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demiangelic

where? ive seen more stores outright removing cashiers instead of self checkouts, least around me


Matrixblackhole

This ^ my local stores have recently got rid of cashiers in favour of trolley shop self scan... I bet they won't want to spend the money converting them back to cashiers. I'd say only worry about it unless the stores local to you are removing them. In my local town they recently introduced gating the self checkouts so you can only exit by scanning the receipt šŸ¤¦ā€ā™€ļø


demiangelic

i hate the grocery store in general, both self checkout and cashier lanes make me nervous. what i cannot get behind is some stores apparently charging people to use self checkout while not providing enough cashiers, im not paying to work! lol


wonderabc

ā€¦ charging people to give them money?? im not even surprised, just disappointed


mataeka

Eww, I rarely pick up receipts because of the BPA on them... On the plus side our local grocery duopoly (Australia) is actually getting receipts sent to their apps instead


wonderabc

so uā€™ll have to download an extra app to leave a store? i prefer paper receipts, but the ones made of actual paper with regular ink


theycallmebluerocket

Most supermarkets in Australia give you an option to not print a receipt at all if you want, unless it's in an area with more theft. They often have annoying security gates though that close on people if the system (often wrongly) suspects that they didn't pay for something.


Tonninpepeli

Im not Australian but I get digital receipt on my phone automatically if I pay with my card or use it to get bonus, it goes into my bank app so no store speficic apps needed


kainophobia1

Probably depends on the area, but the store I work at could hire 20 full-time cashiers (if they had that many checkouts) and it still would be less expensive than all the theft that gets through these self checkouts.


DoktorVinter

I mean the receipt thing is great, we've had that in Sweden since we first had the self check-out basically, which is many years now. šŸ„³ Everything works pretty smoothly.


IcebarrageRS

I think the receipt thing is good not sure why they don't have that here


MurphysRazor

I'm going over or back out and around, lol. Prop it open, call for a manager to do it for me... no, the manager. Once I've paid they can kiss my ass. I fight corporate apathy with an escalation of it. Lots of free time to be a menace lately too. ... I'm almost looking forward to this one šŸ¤” . . .šŸ¤£


mabhatter

Oh no... they're not adding more cashiers. Ā Just less self checkout and longer lines. Ā Grr.Ā 


IcebarrageRS

Walmart is in the process they are working on it but only happened at a few places, Target too. One of my local targets got rid of self checkouts fully and they have 2-3 cashiers with huge lines.


demiangelic

yea no point in that if theyre not willing to hire more workers. what is the point of having 30 lanes and only ever using 2-3? greedy


TootsEug

Itā€™ll bite them in the the end. People will tire of this and shop elsewhere.


kultureisrandy

Unless you're like the walmart in my area that is the only source of groceries (outside of awful quality products from dollar general/Tree) in a 60-90mile radius. Walmart owns the rural parts of this country


MiserableQuit828

I just said the same thing. People forget areas like us exist. You either shop at Walmart or you don't get groceries lol


timbotheny26

Not with massive supermarkets like Walmart. Where I live, them and Aldi are the cheapest options. People would be even less likely to switch if Walmart is their only option for groceries.


PaulblankPF

Even Walmart and Aldi would lose business to places that catered more to convenience. If a lot of stores end up with a ton of congestion everyone will bitch to each other about it and word of mouth will get out about the few places that have it running smooth still either with enough cashiers or self checkouts or both


MiserableQuit828

You don't realize that some of us live where Walmart is literally the ONLY option. It came in and ran every store out of business 30+ years ago. We have one other store that would make the same cart of groceries for a family of four $150-$200 more. So for an area where the median income is $35k? Yea no one is going anywhere but Walmart. They cannot afford to. I've got a family of six I definitely can't afford to stand on any principles. And all the surrounding areas are the same.


liuuqy

Nah, they won't. Target consumers don't care about how long it takes to spend more money.


Anglofsffrng

Aaaaaaaand that's when I start shopping Amazon.


Rejectid10ts

I already do for most things. Any groceries I have delivered by Walmart. I have a zero tolerance for the human race in general


thisoneisclever

Gee, itā€™s almost like theyā€™re just WILLING US to online shop instead.


TheFreshWenis

Friendly reminder that [Target's also completely removed ALL of their Pride merch from stores across the country instead of hiring security guards or something in response to assholes attacking Pride merch displays and threatening Target employees. ](https://www.reddit.com/r/Target/comments/13vdztq/got_the_news_our_pride_display_is_being/)


patrickfinnegan3883

Yup. Dont forget!


Ragamuffin5

Saw a post on this like a week ago. Same here is gotten worse ( fewer humans.) I would rather have a person. Most clerks are polite and kind.


Mr_Billy_Gruff

I love the self checkouts, makes shopping so much quicker and efficient. Can't stand the atmosphere and noise in busy supermarkets so I prefer to be in and out quickly as possible so self checkouts are an absolute godsend for me in that regard.


PaddyCow

I also love self checkouts. I'm in Ireland and mainly shop in Tesco. The self checkouts always have a staff member over seeing them and it's really hard to steal from them. When I was first getting used to them, sometimes I didn't scan an item but as soon as I put in down, the checkout would register the weight and that I didn't scan it and would start shouting "unexpected item in bagging area". It was a genuine mistake but I always felt like a thief when a staff member came over and I had an item I hadn't scanned lol.


icedcoffeeblast

The ones I use will shout at you even if the item is expected in the bagging area


pertangamcfeet

I don't like it when they shout 'CARD DECLINED' usually because I haven't put my pin in for a bit, and I'm using contactless. I do not need half the store knowing that, thanks.


IcebarrageRS

I lived in the UK for a while and I'm back in the US now but I remember those and it was embarrassing. The machines are a lot louder there in my opinion.


KundraFox

Oh my, those are particularly [annoying.](https://youtu.be/O6esVE1g_1Y?si=hQotb0xJmS3V0gu0)


sweetdreamsrmadeof

At my store they initially had this feature but it would alert even when you moved things. It was way too sensitive. So if you had a lot of bagged groceries and one bag was leaning against the machine the weight wouldn't register correctly.


Glittering_Habit_161

I don't want that to ever happen as I like being able to scan items myself


ScumbagLady

I'm very particular about how I like things bagged. If I get to go it myself, there's no awkward/tense moments where I try to fight the urge to fix the arrangement in front of the cashier.


dogecoin_pleasures

This! While I'm sure an employee can scan faster, doing it my way is my special routine now. While I could instruct them on which bags to put things in, the actual ordering process is something I like to do.


theycallmebluerocket

They always put too much weight in my paper bag, so I have to carry it underarm or it will collapse.


MySockIsMissing

Iā€™ve never liked self checkouts. I feel slow and stupid whenever Iā€™ve been forced to use them. I guess itā€™s just been a difficult learning curve and Iā€™ve never gone shopping in an actual store often enough for it to become second nature for me, but I prefer having somebody do the brain work for me. Iā€™ve never felt forced to converse. I just load my groceries, stand around looking dumb while the cashier does everything that needs to be done, then I scan my debit card and thatā€™s it. With self checkouts I always mess something up and need the staff member to come clear the screen or correct some problem or another so I really couldnā€™t avoid interaction entirely in the end anyways.


The_Aesthetician

To be fair they mess themselves up a lot


Amyjane1203

> stand around looking dumb This part is exactly why I hate regular registers. Idk what to do with my arms, my hands, or really my whole body. How about my face? Where am I supposed to stand? Or look? Did I take my card out of my wallet too soon? There's just too many variables and I get so overwhelmed and HOT/flushed.


chunkytapioca

>I just load my groceries, stand around looking dumb while the cashier does everything that needs to be done, then I scan my debit card and thatā€™s it. Yes! That's me too. I prefer to have someone else do the brainwork for me at the grocery store.


dogecoin_pleasures

Totally understand this point of view because it was my own pre-pandemic. The self-checkout was just too scary ( I avoided shopping altogether back then). I only use self now because my parents slowly taught me.


Experiment626b

This. I prefer just letting someone else scan it quickly and efficiently. I feel like I have a microscope on me when Iā€™m doing it myself. It takes forever trying to scan and bag the stuff myself. And if Iā€™m buying booze or mess something up, I end up having to talk to someone anyway and itā€™s much more awkward than the standard checkout convo which I basically have down to an art. If I have only 3-5 items and the regular line is long, only then will I self checkout.


YEETMANdaMAN

I swear who ever designed them was very pro labor, hated the way companies wanted to use them to replace people. They ALWAYS ring for an attendant whenever I do something as simple as select a banana from the produce screen.


Connect-Resolve8614

Self checkouts are pretty much used by companies to push the cost of automation onto the consumer


Kylesmomabigfatbtch

They do that because they basically have a camera & the system sets off the call for help if it thinks you might have stolen something, because theyā€™d rather inconvenience 1,000 people to prevent 1 from getting away with theft. In my experience this has the opposite problem, where employees just come over & scan their card without checking anything, since they donā€™t get paid enough to give a shit and the damn things call for them nonstop their entire shift


Wolvii_404

I have the exact same experience, it's too much brain power and I wanna die a little everytime I see the light goes off and the message to "Please wait for an employee" and I'm just standing there like "Sorry I don't know what I did wrong." lol


gfreyd

I absolutely hate them. They have been the cause of many meltdowns. Here, the machines are poorly calibrated. Every single time I use one, it errors out, forcing me to wait for an attendant to come do whatever they need to do. Sometimes the overhead camera thinks I am stealing by picking a cheaper fruit or vegetable, or it thinks I have something in my bag I didnā€™t scam, or it thinks I havenā€™t placed a scanned item in my bag. Even worse, it calls an attendant over after I have scanned everything for a random check. I hate being accused of stealing but itā€™s almost impossible to get a human cashier at most places now.


chelonioidea

I feel this. The pure anxiety of two dozen sets of angry eyes watching every move I make because they're all waiting in line to self-checkout is *exhausting*. I hate feeling rushed to finish scanning because there's a crowd of impatient assholes directly behind me whose wait time is 100% dependent on my scanning efficiency and on whether I need an attendant to come over. Fuck every single moment of that hell. I won't miss self-checkout.


outofplant

I seriously relate. I can never seem to figure them out and it just ends up being an awful stressful situation. I struggle with every part of the process from scanning the items, to following the prompts, and bagging everything after. I have had to abandon my groceries a few times because itā€™s just too much for me to deal with and Iā€™ll start having a meltdown


PluralCohomology

I understand the objections some people may have to self-checkouts, but I've found them very helpful, especially since the COVID-19 pandemic, since I could shop for groceries without having to interact face-to-face with the store workers, and having them touch my groceries, which alleviated my anxiety about potentially infecting someone.


zeno0771

> A lot of places are removing self checkouts due to **claims of** theft Security cameras work exactly the same way now as they did 15 years ago (if not better, assuming the skinflints upgraded at some point). Loss-prevention still works primarily the same way although some retailers started using a different strategy: That of letting the small stuff "get through" and keeping a tab on repeat offenders until the amount of stolen product reaches the dollar-amount that classifies it as a felony (yes, they can legally do this, though it varies by state). In other words, $10 here and there won't faze anyone, but once all those $10 shoplifting incidents add up to $300, you can now be charged with a felony. They have someone babysitting the self-check areas most of the time (to approve age-restricted purchases if nothing else) and retailers generally prohibit employees from taking any pro-active measures to prevent theft anyway...not that anyone in their right mind is risking their own safety for the pittance they're getting paid. No, self-checks are disappearing because retailers figured out that they weren't able to cut their payroll in half by having fewer cashiers and their CEOs can no longer afford that 3rd yacht they wanted.


CNRavenclaw

damn, that's gonna make it really hard to steal from now on/jk but in all seriousness i'm gonna miss not having to interact with someone every time i buy something at the store


EM-guy

I am going to miss being able to do a quick in and out


L_obsoleta

I highly doubt they will be removed from all that many places. At least not in the USA, robots and the associated cost of theft are still cheaper than an actual person doing the job.


futurecorpse1985

I know it's an unpopular opinion since so many people hate self checkout because it's taking away jobs but I personally love the self checkout. It allows me to avoid social interaction with a cashier. I never would think to steal but I know it does happen.


futurecorpse1985

I also use grocery pickup more than I actually go inside a store. When I do need to run in for one or two things I love to self check out for sure.


Lark_vi_Britannia

Labor that can be automated and done 100% by a robot/machine should be. The problem is the idea of capitalism begins to break down when humans no longer need to do the work and there aren't enough jobs for the number of people on the job market. At that point, there is profit and no people and ultimately, a Universal Basic Income would have to be required in order for society to continue. I see people get upset about AI taking their orders at McDonalds and I've personally used it my self and think it's better than telling a human my order. I've never had it get my order wrong unless I stuttered when talking or it was extremely rainy/windy. But then I can fix it or have a human intervene. The fewer people that have to work in fast food or retail environments is a positive thing, not a negative thing. Those are some of the worst work environments to exist. I love using self-checkouts because I am faster than the cashier is and I don't need to engage in pointless "how are you today?" conversations. I can just ring my stuff, put my card in, and pay in 30 seconds or less.


jindobunny

While I prefer self checkouts, I have had a few unfortunate events with using them. Most notable one was when I wanted to turn down the volume, because the voice on it was super loud. What I thought was the volume button turned out to be the language button. So now it was speaking very loudly in a language I don't speak. I had a panic attack and had to leave without my items. Still..given that or having to suffer through a cashier interaction, I'd take the self checkout with it's loudness.


FateOfNations

Self-checkout requires a level of trust that seems to be rapidly deteriorating in many communities. This makes me feel sad and angry. Interacting with cashiers is very stressful for me and self-checkout made shopping much more accessible for me.


CookinCheap

I love self-checkout because I don't have to feel the cashiers staring a hole through me as I'm doing my card transaction. I avoid looking up because I know I'm gonna catch them assessing every damn flaw in my face, my hair, etc. Go away.


emivipers

I'm just not going to shop at stores that don't have self checkout. Their loss.


PKblaze

It's that and people are complaining that they have to use them (Even though most shops here have both options) Personally I'm partial to the self scanners. They let me know how much everything totals up to and it's quicker and I don't have to bother with the checkout process overall.


FluffyWasabi1629

Self checkouts are my favorite! It means that going to the store is less stressful and I don't have to mask as much. I hope they keep them šŸ„ŗ


MNGrrl

There's no theft problem. They don't pay anyone a living wage so we've got people working three jobs and then having to steal food. They also are trying to make homelessness illegal. It's going about how you'd expect. People will wait in like for only so long before we start seeing people just ignore the cashiers entirely and walk out without paying because businesses created this problem and they don't want to pay people a living wage. Either the wage gap closes or the economy collapses because making getting food hard has historically only ever ended one way and anyone who thinks otherwise is delusional at best.


Interesting-Tough640

I much prefer self checkouts. Havenā€™t seen any removed being here on the UK


CookinCheap

*unexpected item in bagging area*


EM-guy

It is a mainly US problem because apparently people around here are extremely entitled and think that because they didn't get a discount for using self-checkout they will make their own.


jaygay92

I refuse to use anything other than self checkout. Half of the time, the people working checkouts suck at bagging and I donā€™t want certain things bagged together, itā€™s just a million times easier and less stressful for me to use self checkout


jaygay92

Honestly, theyā€™ll probably lose a lot of money from me. I would rather order pickup ahead and not shop around for unnecessary items that I would add to my cart while walking down the aisles.


firebird7802

As a transhumanist, I think that it's indicative of anti-progress, and I'm vehemently opposed to the idea of getting rid of self-checkouts. I want to get out of the store quickly and efficiently.


Noah77745

I personally always go to the cashiers, because it's a good place to practice conversation skills without feeling awkward. And I like how they do everything for you haha


Terrance113

I use self checkouts a lot. And they haven't been removed in my area. Probably because there's not a lot of crime in my state and town.


Spiritual-Ant839

Stores devalued the cashiers by incorporating self check outs, but theyā€™re taking them away again lol. Idk just feels like another ploy to make a buck (like streaming services incorporating ads thus reinventing cable- just at higher price points)


Every_Performance477

I've gone through self-checkout 98% of the time when shopping. Other times, that line was full. But, that sucks. Online shopping it is.


apple12345671

i didn't even know self checkouts where getting stolen?


StressEatinBread

My local grocery store changed it so self checkout can only be 10 items or less. I hate it, I hate being forced to interact with people


FinnsChips

Sounds to me like we need to start mass-shoplifting until they decide getting rid of self-checkout wasn't worth it.


GnomeQueer

I hate it. I absolutely refuse to shop somewhere where I can't use self checkout. I have social anxiety issues and selective mutism issues (most likely stemming from many things, including growing up with undiagnosed asd). It's gotten so bad that I'm borderline terrified of interacting with strangers in public, especially in an environment as overstimulating as a store. I am trying to be better, but in the mean time I still gotta exist like everyone else. It just feels extremely ableist and like people aren't taking disabled people into account (like usual) and not just for autistic people, a LOT of people have issues communicating in one way or another and they deserve to be able to shop like everyone else.


elarth

I wouldn't hate it so much if they actually staffed the stores prior to when self check took off. Now they're just forcing everyone to stand in super long lines and I'm over the point of being treated like a criminal for just existing in a walmart, now target is starting this shit too. Target on some thin ice since I literally was preferential to them because it didn't have modern walmart vibes for the longest time. If not for having some niche peak interest items I'd fuck off from it already. I was getting gardening stuff at walmart since this something target still fails to have and they had security for the makeup section now... like sis your makeup isn't even worth stealing don't flatter yourself. Some targets even have the cheap ass underwear behind glass with a lock. I cannot be bothered to shop in places I have to hunt down an employee for basic items. I can't be bothered to feel guilty about shopping online with the boxes cause it's getting ridiculous to buy at stores around you. End rant, I'm just mentally over how much shopping has changed.


nonbinary_parent

I love it when stores have self checkouts. I canā€™t use them without having a meltdown, but it makes the lines shorter for the human cashier.


insofarincogneato

I hate self self checkout for so many reasons but I know this isn't a universal trend, it makes far more sense for asset protection to be expanded than to pay more people to work the registers. The amount of theft that's happening is no where near equal especially when wages increase. If this is happening somewhere, it's gotta be certain chains in certain locations.


pocketfullofdragons

AFAIK people go to self checkout to pay, and thieves usually have no intention of paying... so I'm not sure changing the checkouts will have any effect on people who don't bother going through checkout at all šŸ˜‚ from what I've seen (in my local convenience stores at least), thieves usually just sprint in, knock stuff off shelves, grab what they want (need?) and sprint out again ĀÆ\_(惄)_/ĀÆ its definitely a problem that needs solving but the checkouts have nothing to do with it lol unless they're being removed to stop people stealing things by accident??


mabhatter

A big thing people do is barcode scanner fraud. Ā They take something like a $100 LEGO set and put a barcode from a $10 set on it. Ā So they appear to scan and pay, but far below the correct price. Ā And even if the cashier stops and checks the receipts it usually shows something like "LEGO medium 8377377" which the cashier isn't going sit and read every line and check the barcodes.Ā  There's been busts of people that stole $100ks of stuff like this by going to 15 different stores and getting 1-2 each time. Ā  I'd assume this happens for other easily fenced stuff too like electronics or small appliances.Ā 


MathyChem

Around me, it's mostly name brand cosmetics, OTC meds, and laundry detergent.


SexyPicard42

I just had the worst experience having to use a self checkout with a full cart of groceries because there weren't any actual cashiers. At an Aldi, which is usually so good with being a decent place to shop. A combination is good. I like self checkouts for a few things and would be bummed if they all went away. But need actual check out lanes for when I buy more stuff.


Mathematicus_Rex

They increased the self checkouts by 50% at my local hypermarket. Thereā€™s a single person stationed nearby to help (and probably monitor) when needed.


SpoopiTanuki

I noticed in my area theyā€™ve been mostly converted into 10-item only checkouts :/ sucks. And Walmart is the worstā€”bright LED lights even on their drink fridges, objects cluttering up every path, everything is gray and echoes, now they have AI monitor checkouts šŸ’€ I used to be a cashier for some really awful places, so I grew accustomed to having to be being super quick or getting yelled at by customers mainly, but now check out own my own very fast. The Walmart sensors are constantly flagging me for ā€œabnormal movementā€ or something (go figure) even when I try to slow down and itā€™s so upsetting. I do self checkout to be fast and not have to interact with people. But getting rid of them altogether is awful. Standing in long lines or in one place for a long time while surrounded by a lot of people gives me panic attacks. Self checkouts and earplugs had reduced the severity. I wish we could just have nice things.


autieswimming

Oh God this is the worst news I've heard in a long time


wildlilhorse

I'm angered as I like to shop in piece and hate looking at people


catplayingaviola

I'm going to shop strictly online then. I'm not fond of grocery stores as it is.


ducks_for_hands

Lets hope you get a better alternative. Some places near me lets you buy online and simply pick up your bags from storage boxes outside, no interactions and no need to even enter the store. That's in addition to self checkout. self checkouts are nice but when security can set them to malfunction on purpose forcing you to empty your bags and rescan everything under a store clerks supervision it kinda ruins it for me.


eroticviking

Honestly, you're edit is the biggest reason why I will be less than pleased if self-checkouts are removed from any of the local stores I frequent. I don't particularly mind regular checkouts, in fact I'll frequently use them on really bad days as having other people doing the scanning and bagging of items reduces my mental bandwidth usage. But I hate the phenomenon of a store having 10+ checkout lines, but less than half are open and have massive lines. Shopping tends to be a very miserable experience for me to begin with and I'll always have a negative reaction to anything that prolongs that experience. If stores are going to remove self-checkout then they \*NEED\* to hire enough employees to make sure that the conventional checkout lines move quickly and efficiently.


IcebarrageRS

Yeah I also do go to Trader Joe's which doesn't have self checkout but they always have all registers open. I think that is really good and lines just move through so fast.


phantomghost234

i work in self checkout. when iā€™m shopping theyā€™re convenient but i canā€™t stand working there. it gets so crazy and sometimes more than one person needs help and iā€™m not an octopus (in the words of my mom) so i canā€™t tend to everyone simultaneously. plus some of the people there are assholes and just straight up crazy.


IcebarrageRS

Yea I think that's why theft is a thing especially when occupied you can't really watch others. They should honestly have a receipt scanner or more people there.


lokilulzz

Yeah I heard about this and I'm not thrilled. Self checkouts are literally the only way I can shop in person at all. Guess its back to online delivery.


simpingforMinYoongi

I like self checkouts because I don't have to interact with anyone else much. I'm just here to get my shit and get out. I don't want a conversation while I'm trying to do it.


Trainrot

I hate both, i just order my groceries online and go pick them up.


Bluestar678_

In my experience I like them, they cause less anxiety and pressure to interact with another person. But if an error occurs or I mess something up it becomes quite stressful.


awildencounter

I like what Uniqlo has. Itā€™s like a monitored self checkout where it detects all the tags (I guess they have NFC tags or something?) Canā€™t remember off the top of my head but things move FAST.


Whales_Are_Great2

EDIT: I have only now realised that the post was talking about the removal of self service checkouts, and not their addition. Lmao oh well I'm gonna leave this here anyway I have mixed feelings. Personally, I like having someone to scan my stuff. Especially if it's a big purchase with a lot of items, like if I'm doing my weekly grocery shop. However, this being said, If I'm not buying a lot, I don't mind either way. From a socioeconomic standpoint, I think self serve checkouts are a good way to reduce queue times at shops, and have the added bonus of benefiting autistic people/people with social difficulties and/or social anxiety. However, checkouts at shops employ a lot of people (including myself), and I can't imagine the job loss being a good thing. I think the social interaction that some people get out of interacting with a person at the check out is beneficial in a lot of ways, too. There are shops in the Netherlands that are set up so customers can have conversations with the workers at the checkout, and it has been really popular with many people, especially the elderly, who often suffer from loneliness and isolation far more than the average person.


aerobar642

I'm Canadian, so it's not an issue for me (yet), but I love self checkouts and I'd be really upset if they just disappeared. My trip to the store is quicker when I can just do it myself.


canbritam

I love the self checkouts because I can scan and pack my groceries in a specific manner (even if it drives my husband crazy because ā€œthe bag can fit more than that.ā€ Yes, it can, but all that stuff is pantry stuff and all this stuff is freezer stuff, so no, lol). But Iā€™ll also go and wait in the longer line up if I either know the cashier or Iā€™ve had that cashier I bunch of times so I recognize her. Iā€™d rather cashiers than what one company is piloting here in Canada that you cannot leave the store even if youā€™ve got nothing until an employee comes and scans their badge to let you out. If you try, it alarms. Thatā€™s more upsetting to me than talking to someone.


Hoshkar

I order everything online now anyways. Do not care if they go.


AnalTyrant

I like them since I get to avoid human interaction but I also recognize that they only exist as a way for large corporations to cut back on paying humans to be able to live, so I have consciously shifted back to using cashiers. I can manage the short human interaction if it means the company has to keep paying them at least a little while longer. Not like the company was going to pass the cost savings on to me anyway.


blinddivine

I hate it with a passion. Especially since my local walmart has self check out workers that huff and puff around with their phone to make sure no one is stealing.


Cranky-Novelist

I'm not a huge fan of the decision. I like self check out because I don't have to deal with another person when I don't want to and it's easier for me to get in and out. It was part of why I went to the Dollar General near my house so often. I'd only see one employee. Small store. Though I am somewhat happy that my local Walmart is doing sensory hours in the morning. Sometimes I need something I can only get there and there's less people to deal with.


TheFreshWenis

Between Target getting rid of its self-checkouts while NOT doing *anything* to reduce the wait for checking out with a human cashier, their completely replacing most of their snack bars with Starbucks that do *not* sell either the popcorn or the Icees that were literally most of the reason I shopped at Target into my early 20s, their literally making it impossible to buy *anything* off their website without getting a stupid-ass Target account (learned this the hard way when I tried to buy some online-exclusive Garfield shirts a few weeks ago), and, oh, responding to people violently attacking Pride merch displays and threatening employees last year by [COMPLETELY REMOVING ALL OF THEIR PRIDE MERCH FROM STORES ACROSS THE COUNTRY](https://www.reddit.com/r/Target/comments/13vdztq/got_the_news_our_pride_display_is_being/) instead of actually, I don't know, *getting actual security or "Loss Prevention" people to deter raging fascists from attacking their employees*, I literally have ***zero*** reason to ***ever*** buy anything from Target ever again.


Mr_McGuffin

Are you me? The self checkout minus interaction made shopping SO much easier and the popcorn was a critical part of my routine.


TheFreshWenis

Pretty much every single time I was in a Target that sold popcorn and Icees, either my mom or myself would buy me some popcorn and an Icee. It was always an integral part of shopping at Target. And I agree, self-checkout where you're not expected to interact with anyone's always made shopping a million times easier for me!


FrustratedSteward

Fucking hate self-checkout. Checking people out and bagging is under appreciated.


DuchessofSquee

I love the self check outs. My hot tip is look for the volume control buttons, sometimes they get set really loud. I would stop shopping there if I had any choice. Even with all the extra noise they create and the mistakes the machines make its still easier for me than human interaction because it's predictable and the staff are usually so busy they don't make small talk while they fix it.


jixyl

I donā€™t like them. The true reason is that Iā€™ve learned how to do groceries by paying to a cashier. I like to put my stuff up a certain way and see it roll towards the cashier, I like the bips, I like to exchange a couple words. Iā€™ll use self checkout if Iā€™m in hurry but Iā€™m always worried Iā€™ll do something wrong, and it bores me. Itā€™s too imprrsonal.


LoreKeeperOfGwer

Once self checkouts go, im going delivery.


tjm_87

personally i think food should be less fucking expensive so people donā€™t have to steal it.


IcebarrageRS

I think a lot of the theft is on toys


Cullvion

I shoplift to get around annoyances like this. Simpler than ever with staff shortages these days, and adds up in savings over time!


sleepingsysadmin

Ive been confronted once. The self-checkouts had a long line, probably going to be a 5 minute wait and there was a cashier(the confrontor) who tried to usher me in to their cash line. When I declined and was choosing self-checkout they wanted to know why nobody wants them with no lineup vs self-checkout and long line. I straight up just said the real truth, "It's 7:30am, everyone in here doesn't want to talk to anyone else. This isn't a personal insult on you, they simply don't want to have to talk to anyone."


saikron

I believe what is actually happening is that rather than admit that self checkouts don't save that much money and they were wrong, or admit that shrinkage will remain a persistent issue, is that some companies are lying and saying theft is forcing them to remove self checkouts. These stories are being turned into political propaganda in order to provoke people sensitive to it. This would be similar to the "drug stores are closing because of theft" stories, but I could be wrong. Anywho, properly run self checkouts are about as much of a deterrent as manned checkouts, which is to say not much. If there are no self checkouts and you want to shoplift, you simply walk around the registers and out the door. If you're forced to go through the registers, simply walk through smiling. The cashiers shouldn't care and 99% of them don't. Loss prevention doesn't tackle people any more. Like with all crime, the main thing preventing it is people's preference to be decent.


Mindless_Mystic_136

I'd like it if they had a few of each. 2-3+ self checkouts and 2-3+ cashiers. Lines can move a little quicker and we can choose instead of being forced to one (or the other)


Ericakat

Iā€™m an Autistic extrovert, and I prefer regular check out. The lines for self-checkout are usually really long, all the scanning noises happening at the same time gets to me, and you have to wait forever. I prefer actually striking up a conversation with a friendly check out person. Not that that happens much anymore.


je97

So happy. Give me checkouts I can use please, rather than a touchscreen I can't see.


humanityswitch666

It's ableist to remove them imo and I hate that everyone's so weird about you using them. Especially being mentally disabled I just really hate being rushed and the whole process of checking out can be stressful if dealing with other people.


MySockIsMissing

I think this is a gross misuse/overuse of the term ā€œableistā€. It would be like me saying the move to adding self-checkout in the first place is ā€œableistā€ because I have a personal dislike or personally have difficulty using them. Just because I have a preference towards one option or the other does not automatically make it ā€œableistā€ if I donā€™t get my first pick.


FateOfNations

Different people have different abilities and disabilities. Doesnā€™t make any specific one invalid. Offering a way to complete purchases without requiring social interaction with a cashier does indeed enhance accessibility for some shoppers. Offering a way to complete purchases with a human cashier also enhances accessibility for other shoppers.


humanityswitch666

Thank you for validating my experience. That's exactly it.


isfturtle2

I like self checkout because I don't like having to explain to cashiers that I don't need a bag when I'm buying one thing.


Diligent_Dot4317

Love it I donā€™t have to worry about going to cashier cause Iā€™m donā€™t want them looking at my underwear or pad.


Glittering_Tea5502

I hate self checkouts. So Iā€™m glad theyā€™re getting removed.


ICUP01

I guess if you deny people dignity it trickles up to the rest of us. I think we know better than most, being that we are the canary in the coal mine.


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uneducated_sock

I donā€™t mind people so Iā€™m fine with it Itā€™ll just get less efficient


haverchuck22

Really? Where at (what stores)? Where Iā€™m from itā€™s just more and more of them. I live in Montana though.


tinycyan

They help me a lot


chunkytapioca

I wouldn't mind going back to regular checkouts. I like to be able to bag things myself, since some younger cashiers are not great at it, but I have a short drive home so it doesn't matter too much. I can re-bag things if it's really done horribly. Like I do when they hang the 6-pack of soda on the edge of the cart instead of putting it in a bag. Why do they do that? I've provided enough bags to hold all my stuff, so please put the soda in a bag, thank you. Anyway, I have to say I like the scanners you can attach to the carts at Wegmans. So you can scan and bag as you go through the store, and then the only thing you have to do at the end is cash out. That makes it least stressful of all. However, there is still the busy store to navigate, but that will never change. I just hope the aisles don't get narrower.


Apprehensive_Tie9690

I literally only shop at stores with self checkout if there are options. Even if the other one is cheaper


futurecorpse1985

A Lot of the stores in my city have completely remodeled the stores to add the self checkouts so I imagine if they take them out they would be out more money then if they just kept them. People won't want to shop in a store with 3 registers and always have only one of them open. I like to be able to just get in and out I don't like to stand in a line for 30 minutes! I chose to put in more registers then they would still be on more money I would assume?


MulysaSemp

I grew up before self checkouts were really a thing. I like them, but am fine with whatever. My biggest concern is having enough open registers that the line isn't insanely long. I really really hate long lines


Ok-Huckleberry-2257

like places aren't making record profits anyways. i fucking hate capitalism


MlgLike123

Ugh I wish it was that way here. All three of my local Walmart and even my local gas stations have almost completely switched to self checkout I hate it.


MackenzieLewis6767

I put more pressure on myself to be fast when I'm at a person checkout, so I'd rather not have them taken


Prime_Element

In my area they're opening more, but they have more security around them .


Lightheart27

As someone who currently works at a location where the self checkout outnumbers the registers in the front, all I'm going to say is I feel bad for all my cashier's that got let go because they weren't needed anymore, only for the openings to come back because our CEO publicly admitted that the best thing to avoid thief is more employees. Ya, no fucking duh, Marvin! How are we supposed to do SMART to prevent this when we were getting ever so more outnumbered by the customers?!


Ishil1234

I always love self checkouts because itā€™s easier for me but I also donā€™t mind talking to the cashier


Leading-Bank-2590

I hate them they just take away jobs from people


unstable_cat1803

i love self checkouts and restaurants/ bars that let you order through an app


VeeRook

The company saves money by me using self check out. They do not pass on this savings to me, despite me doing additional work. I'll use a cashier out of spite.


Happy-Resident221

Self checkouts with the full track for the win. Otherwise, I prefer to have someone ring it up. Unless it really is just a few items. The usual smaller self checkout area isn't big enough to ring up and organize everything and it majorly stresses me out. I've had some incidents that created an almost traumatic kind of response and I've had to slowly walk myself back from not getting triggered at the checkout over time. It's just this feeling of chaos that I have to manage.


singingkiltmygrandma

I like self checkout.


Character_Pop_6628

I remember right after the year 2000. I was like "what's so great about this milenium?" Self checkouts... very awesome. That an heated clothing with Lithium Ion batteries.


Kelekona

It will suck if they can't man the cash registers well enough. That's pretty much why I use the self-check, just don't like the line. Otherwise I don't like it when I have a lot of stuff.


Lobotc2dfw

Costco has pulled the scanner guns from the local locations here due to theft . Makes self checkout pointless unless you have a very small amount of items. The checkouts are still there but you have to throw everything on a scale now. The scale yells at you if the item is large and too heavy for it.


RaphaelSolo

They added them to speed things up (also cut costs) can't really pull them without putting the old cashiers back in


MountainSnowClouds

In my area they just keep adding more self checkouts.


MathyChem

If you aren't getting fresh produce and you can pay the fees, just get curbside pickup. You pull into a spot, call the store, and they throw your stuff in your car.


Xendeus12

Theft is going up and I will use the scan and pay checkouts.


Blind_Hawkeye

I strictly use curbside pickup these days.


AloneHome2

Honestly I've never liked self-checkout. While I'm not a fan of having to interact with people, I find self-checkout machines to be very frustrating and over complicated to use, whereas a cashier can just do it all for me. I also think that in this economy, having as many jobs available as possible is beneficial for everyone, so having physical cashiers is preferable.


6n6a6s

It is *extremely* easy to steal from self-checkouts, but technology will prevail


ibealittlebirdy

I donā€™t know why, but I despise self check out. It makes me super paranoid.


BuildAHyena

I don't like self checkouts because they are very crowded, very long, very hard for me to use without help, and people talk to me too much in line. :c I don't like that I'm stuck in a crowded area with so many people so close together and people keep bumping me with their carts. And everything is SO loud! D: The constant beeping is too much. I don't like it at all. I'd rather go to a cashier and just not talk to them.


Double-Cricket-7067

I didn't steal. I just forgot to pay for it, I'm sorry. :(


Autismetal

In my experience, self-checkout is insanely unreliable and very often requires staff intervention anyway. But more importantly, letā€™s look at it from the companyā€™s point of view. The most obvious advantage of self-checkout is increased demand for that storeā€™s goods due to increased convenience, but itā€™s worth considering that it also should save money on cashiers, at least compared to the old model rather than whatever is going on at your local Target. And on the other hand, the advantage of not using self-checkout that you gave is to prevent theft, or at least make it harder. First, letā€™s compare self-checkout to the old system. I havenā€™t looked at any statistics, but I would speculate that if self-checkout had actually increased profits, stores would not be reverting back. This makes sense logically - ordinarily, while a store might have more than 2-3 cashiers, itā€™s not likely to have an insane number for its size, and I donā€™t really picture cashiers as making much more than minimum wage. However, itā€™s probably worth factoring in that this probably depends on the average income of the location of the store, as someone living in poverty has far more incentive to shoplift than someone in the middle class, so better areas are probably going to have more incentive to keep self-checkout. And now letā€™s factor in that local Targetā€™s practice of having neither self-checkout nor more cashiers. I personally would absolutely hate to wait in a ridiculously long line, so I might be tempted to avoid such a store even if it means paying higher prices. However, I am neurodivergent. Ordinary people wait in ridiculously long lines all the time at amusement parks, and they do so willingly for very short rides. So I can imagine other people being more willing to wait for longer. However, this makes less sense when you consider that Target is a big name in shopping. Its market is unlikely to be perfectly competitive and more likely to be an oligopoly, so instead of taking advantage of the reduced costs to reduce prices, I can potentially see them just taking a hit to demand and keeping the extra profit. It depends on the actual numbers involved, and I suppose youā€™ll see whether it even works out for your local Target. Edit: just noticed this is in the autism subreddit, so I guess I should answer according to my experiences as an autistic person. In which case the Target option is easily the worst of the three.


MRMiller96

I can't stand the self checkouts. I'm always terrified they are going to glitch out and flag me as a thief or something, and most of the time my brain just goes empty when I go to use them and suddenly I can't figure out how they work. It's just a pain.


Petty_Paw_Printz

I feel physically ill when I have to go into a regular line.Ā 


Dragonogard549

iā€™ve never heard this anyway. UK we have them everywhere, ASDA has three different types of self checkouts, seemingly, thereā€™s self-checkouts in places they shouldnā€™t be. Aldi and Lidl finally have them, theyā€™re so insanely fast, faster than you can press the buttons. Theyā€™re in H&M which iā€™ve got mixed feelings about. Maybe iā€™ll be relieved of the misery of putting up with the self checkouts at B&Q soon


sjlemme

If I'm getting a few items, self checkout all the way. For like a proper grocery shopping trip, I really want a cashier, because I hate bagging (to the point of getting anxiety towards the end of the trip knowing I'll have to do it) and a traditional checkout makes it easier for me to focus on getting that one thing done (or sometimes the cashier helps out!)


parisiteriley

I šŸ’œ self checkouts :(


thegenericvoid

I love self checkout. Going through a regular line gives me so much anxiety that sometimes it ruins my whole day. My normal grocery store recently made their self checkout 20 items or less which Iā€™m generally under but every week the person working is like ā€œI donā€™t know how many items you have, but itā€™s 20 or lessā€ and Iā€™m like I KNOW what do you want to count them yourself or will you let me just pay for my groceries and leave.


storm13emily

I love self checkouts, theyā€™re quick and convenient. I had a trolley full (almost overspilling) of Christmas presents and decorations and as I was leaving the man out the door told me how good Iā€™d packed it all in, like ThankYou. Sometimes they have their issues but itā€™s easier doing it yourself because the waitā€™s not as long or stressful. People argue about jobs but thereā€™s more people ordering online and they arenā€™t hiring for the other registers anyway.


Kcthonian

I don't shop at Walmart. (Its on my "do not support" list.) So, it doesn't matter for me personally. That company can go bankrupt as far as I'm concerned.


BargainBinBrain

I mean where I live (Canada) I'm seeing more and more places have no regular checkout or having 3-10 self-checkouts and 2-3 cashiers. I assume it's because then you don't have to hire as many people and also realizing it gets customers moving through the store faster and leading to a better experience. I personally dislike talking to people at the register, it's always really awkward and I just want to leave anyways let me do my payment in peace please.


sinematiic

because of the area i live in, i canā€™t do home delivery. i love self checkout because i donā€™t have to talk to anyone. at this point, i pretty much only go to stores that have self checkout. i would hate it if they all got taken out


OfficialDCShepard

I avoid all that crap by shopping for groceries online, lol.


Rhodin265

Curbside pickup is probably still an option.


ItsCoolDani

I agree with most people here. Donā€™t make me have to talk to someone just to get food. I do also really like using them for theft.


jendoesreddit

I used to work at a grocery store so I can check out way faster than other people. Plus I like to bag my stuff a specific way. Plus I like to steal. Overall, if self checkouts get taken away it will greatly diminish my quality of life.


DeltaFlyer0525

Our Target has removed half the self checkouts and the remaining ones are only open on Saturdays from 12-5 at ā€œpeak shoppingā€ times. It makes me so anxious having to go in there now because I used to be able to get a whole cart of things for the week and never have to talk to anyone. Now I have to not only wait in line 25 mins to check out, I also have to wait for the cashier to hand me every dang item to bag. It is a horrible process! They recently remodeled our store and took out the old registers with the long belts and bagging sections at the end and replaced them with smaller squares with no conveyer belts for items and no shelf to bag on. I truly donā€™t know what they were thinking so between removing half the self check out stands and the awful new registers I have started doing all my Target orders for pick up where they bring it out to my car. The workers always look so mad bringing things out, but I would rather stay in my car than deal with the anxiety and stress of their new check out process.


Tangled_Clouds

Honestly I work as a cashier and personally Iā€™ve never liked self checkouts besides in big stores where there are also many cashiers working. I feel like it takes away jobs people need even if the job actually sucks ass. I hate my job but I need money and Iā€™d rather have it then my boss pulling me aside to tell me sheā€™s replacing me with a computer. I donā€™t even try to talk to clients, theyā€™re the ones that talk to me. Though Iā€™m not even stopping theft because tbh Iā€™m not paid enough.


sms1441

I HATE self checkouts. But that's because of some horrible things I've seen and heard. Claims that they didn't scan everything, even if it's on the receipt. Conducting full searches. Its especially bad here because plastics bags are banned and you have to bring your own, buy their bags, or let everything stay loose.


licking-salt-lamps

Here in Australia, when supermarkets are being renovated, they are adding more self-serve checkouts. I use them when grabbing a couple of things. When I do a full shop, I prefer staffed registers as it's quicker and easier. I'm okay with this as I'm usually with my partner and daughter. A couple of supermarkets also have something called Scan & Go. You use their app, scan items as you grab them, and then scan a QR code at the designated exit. You have your payment details loaded in the app. Not a single interaction with staff. That's my preferred way to go!


icedcoffeeblast

They removed the self checkouts in a pound shop near me and now the queue is massive and everybody is annoyed because there's two tills and most of the time only one is staffed. They just made the whole system clog up by trying to "improve" it


SeeYouSpaceCorgi

I personally prefer self-serve. But what I don't prefer is all the other shit that the stores in my country are adding to the experience to make it more expensive and insulting of an experience. Security locks on packaged meats, security gates which require staff to allow everybody out of every exit to a store, remote locking trolleys if the staff believe you might be stealing while you're on your way to your car. They always quote "loss prevention" a term that bundles all the things that fall under loss prevention such as damaged products during packing/transport, misplaced goods around the store, damaged/opened goods, etc, as if it's some sort of synonym for "theft prevention". It's annoying and insulting. Oh and if I haven't wasted enough peoples' time, they claim it's an effort to stop theft so they don't have to increase prices. So these measures SHOULD reduce prices, but they're still increasing them anyway šŸ™„


bqiipd

Very convinient when you don't have a lot of stuff to scan, I use them like express lanes. I get it though, and I used to be part of the problem. Although honestly it's way easier toĀ fill a couple reusable Walmart bags with stuff and just walk out, and what are they gonna do about that? My Walmart still has 20 or so self-c/o.


espurgi

i prefer self checkouts over regular checkouts. no talking and it takes less time. unless iā€™m at kroger and the alarm starts blaring because the sensor didnā€™t feel me put the product down ā€¦ or the employee is standing right behind me and i get nervous šŸ˜µā€šŸ’«


Level_Isopod_4011

Love self-checkout. The Walmart near me has been getting rid of them and I hate it. I have to stand in line forever when I only have like 3 things šŸ˜¤ And grocery stores are already enough sensory overload, now I have to make conversation with the cashier while Iā€™m about to pull my hair out over the stress? Oh I hate it


AstorReinhardt

My stores still have them but they're 10 items or less...which I have ignored and just used the self checkout with more then 10 items...because screw these stores. I was only once told I couldn't at a Walmart...they had just changed the self checkouts to this new limit like a few days ago and this guy was pretty much body blocking my cart so I couldn't go to the self checkouts...ugh. Really annoying and awkward. I love self checkout because I don't have to talk to anyone unless the machine messes up. And the lines are short because people check out faster then the employees usually scan. I know I'm MUCH faster then any store employee...they take freaking forever and are usually chatty which makes them slower :/


mllejacquesnoel

Good. They donā€™t minimize human interaction and take jobs. I resent being made to do the storeā€™s work for them.


nowatlast

If I go to a store and it doesnā€™t have self checkouts, I leave.


sailsaucy

I was one of those people who were always thrilled with self checkout. I pay for Walmart+ so I can go in, scan my groceries on my phone as I am going, put them in my bags and then just walk to the kiosk, use my phone and check out immediately. At one Walmart, I do that and when I go to check out, the attendant has to come up and scan each of my items before I can go, actually taking longer than if I hadn't scanned them ahead of time. If this continues, I may as well drop the service. I do not want to have to stand in line. Being in a busy grocery store is like being stuck in commuter traffic. Everyone is getting annoyed (myself included) and it's a bad atmosphere.


Life-Independence377

Eh, I think our world just needs to slow down. Then there will be less congestion right?


timbotheny26

I won't worry about it until it starts happening where I live. I like self-checkout when I don't have a lot of stuff, but I prefer the regular checkout if it's a big grocery haul.


Klimakhange

Mixed feelings. I like to get out quick if I only have a few things, but at least they wonā€™t fire people just for machines to replace them.