Last night my friend and I made a “quick” trip to the local Walmart. Despite straying a bit from our shopping list, we still managed to head to the register pretty quickly. We really wanted to head to another store before heading home so we were in a bit of a rush.
We headed to the self check out registers which were empty. Being that I only had one item, the whole transaction should have taken 30 seconds or so…however, the machine didn’t feel like being cooperative and I needed assistance in attempting to pay for my purchase…then having another wait while I waited for a manager to come around so I could actually receive my change that the machine decided not to return to me.
My friend, who had a few extra items spent an agonizing five minutes attempting to check out…only to realize that the machine she was on did not take credit-only cash. She found herself spending a good fifteen minutes standing in a regular line with probably one of the slowest cashier in the state of New York. By the time we had finished checking out our purchases we no longer had time to stop by the other store on our list.
Now correct me if I’m wrong…but aren’t those self checkout registers there for people’s convience? When there are long lines, and you only have a handful of items…doesn’t it just make sense to have a line where you can check yourself out quickly and get going? As far as I’m concerned, those registers are completely the opposite. Instead of helping the customers, they are only there to hurt them…either by ripping them off by NOT giving correct change (or any change at all)-or, allowing the person get to the end of their transaction just to find out that oh gee, I can’t use this as I need to pay with credit/debit. As a rule, I don’t use the machines and I get annoyed that they are the ONLY option if you need to check out quickly. Stores are doing themselves a disservice by having those registers as people just don’t want to be bothered by them and so they don’t use them. If a store has several of those registers-that aren’t being used at all-that’s a lot of business that they are losing. Instead of self check out, stores need to reintroduce the humanly manned express registers…ideally with a casher who knows what they are doing.
12 Comments
July 31, 2008 at 1:08 pm
One has to pay the cashier, you know.
I have never been through an express stand and had a smooth transaction. I would rather stand in line and wait for a human.
July 31, 2008 at 2:12 pm
Our local SprawlMart doesn’t have self-checkout yet. I would use that over a staffed check-out most of the time.
July 31, 2008 at 3:26 pm
I’ve never tried the self-checkout myself, but it doesn’t sound like I’m missing much. Hope you have better luck the next time you try it (if there is a next time).
July 31, 2008 at 7:41 pm
Those self checkout annoy the crap out of me because you think it will be quicker and it never is.
(
July 31, 2008 at 8:34 pm
hey I have found these self checkout registers across America extremely convenient..but I agree when you end up stuck [I have couple of times], it really gets on people’s nerves
July 31, 2008 at 11:14 pm
I understand the reason for checkers and self check out.
The wal-mart were I live don’t have any self checking machine but I’ve use them over at home depot.
Anyhow I feel to much of those machine will delete jobs.
August 1, 2008 at 8:38 am
I have used the self checkouts on occasion, however if I am in a hurry and the machine seems to be even slower than the cashier.. I can certainly empathize with your situation.. They might do more harm than good.. I have never been ripped off by those machines .. But give it time… I’m sure it will happen…I would rather have a smiling efficient human… than a screwed up computer…
August 1, 2008 at 11:40 am
I blame the whole Wal-Mart establishment. Every worker from every level is grossly underpaid and thus there is no incentive to strive towards more efficiency.
August 1, 2008 at 9:27 pm
I’ve learned to not use those things when I have produce (at the grocery store) because sometimes the scale messes up and the belt starts going backwards and the lights blink….and, it’s just not fun.
Otherwise, I typically like them.
August 4, 2008 at 5:38 am
I love the self-service check-outs. They do malfunction now and again and I do get very annoyed when it shouts at me to remove my reusable-bag cos it doesn’t “recognise” the new weight. But overall they always save me heaps of time. Unless there’s a ton of people on there who don’t know how to use them… well, then there’s a lot of waiting around
August 4, 2008 at 1:40 pm
Try Home Depot. The self-checkout places that I’ve been to have scales that you have to put your goods on. Home Depot is the WORST. If you’re buying one large item or wood, you end up needing cashier assistance whether you like or not. I now know better than to go to self-checkout with 10 boxes of vinyl tiles (ALL THE SAME).
August 4, 2008 at 9:50 pm
I cant handle shopping and I loathe Walmart. I am more of a Target chick