Comments on: Do Self-Checkouts Live Up to Their Promises?

By: JEANETTE GARCIA

JEANETTE GARCIA — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 00:16:10 +0000

I went into my cvs store today like a normal day looking for sales …found what i wanted went to pay noone at the store and the cashier ingores me..and then after 10 minutes tells me to go to the self checkout…never used it she tells me where to put my money and left…Well yeah i was checkout…but what happen to people friendly and have a good day….and our teens who look forward to this summer jobs???even people who are being laid off and need a job at cvs until they can get back on their feet..to help pay the bills…what happend to the cashiers in the stores right now….???I as a long time customer and with many of my peers that shop at CVS will be doing a BIG BOYCOTT..and we will be picketing at this store to stop tech taking over…God does not like this…what is happening to this country…I was born and raised here but i can say I WANT OUT>>>>

By: former CVS employee

former CVS employee — Fri, 27 Jul 2007 23:25:18 +0000

I use self-checkouts when possible for the reasons mentioned by others, but fairly few stores in my area offer them.

The next time the lines are so long, why not try politely asking a cashier (or a person in Customer Service) to call up additional cashiers?

When I cashiered at CVS, the policy was crystal clear (not that we didn’t ignore it sometimes): if there were three or more customers in ANY given line, the cashier had to page for an additional cashier, even if that meant that a manager had to ring up customers. Try reminding people of that policy the next time you’re standing in a long line at CVS.

By: Thomas

Thomas — Fri, 27 Jul 2007 21:32:40 +0000

I think the self checkout is very easy and works like a dream provided you have worked retail when you were younger and are comfortable with the scanner. I tend to save 25-50% of the time checking out, not counting the line. The only main problem is when you get someone not technical proficent trying to use them.

By: Richard

Richard — Thu, 26 Jul 2007 22:18:51 +0000

There are two competing grocery stores in my area, and although the one with self-check is a few blocks further, I go there. I only purchase a few items at a time (which i believe is the store’s intended use) and can usually get in and out of the store in 5 – 10 minutes.

By: Amy F.

Amy F. — Thu, 26 Jul 2007 19:15:08 +0000

My grocery store has about 15 checkout lanes and it seems that there are never more than three open, even when lines are 10 deep. Why has this become standard practice at so many businesses? I have many reasons for not shopping at Wal-Mart anymore, and the obscenely long lines (30+ minutes is not uncommon) are definitely on the list.

I have no problem with self-checkouts, but I almost always avoid them because something always goes wrong. You bring up an interesting and thoughtful point about how those who could theoretically benefit most from self-checkout are unable to use them. I hadn’t considered that before.

By: Monica

Monica — Thu, 26 Jul 2007 17:26:01 +0000

Most of the stores around here do not have self checkouts. There is only one place where I go maybe once every 2-3 months. I tried the self checkout once, scanned a few items successfully and then ran into a problem and had to wait for an employee to help. I found it a very frustrating experience and decided never to use the self checkout again.

By: Kevin (The Credit Camp)

Kevin (The Credit Camp) — Thu, 26 Jul 2007 09:51:15 +0000

I use the self checkouts every chance I get as well. Sometimes I don’t feel like dealing with the cashiers anymore than they feel like dealing with the customers.

By: 4MySales

4MySales — Thu, 26 Jul 2007 07:25:24 +0000

Adoption of the technology is slow and many people are not yet efficient at bagging their own groceries. As people get used to the idea, I think the ROI on the activity will improve. Especially as it takes one attendent to run four automated checkout machines.

-4MySales

By: Jenny P

Jenny P — Thu, 26 Jul 2007 03:29:40 +0000

1) Home Depot here has 4 self checkouts and one cashier manning them. Every time I’ve been there, the cashier has anticipated every problem, and generally been right there before I could turn to ask for help. It’s the most efficient self checkout process I’ve seen (the 4 registers are set up in a box, with the cashier near the front-middle).

2) I prefer using self checkouts because I dislike talking to the cashiers sometimes, and because I dislike anyone else bagging my stuff (bag people have a tendency to get confused/annoyed/belligerent if you try to take over the job). I was a grocery store cashier for 3 years, and bag things faster and better than most baggers (I had to bag and be cashier 95% of the time).

By: Traciatim

Traciatim — Wed, 25 Jul 2007 23:09:26 +0000

ChrisCD, I wonder if that has less to do with lack of staff, technology replacing workers, or other sources and more to do with the low US dollar?

Considering you get far less goods when buying with USD from China (Yuan) than two years ago (something like 8.5% less) the Walmart folks have to make up the difference somewhere. That will come out of cutting costs or increasing prices. Since ‘Roll Forwards’ rather than ‘Roll Backs’ haven’t appeared in the flyer yet I assume they are trying to do the same work with less people.