Ageism in the Self-checkout Lane

[Lizard Queen]

Since mentioning the self checkout at the library, I've been dreaming of something like it at the grocery store. Just plop your purchases on a conveyor, it scans automatically (no looking for the UPC code), and all you have to do is bag and pay. It's probably not affordable for everything though, as it likely uses RFID tags on each item.

[minnesotapaintlady]

Feb 23, 2022 9:22:08 GMT -5 wvugurl26 said:

I guess I'm odd. I've never really liked small talk with cashiers, etc. I'm always stressed I'll say the wrong thing, something dumb, etc. It just stresses me, it doesn't improve my day. I much prefer to order from an app or online or use the kiosk. Then I know the order has been inputted correctly.

At the grocery stores around here, all the sale prices come off at the end no matter whether you go to a human or self check out.

There's usually a line at the post office here. DH loves the self serve machines to scan in small packages that I've pre paid for. I like to have a receipt that its been accepted especially if it's something I've sold. The line is usually through the lobby to the door.

Time is precious to me. I'd rather not spend it waiting in line.

Same here, I find the line and interacting with a human more annoying.  The only time I ever go through the line is if I have a crap ton of groceries and don't want to bag them by myself with the small area you have at the self checkout. If I have one of my kids along one of us bags and one scans and we're out of there in not time.

My favorite is scan and go at Sam's Club where you just scan the items as you throw them in the cart and then just leave after swiping to pay.  So quick and easy.  You can see how your bill is playing out as you go and sale items show up immediately when scanned.  I would love it if our regular grocery store went to that, but I'm guessing there would be a lot more stealing with that when you're not buying bulk and there are tons of items in a cart.

[wvugurl26]

Sam's club scan and go is amazing. It even works for alcohol in my home state. So efficient. Collect your items, scan, swipe to pay and exit.

[Lizard Queen]

Our Meijer has scan and go. I haven't tried it, as I've got a cheaper phone, and I'm sure it involves another app that I don't have much room for.

[bean29]

Feb 22, 2022 12:16:07 GMT -5 Tennesseer said:

I saw it several months back while food shopping.  And I previously mentioned the incident here.

Went to checkout my groceries and saw that none of the checkout counters were open at my local Kroger other than self-checkout.  The food store that day was very under-staffed..

Six self-checkout stations were available while 15 customers were ahead of me with moderately to full carts.  And the line behind me was building fast.  Only one employee was seen and she was trying to help everyone at the self-checkout stations who were having problems with scanning their purchases,

Many in line were seniors like myself.  Unlike me who was used to using the self-check out stations, these other seniors were not let alone having to bag their own groceries.

The seniors and some of the other younger shoppers were having a rough go of it.  When one has a full cart of goods, bagging becomes a problem because there is little room at the stations to do so.  And the scanner stops  because the senior did something wrong and had to wait for that one employee to help clear up the error.

I only use self check out when I have just a few items, otherwise, I head for a regular checker.  Kroger bought what was Pick & Save in my area.  I had noticed that every f'in time I use self check out there the machine acts like I am a criminal trying to steal something and shuts down.  My DS is an Instacart shopper and she says their scanners shut down all the time b/c they go by weight, so those small check outs where you don't have enough room to bag all your groceries without pulling some stuff back to the cart are self defeating (for the store) and very annoying for the customer.  I still Shop at Kroger, b/c our opinion is they have better quality Meats, Bakery and produce, but I usually avoid the self checkout lanes.

Walmart and Meijers don't have the weight criteria at their self check out lanes, so less of an issue.  Meijers also has some self check out lanes that have more room for bagging your own groceries.

I encountered the self check out lanes only or maybe 1 or two lanes open at Lowes one day when I was buying a few cabinets.  Very long lines, and no additional staff to open other check out lanes. I managed to check out, but I needed help loading them in the truck.  I waited a bit, and then decided to try to load myself.  Luckily another customer offered to help me.  Never saw the employee that was called to help me, and there was another woman with a sink base that checked out before me, that was waiting for someone to help here load her purchase.

I like to use Apple Pay anywhere that accepts it.  When the purchase goes through, you see the amount right in the app.  I use it at the grocery store, walgreens, gas station etc.  I have my default receipt at Walgreens, Macys and Lowes as an e-mail.  I need to set a few more up.  at Walgreeens and Meijer you can look up reciepts under your account info.  I have some issues with Kohl's and Macy's in store purchases on the app, but Macy's always e-mails a receipt.

[minnesotapaintlady]

Feb 23, 2022 10:37:38 GMT -5 wvugurl26 said:

Sam's club scan and go is amazing. It even works for alcohol in my home state. So efficient. Collect your items, scan, swipe to pay and exit.

We can do alcohol too.  It just flags your final barcode to check ID, but I obviously look way over 21 and never have to dig mine out.

[minnesotapaintlady]

Feb 23, 2022 10:54:37 GMT -5 bean29 said:

I like to use Apple Pay anywhere that accepts it.  When the purchase goes through, you see the amount right in the app.  I use it at the grocery store, walgreens, gas station etc.  I have my default receipt at Walgreens, Macys and Lowes as an e-mail.  I need to set a few more up.  at Walgreeens and Meijer you can look up reciepts under your account info.  I have some issues with Kohl's and Macy's in store purchases on the app, but Macy's always e-mails a receipt.

I have been using Google Pay whenever I can and love that too.  Just tap the phone and you're done  So much safer than having and using the actual cards, but then there is also the issue of if your phone goes dead you're screwed, so I still tend to always carry my purse with the actual cards.

[anciana]

Feb 23, 2022 10:25:13 GMT -5 minnesotapaintlady said:

Feb 23, 2022 9:22:08 GMT -5 wvugurl26 said:

I guess I'm odd. I've never really liked small talk with cashiers, etc. I'm always stressed I'll say the wrong thing, something dumb, etc. It just stresses me, it doesn't improve my day. I much prefer to order from an app or online or use the kiosk. Then I know the order has been inputted correctly.

At the grocery stores around here, all the sale prices come off at the end no matter whether you go to a human or self check out.

There's usually a line at the post office here. DH loves the self serve machines to scan in small packages that I've pre paid for. I like to have a receipt that its been accepted especially if it's something I've sold. The line is usually through the lobby to the door.

Time is precious to me. I'd rather not spend it waiting in line.

Same here, I find the line and interacting with a human more annoying.  The only time I ever go through the line is if I have a crap ton of groceries and don't want to bag them by myself with the small area you have at the self checkout. If I have one of my kids along one of us bags and one scans and we're out of there in not time.

My favorite is scan and go at Sam's Club where you just scan the items as you throw them in the cart and then just leave after swiping to pay.  So quick and easy.  You can see how your bill is playing out as you go and sale items show up immediately when scanned.  I would love it if our regular grocery store went to that, but I'm guessing there would be a lot more stealing with that when you're not buying bulk and there are tons of items in a cart.

Me three! All the little chitchat stresses me out when I'm trying to watch the register and the person bagging the groceries and remember to use my coupon or the shopping app. I have gotten pretty good at scanning and I like to bag stuff a certain way (I don't like it when they bag too few items per bag and I end up with gazillion of them), and I'm even pretty quick with produce. But I can use the self checkout only when I don't have a full cart as there is not enough space in the bagging area.

[Deleted]

I gave up completely on WalMart when they started a policy of having to physically see my ID to check out alcohol at both the self-service and full-service.  I'm mid-70's and it shows but they actually had to see my ID out of my wallet to proceed.  Too much hassle for too little savings.

[Deleted]

Feb 23, 2022 12:00:01 GMT -5 soupandstew said:

I gave up completely on WalMart when they started a policy of having to physically see my ID to check out alcohol at both the self-service and full-service.  I'm mid-70's and it shows but they actually had to see my ID out of my wallet to proceed.  Too much hassle for too little savings.

Costco actually scanned the back of my DL until recently.  It wasn't a state requirement- another Costco nearby, also in MO, didn't.  I'm 69 so its not that I appeared underage.  Every single time, I told them "I don't like having that scanned".  (They insisted that nothing was stored, which I doubted.)  Maybe they listened.

[wvugurl26]

I think the scan thing is verifying it's valid. The scan checks against a database. I doubt the store is saving information. The concern would be about who's maintaining those databases. Turbo tax wants pieces of drivers license information to check your identity. I assume since they ask that it is checked against a database.

I agree with being cautious about sharing your information but it's clear states are giving drivers license information to other entities.

Some states or stores have card everyone policies. When my aunt first moved to TN it was like that. My grandpa grumbled loudly about having to dig out his license when we were out to dinner.

[NomoreDramaQ1015]

I had a family come in and I wasn't going to 100% take the word of the guy that he was 21 so I asked to see ID.  He kept insisting I didn't need it and he didn't have it anyhow.  I told him then by law I can't serve him. If I ask to see ID and he says he doesn't have it then I can't serve him alcohol.  Period.  They kept arguing with me that I should anyhow.  

It was very weird at the time but then I heard about the stake outs to catch if the law is being followed so now I wonder if that is what it was.

[weltschmerz]

I know how to use he self-checkout at the grocery stores, but I HATE it. I often buy items with a 50% off sticker on them, and the machine doesn't recognize that. I get a message 'Call attendant'. By the time the attendant shows up, I could have been home already. Plus you have to enter codes for produce. I can't see, so fuck that.
We also have stores here with NO attendants. You scan your items with your cellphone. I don't have a cellphone, so I'll never shop there.
My parents would be screwed. No debit cards, no credit cards, and their English was very poor. My mother could barely read. How is she supposed to follow directions?

[anciana]

Feb 22, 2022 21:25:43 GMT -5 @pinkcshmere said:

I can navigate self checkout fairly well, but I HATE it. I hate it enough that I often rant about it, and here’s another rant.

It pisses me off that stores try to tell me it’s a convenience they came up with, just for me.

Don’t try to blow smoke up my ass, Self Checkout is a way to reduce labor costs.

So, if you introduced Self Checkout to benefit ME, reduce your prices in at least a small percentage, in accordance to what you’re saving on labor costs. I mean, you’re trying to force me to work for you if I shop with you, so pay me something!

Our society is all about getting paid, right? So pay ME.

I’ve been a cashier at big chain stores before…..  it pisses me off that stores now expect me to do the exact same things as a consumer, that I used to get paid to do as an employee…… for free now. I’m supposed to work for free now, to shop and spend my money somewhere….. so rich folks can get even richer?! I can’t make it make sense, so……

I think the fuck NOT!

When I’m not really in a hurry, I’ll stand in a short line for a human cashier before I use self checkout. 

My little protests doesn’t mean anything in the grand scheme of things, but I do them anyway.

I don't think this is the first time we discussed the self checkout lane, and I seem to remember you voicing these sentiments then as well. Thinking about it a bit, I can see how you would feel totally cheated out by having to use it (I hope I am getting this right). Instead of just walking over to the register and having the cashier take care of your groceries, the store now expects you to do it all yourself, and no, there is no break in the price of groceries to account for the work you're doing, they're pocketing the difference for not having to employ more cashiers and having the customer do the work.

I think we are seeing more and more of that in other areas of life where we get presented with something as an advantage to us, only to realize later on that someone else is saving money by having us do the work, and not having to pay someone else do the work they used to. Thank you for pointing it out so clearly, I wouldn't have thought about it since I really do prefer the self checkout lanes on many occasions.

[Deleted]

Feb 23, 2022 14:49:38 GMT -5 anciana said:

Feb 22, 2022 21:25:43 GMT -5 @pinkcshmere said:

I can navigate self checkout fairly well, but I HATE it. I hate it enough that I often rant about it, and here’s another rant.

It pisses me off that stores try to tell me it’s a convenience they came up with, just for me.

Don’t try to blow smoke up my ass, Self Checkout is a way to reduce labor costs.

So, if you introduced Self Checkout to benefit ME, reduce your prices in at least a small percentage, in accordance to what you’re saving on labor costs. I mean, you’re trying to force me to work for you if I shop with you, so pay me something!

Our society is all about getting paid, right? So pay ME.

I’ve been a cashier at big chain stores before…..  it pisses me off that stores now expect me to do the exact same things as a consumer, that I used to get paid to do as an employee…… for free now. I’m supposed to work for free now, to shop and spend my money somewhere….. so rich folks can get even richer?! I can’t make it make sense, so……

I think the fuck NOT!

When I’m not really in a hurry, I’ll stand in a short line for a human cashier before I use self checkout. 

My little protests doesn’t mean anything in the grand scheme of things, but I do them anyway.

I don't think this is the first time we discussed the self checkout lane, and I seem to remember you voicing these sentiments then as well. Thinking about it a bit, I can see how you would feel totally cheated out by having to use it (I hope I am getting this right). Instead of just walking over to the register and having the cashier take care of your groceries, the store now expects you to do it all yourself, and no, there is no break in the price of groceries to account for the work you're doing, they're pocketing the difference for not having to employ more cashiers and having the customer do the work.

I think we are seeing more and more of that in other areas of life where we get presented with something as an advantage to us, only to realize later on that someone else is saving money by having us do the work, and not having to pay someone else do the work they used to. Thank you for pointing it out so clearly, I wouldn't have thought about it since I really do prefer the self checkout lanes on many occasions.

Yes, you got it right.

I admit it is convenient if you’re in a hurry and there’s a line at the cashier registers, IF there’s not also a line at self checkout, which regularly happens too where I live. But they usually only have a couple of cashiers these days at most stores, so of course they have lines, which encourages more people to use self checkout.

[anciana]

Feb 23, 2022 15:33:46 GMT -5 @pinkcshmere said:

Feb 23, 2022 14:49:38 GMT -5 anciana said:

I don't think this is the first time we discussed the self checkout lane, and I seem to remember you voicing these sentiments then as well. Thinking about it a bit, I can see how you would feel totally cheated out by having to use it (I hope I am getting this right). Instead of just walking over to the register and having the cashier take care of your groceries, the store now expects you to do it all yourself, and no, there is no break in the price of groceries to account for the work you're doing, they're pocketing the difference for not having to employ more cashiers and having the customer do the work.

I think we are seeing more and more of that in other areas of life where we get presented with something as an advantage to us, only to realize later on that someone else is saving money by having us do the work, and not having to pay someone else do the work they used to. Thank you for pointing it out so clearly, I wouldn't have thought about it since I really do prefer the self checkout lanes on many occasions.

Yes, you got it right.

I admit it is convenient if you’re in a hurry and there’s a line at the cashier registers, IF there’s not also a line at self checkout, which regularly happens too where I live. But they usually only have a couple of cashiers these days at most stores, so of course they have lines, which encourages more people to use self checkout.

Do you think they're slowly training us to switch over to self checkout completely? 

[NomoreDramaQ1015]

Feb 23, 2022 15:51:13 GMT -5 anciana said:

Feb 23, 2022 15:33:46 GMT -5 @pinkcshmere said:

Yes, you got it right.

I admit it is convenient if you’re in a hurry and there’s a line at the cashier registers, IF there’s not also a line at self checkout, which regularly happens too where I live. But they usually only have a couple of cashiers these days at most stores, so of course they have lines, which encourages more people to use self checkout.

Do you think they're slowly training us to switch over to self checkout completely? 

I think so.  Walmart if we are lucky has one check out lane open, the rest is all self check out.  The supermarkets are moving that way as well.   I know part of is they "cannot find workers" but I don't think they are making all that much of an effort to find workers either.

Walmart I don't mind so much because when they did it they installed one area that is just the smaller self check outs so if you have a couple things you can bag and get out.  Then the other area has a mix of the small ones and then ones with lanes so you have a place to put all your groceries.  There are still lines but in general they move pretty fast since you can use whatever lane is most efficient for you.

Hy-Vee or SuperSaver are awful.  They just have the itty bitty ones and it is a nightmare to grocery shop.  IDK if the goal is to condition people to shop for only 1-2 days worth at a time or whoever is rolling the self checks out is a moron.  Probably the latter.

[Deleted]

Feb 23, 2022 15:51:13 GMT -5 anciana said:

Feb 23, 2022 15:33:46 GMT -5 @pinkcshmere said:

Yes, you got it right.

I admit it is convenient if you’re in a hurry and there’s a line at the cashier registers, IF there’s not also a line at self checkout, which regularly happens too where I live. But they usually only have a couple of cashiers these days at most stores, so of course they have lines, which encourages more people to use self checkout.

Do you think they're slowly training us to switch over to self checkout completely? 

I do, absolutely. It might not be feasible for all kinds of stores to only have self checkout, but I think they are trying to get as close to it as possible. And training us to accept it, by making it inconvenient to go to a human cashier.

I read somewhere, that even with the increase in theft, WalMart still finds self checkout cost effective. It was a while ago and I have no idea where I read it though.

Speaking of theft, I saw a meme on Facebook a while back saying something like stores want us to work for them with no OTJ training, so they can’t get mad if I don’t ring up all my items. I haven’t been trained. That’s not verbatim, just the gist of it.

I do not approve of stealing, and can’t stand a thief, but the meme was funny to me.

[The Walk of the Penguin Mich]

Feb 23, 2022 13:17:31 GMT -5 NomoreDramaQ1015 said:

I had a family come in and I wasn't going to 100% take the word of the guy that he was 21 so I asked to see ID.  He kept insisting I didn't need it and he didn't have it anyhow.  I told him then by law I can't serve him. If I ask to see ID and he says he doesn't have it then I can't serve him alcohol.  Period.  They kept arguing with me that I should anyhow.  

It was very weird at the time but then I heard about the stake outs to catch if the law is being followed so now I wonder if that is what it was.

My brother is a bartender and right before covid, he let someone who argued with him about being served without ID and served him.  He realized it was an incredibly stupid mistake after the fact, but at the time was just tired of arguing.  He was fired.  

I can't imagine how wearying it has to be if you are the one always having to ask for ID - regardless of age - and the amount of arguments you need to deal with.  As a result, if they want to see my ID to see I'm over 60, have at it.  Those asking are just covering their butt.

About 7 years ago, we were in Memphis at a wedding and a group of us went out.  I didn't want to carry my purse, so didn't and left it in the hotel.  Idiot me, I didn't think to pull out my driver's license and stick it in my pocket before we left.  I was not even allowed into the bar!  TD had to go back to the hotel and get my license for me.  He moves much faster and already the place we were going was at the upper range of my walking distance.  I hung out with the bouncer until he got back with my license.

[Deleted]

I've recently noticed that about 1/3 of the self-checkout machines are signed CASH ONLY or CREDIT ONLY which further backs things up because it's guaranteed that at least 1 person will get in the wrong line and a worker has to come and void out their transaction.  And the Cash Only machine requires a worker to come over if it's a $100 bill.  And don't get me started on the use of EBT cards at self-checkout because there's ALWAYS someone who will buy ineligible items so a worker has to come over 

The one place I love self-checkout is CVS because the lines are always stupid long for regular registers.  I can grab a greeting card, a Diet Coke, shampoo and I am out of there!

[The Walk of the Penguin Mich]

Self scanning started in the grocery stores in Lexington before I left.  I quickly realized that there just is not the space for a cart of groceries, so never used it for anything more than a few items.  

Even in Costco, if I have a few items whether or not I use the self scanners depends upon what I have in my cart.  If I have big bags of dog food or kitty litter.  Hell, even the cashiers there leave those in the cart and scan separately.

[countrygirl2]

If I get a car full of stuff and there is no cashier, I will walk out and leave it. I'm not using the self-service function.

I've noticed in the city at Sam's, the self checkouts are empty and there are lines at the few checkers open, people openly say, not taking someone's job. Guess we are stubborn.

[Deleted]

Feb 23, 2022 17:28:29 GMT -5 countrygirl2 said:

If I get a cart full of stuff and there is no cashier, I will walk out and leave it. I'm not using the self-service function.

They're not legally permitted to put many things back if you do that.  Frozen and refrigerated items have to be thrown out because spoilage may have started.  I share your dislike of self-service checkout but if I ever abandon a shopping cart in a store (and I will occasionally if the lines are long and slow) I put all the perishables back first.

[Deleted]

When we had the ice that knocked out so much power in the area a few weeks ago, I went to the grocery store along with a few other million people. Just as I finished scrounging up some things to buy (the shelves were bare, literally no meat except for a few cold cuts), they made an announcement that their credit card system was down, they could only take cash. I gave it a few minutes, then parked my basket and went to an ATM a couple doors down. Came back and got in line at self checkout.

Credit card system came back up just as I started ringing up my stuff. Just as I was about to pay, their whole system went down and they couldn’t do anything. The poor lady working the self checkout, was in the middle of trying to help a man and woman whose transaction went wonky when the cc system first went down and they didn’t have enough cash. She also had about 8 self checkout stations with people wanting her attention.

I was at the self checkout closest to her station and could clearly see she was frazzled. So I just patiently waited. She finally went ahead and finalized my transaction since it was already showing my total and I was paying cash. Plus I was right there in her face, even though I wasn’t saying anything or giving her dirty looks lol.

The man and woman she was still trying to help, the woman had sat down on a nearby bench, while the man dealt with it. While I was paying for my stuff I quietly asked her how much were they short. She couldn’t hear me and couldn’t read my lips so when I was done paying I walked over and asked her. She said “I’m not crying because of this. I’m pregnant and I cry about everything and I feel bad that he has to deal with me and this because my credit card doesn’t work”. Which made it sound like he wasn’t her partner, maybe just a friend taking her to the grocery store. I hadn’t realized she was even crying, OR pregnant.

I asked her again how much she was short and she said about $20 because he had $30 on him. I said “I have $20” and gave her a $20 bill. She said he’s not going to want to take it. I said well Imma leave so you can’t give it back. She asked if I had CashApp or Zelle so she could give it back to me. I said nope. It’s a gift anyway. Just pass it on whenever you can. The security guard lady standing behind her started smiling and nodding her head lol.

She got up to go give him the money and said “I wish COVID wasn’t a thing, because I want to hug you”. I said I accept the hug in spirit.

I was at the door and looked back and saw her talking to him and him looking at me. I just nodded my head and walked faster, hoping he wouldn’t try to stop me to give it back.

That doesn’t really have anything to do with self checkout, I just thought about the lady working the self checkout when the topic of people arguing with employees came up. Because it doesn’t hurt to act like you have some sense about things that are completely out of that employee’s control or they are just following their employer’s rules and/or the law, instead of acting ugly with them. The other stuff with the man and woman, it just seemed like a good day to sprinkle a little kindness somewhere.

[saveinla]

Dominos is having a shortage of delivery drivers and so they are giving people 3$ credit if they pick up their pizza.

[countrygirl2]

I have never done it either, and I agree would put the perishables back. But if I ever end up in a situation like that I will do it, so far, so good.

[Deleted]

My personal favorite at self or regular checkout is the person, usually male, who wheels a load of 8-10 foot pipe or lumber up to the checkout at HD or Lowe's and places it sideways so it blocks two lanes    

[debthaven]

I much prefer self-checkout apart from a couple of huge grocery shops per year, ie summer and Christmas. 

I struggled with it for a long time until I realized I was trying to scan things too quickly. Now that I've slowed down, it works just fine. 

[wvugurl26]

When I was in Home Depot and Lowe's in December, there were no regular registers open. At Lowe's, I had to wait on the attendant because I was buying a gift card for my dad.

I wouldn't want that job working with the general public. With so many people acting like they have no sense at all, no way.

[Deleted]

Feb 23, 2022 20:09:33 GMT -5 wvugurl26 said:

When I was in Home Depot and Lowe's in December, there were no regular registers open. At Lowe's, I had to wait on the attendant because I was buying a gift card for my dad.

I wouldn't want that job working with the general public. With so many people acting like they have no sense at all, no way.

My experiences working with the public when I was a teenager and young adult are why I make an extra effort as a customer or client….. to try to treat people that work with the public well. I try to treat people how I’d like to be treated anyway, but having worked with the public myself, I am especially aware when interacting with those employees.

People were crazy way back when I worked with the public, I can’t imagine having to deal with the level of crazy that’s out there now.