how it works in the US? Because everywhere I use them in Europe they are pretty smooth if you’re not buying alcohol.
Replying to @ddplf@szmer.info
I’m an Anerican and I’ve not really had any of these issues. The bagging area one yes, but otherwise no real problems and I’ve never in my life had a cart lock up. I try to avoid self check out, it’s not my job so why am I doing it?
Replying to @CultLeader4Hire@lemmy.world
it’s not my job so why am I doing it?
I never get this take. Like, back in the day it also wasn’t my job to pack the groceries into a cart and haul them to the cashier. You entered a store, like a lot of pharmacies still work today, there was a clerk behind a desk and you told them “I’d like three ounces of flour, 4 eggs and a litre of milk”, they fetched it for you. So, where are the complaints that walking through a big store “is not my job”?
Everybody is like “no, a store is juuust right, when it works like in my childhood. Everything else is against the order of the world!”
I completely understand all the other, technical, cultural, issues one can have with a self-checkout, but this “not my job” attitude weirds me out, somehow.
Replying to @CultLeader4Hire@lemmy.world
it’s not my job so why am I doing it?
Do you also need a separate clerk to pack your groceries right next to the one that scans them?
Replying to @ddplf@szmer.info
No, the one who scans my groceries also packs them.
Replying to @CultLeader4Hire@lemmy.world
I don’t get that “it’s not my job” approach a lot of people have towards self check out. I know its different in the US but I hear this also in Europe. In a proper self check out I take a item from my basket, put it straight into my bag and have all the time I want to organise it properly. While at the usual check out I need to unpack everything on the belt, pray that the person before me was fast enough so I can start packing my shit when the cashier starts pushing 3 items/second towards me. While trying to keep up with the cashier you are either a master of packing or you’re screwed. Alternative would be just dumping everything back into the shopping cart and organising after you paid but that means handling every item three Times (put it on the belt, back in the cart, Pack into bags).
Hot Take: Self checkout (in Europe) is less work than conventional checkout.
Replying to @CultLeader4Hire@lemmy.world
it’s not my job so why am I doing it?
Never understood this concept. It’s not your job to fill up your gas tank either, so we should ensure someone is hired to be sure that occurs correct?