Comments on: Self-checkouts http://www.mightybargainhunter.com/2006/04/01/self-checkouts/ Personal finance, commentary, and spending less the easy way Fri, 19 Mar 2010 14:24:44 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: mbhunter http://www.mightybargainhunter.com/2006/04/01/self-checkouts/comment-page-1/#comment-1155 mbhunter Tue, 04 Apr 2006 04:18:30 +0000 http://www.mightybargainhunter.com/2006/04/01/self-checkouts/#comment-1155 Thanks everyone for the comments! John M, I read about that device. Seems like unless you have a lot of cameras in the store or unless you have someone checking the number of grocery items you have upon leaving the store, it really works on the honor system. How easy would it be (intentionally or otherwise) to just put an item in the cart without scanning it? PFF, I don't doubt that it's faster for someone to scan them than it is for the customer to scan them. Whether that's ultimately valuable to the discounters like Wal-Mart, Costco, etc., remains to be seen. The pessimist in me says that they will cut costs wherever they can ... even to the detriment of their customers. Thanks everyone for the comments!

John M, I read about that device. Seems like unless you have a lot of cameras in the store or unless you have someone checking the number of grocery items you have upon leaving the store, it really works on the honor system. How easy would it be (intentionally or otherwise) to just put an item in the cart without scanning it?

PFF, I don’t doubt that it’s faster for someone to scan them than it is for the customer to scan them. Whether that’s ultimately valuable to the discounters like Wal-Mart, Costco, etc., remains to be seen. The pessimist in me says that they will cut costs wherever they can … even to the detriment of their customers.

]]> By: contrary1 http://www.mightybargainhunter.com/2006/04/01/self-checkouts/comment-page-1/#comment-1151 contrary1 Mon, 03 Apr 2006 18:43:17 +0000 http://www.mightybargainhunter.com/2006/04/01/self-checkouts/#comment-1151 I hate shopping of any kind, so I have someone else do mine. I don't want self checkout, or a clerk check out.........I just don't want to do the whole event! Not sure where I got so "allergic" to shopping! Have only stepped into a Walmart once, vowed never to go back & haven't. I hate shopping of any kind, so I have someone else do mine. I don’t want self checkout, or a clerk check out………I just don’t want to do the whole event! Not sure where I got so “allergic” to shopping! Have only stepped into a Walmart once, vowed never to go back & haven’t.

]]> By: PersonalFinanceIsFun http://www.mightybargainhunter.com/2006/04/01/self-checkouts/comment-page-1/#comment-1143 PersonalFinanceIsFun Sun, 02 Apr 2006 20:32:59 +0000 http://www.mightybargainhunter.com/2006/04/01/self-checkouts/#comment-1143 When I was in college I worked at a self-checkout station for 2 years so I've seen it all. This was in a union-operated grocery store, so the union had to approve the installation of the self-checkout stations. I managed four individual checkout stations at once. When the checkout station was closed down for maintenance or for some other reason, only one checkout lane would open. A checker is still much faster than a self-checkout station for small orders (this was strickly enforced at our store -- 12 items or less). I would venture a guess of approximately four times faster. So contrary to what many people think, self checkout stations are not putting people out of work. When I was in college I worked at a self-checkout station for 2 years so I’ve seen it all. This was in a union-operated grocery store, so the union had to approve the installation of the self-checkout stations. I managed four individual checkout stations at once. When the checkout station was closed down for maintenance or for some other reason, only one checkout lane would open. A checker is still much faster than a self-checkout station for small orders (this was strickly enforced at our store — 12 items or less). I would venture a guess of approximately four times faster. So contrary to what many people think, self checkout stations are not putting people out of work.

]]> By: MoneyDummy http://www.mightybargainhunter.com/2006/04/01/self-checkouts/comment-page-1/#comment-1135 MoneyDummy Sat, 01 Apr 2006 13:36:45 +0000 http://www.mightybargainhunter.com/2006/04/01/self-checkouts/#comment-1135 I'm a veteran self-checkout-er. What drives me nuts is when people who clearly do not know how to use it go through with an abnormally large amount of items and then pay in the most excruciatingly slow manner they can find. I realize that everyone has to have a first time on it, but does it really have to be with ten items, five of which are produce which they have to weigh and enter produce numbers for, and MUST they pay with a CHECK?! I’m a veteran self-checkout-er. What drives me nuts is when people who clearly do not know how to use it go through with an abnormally large amount of items and then pay in the most excruciatingly slow manner they can find. I realize that everyone has to have a first time on it, but does it really have to be with ten items, five of which are produce which they have to weigh and enter produce numbers for, and MUST they pay with a CHECK?!

]]> By: John M (Adult ADD and Money) http://www.mightybargainhunter.com/2006/04/01/self-checkouts/comment-page-1/#comment-1134 John M (Adult ADD and Money) Sat, 01 Apr 2006 13:17:09 +0000 http://www.mightybargainhunter.com/2006/04/01/self-checkouts/#comment-1134 If I am purchasing 12 items or less, I like the self check-out. In many cases it is quicker than dealing with a cashier. I think for now most store will still have cashiers because not having them would discourage larger purchases, because it is a pain to scan so many items. In the store I shop they are testing out a device that attaches to the shopping cart and you can scan your items before putting it in the cart, so that all you have to do when you go to the self check out is pay. If I am purchasing 12 items or less, I like the self check-out. In many cases it is quicker than dealing with a cashier. I think for now most store will still have cashiers because not having them would discourage larger purchases, because it is a pain to scan so many items. In the store I shop they are testing out a device that attaches to the shopping cart and you can scan your items before putting it in the cart, so that all you have to do when you go to the self check out is pay.

]]>