Wow I hate self-serve checkouts.

[Deactivated] on 08/11/2017 - 21:48
Last edited 08/11/2017 - 22:02 by 1 other user

Shop opens til 10pm but if you're there any time past 7pm, you have to self-serve yourself or wait a few minutes for them to turn on a register…

This is one of the biggest shopping centres near me too.

Then I have to proceed to self-serve myself a whole shopping trolley full $100+… That's okay, it's relaxing.

But then the checkout chick who's meant to be on the registers comes up behind me and starts just watching me… (profanity) , I didn't want to self-serve.

Next time I'm just going to wait til they turn a register on.

[/rant]

Food & Grocery

Comments

    • ceebee on 11/11/2017 - 03:51
      +2

      Well part of that is probably just a deterrent too. Maybe they are watching, maybe they aren't, but it might be iffy enough for people who do steal that it works. I don't think they watch like a hawk, and they're probably just doing their job. It's annoying, but I don't care because I'm not stealing, so they can watch me all they like. If someone is being a looky-loo at the checkouts, I try and be entertaining for em while I scan. They don't laugh, but it amuses me.

      Also, they don't treat you like a thief— watching you isn't being treated like a thief. If they treated you like a thief you'd have people ask to check your bag, and taken aside and probably be called a y'know, "thief!" and stuff.

      Also, WAAAY more people steal than one would think, and self serve in particular draws those kinda people.

      And I don't pay top dollar. I'm on OZB after all. I pay bottom dollar for my products.

      • lousy on 11/11/2017 - 14:38
        +1

        I've worked in retail and you probably lose 5% of revenue on theft . It is very very common and that is already being vigilant. It might suck for you as an honest paying customer but I prefer it when at least staff are keeping an eye out . It infuriates me when thieves blatantly nick things and get away with it because no one is watching .

  • HighAndDry on 09/11/2017 - 11:38
    +11

    Disagree with you there - love self-serve checkouts. But I also don't buy $100+ worth of groceries so I can see where the frustration in that might be.

    • myusername on 09/11/2017 - 13:41
      +2

      the upside of them is no human interaction, downside watched like a theif

      • AFC 23 on 10/11/2017 - 13:45
        -3

        No human interaction is an upside? I guess if buying personal items

        • OzzyOzbourne on 10/11/2017 - 15:02
          +11

          If something is going to screw up your day, you can bet it's a human. So best avoid them.

          Next worst thing is a computer though.

        • Wibbleman on 12/11/2017 - 07:07

          @OzzyOzbourne: it’s all humans. Computers are designed, programmed and built by beings prone to sub-optimal output ;)
          Once they become self aware things will be so much better.
          Sky net is coming puts on tin foil hat

        • AFC 23 on 12/11/2017 - 21:13

          @OzzyOzbourne: I get that, I would just prefer to smile and have a nice chat with a cashier and be able to tell them to have a great day. Can't do that to a screen.

      • arcticmonkey on 10/11/2017 - 22:21
        +1

        If you’re employed, someone has to put up with human interaction with you. The least you can do is be courteous in return.

  • elliebargain on 09/11/2017 - 12:35
    +9

    They're never there when you need them. I've spent ages trying to get someone's attention to turn off the "wait for assistance" message.

    But somehow they're always RIGHT THERE looking over my my shoulder and prematurely grabbing my basket when I'm trying to buy condoms and lube >_<

    • smartazz104 on 11/11/2017 - 21:11
      +5

      So once a year then.

    • [Deactivated] on 12/11/2017 - 13:41

      Just start yelling loudly for assistance or pickup all your items and take them to another register

  • FirstNameLastName on 09/11/2017 - 20:34
    +12

    yeah i wanna go back to the 1920s when you'd just go in with a list and the clerk would get it all for you from behind the counter.. oh wait i guess that's pretty much online shopping.

    • OzzyOzbourne on 10/11/2017 - 15:01
      +14

      Oh yeah, and they used those old fashioned words… Please and thank you

    • hawkers8905 on 13/11/2017 - 07:51

      Just like the Two Ronnies - "Fork Handles"

  • FirstNameLastName on 09/11/2017 - 20:39
    +3

    main pro for self serve imo is that you control the amount of plastic bags used. checkout ppl go insane with them (training I assume)

    normally i try and find a discarded box or two around the store and just use that.. which again is easier to manage in self serve.

    • OzzyOzbourne on 10/11/2017 - 15:00
      +3

      Not for long, disposable bags soon to be outlawed.

      • arcticmonkey on 10/11/2017 - 22:23
        +1

        Thank goodness for that. The Earth and wildlife say thank you.

        • duchy on 12/11/2017 - 12:23
          +4

          Well, now I’ll have to buy garbage bags, thats about the only difference.

        • hawkers8905 on 13/11/2017 - 07:52

          @duchy:

          Suddenly Garbage Bags will be posted on OzB as deals

  • iDroid on 10/11/2017 - 13:23
    +3

    I just wish they put ample room to sort, scan and pack your groceries.

    Working from and into the same trolley when you have a lot is not a fun experience.

    It should done so you scan your items, slide them down to a sorting area number 1, then pay, while you're packing your stuff from sorting area 1, the next customer can use the register and slide their items down to sorting are 2, then next customer can use sorting area number 1 again, etc.

    But sorting your stuff in your trolley and packing back into the same trolley just doesn't scale and wastes and a lot of time for all.

    • heatseeker424 on 10/11/2017 - 15:25
      +2

      They're not designed for trolley loads. Believe it or not, the person at the register that gets paid to do the same thing 20 odd hours a week is faster than you.

      • iDroid on 10/11/2017 - 17:17
        -1

        Err, there's more to it than "faster" and I strongly disagree, not all operators are equal. Some of us like to operate with a sense of urgency and in my experience most operators do not. I also like to have my stuff packed in a sensible fashion - even if I sort my stuff on the conveyor into some sensible order I still find icecreams put with milk etc (liquids - even cold ones - melt icecreams pretty quick), meat in with vegies, avocado's under cans, bread under cereal boxes, the list goes on.

        But faster than me at scanning and packing my own stuff? that presumptuous and probably not accurate. I see it every time I shop, so I've got a frame of reference to measure by.

        • seanj on 12/11/2017 - 12:51

          Ugh you're that guy with a trolley full of items in self serve.

        • iDroid on 12/11/2017 - 17:51

          @seanj: Actually, no - as I described it doesn't work for that. But I do have to if there is no register open.

      • theya on 10/11/2017 - 21:31
        +3

        This. This is my main gripe with it. Lived in the UK. All the self checkouts i saw were express only for 12 items or less.
        Come to here and they have seemed to replace the normal checkouts with self serve checkouts that were not designed in mind for people buying a trolley full of groceries

    • Tejas57 on 11/11/2017 - 09:19
      +3

      what we should have is RFID in each item. all you would need to do is push it though a RFID gateway and boom, theres your total. reduces multiple handling of stock (could bag as you go) and makes things qucker

      • eug on 11/11/2017 - 17:46
        +1

        Kinda like Amazon Go?
        They use cameras and sensors rather than RFID though.

      • Gnosh on 12/11/2017 - 18:21

        Except RFID is incredibly expensive, not just for the gateway scanners but each tag costs more than the average margin colesworth make.

        The idea makes perfect sense though and it would be interesting to see it used when the tech becomes more affordable. At the moment it makes the most sense to track only non consumables.

        • eug on 12/11/2017 - 18:27

          You'll then find people buying RFID zappers off aliexpress to disable the tags, letting them walk out of the store with half a trolley of uncharged items. You could weigh the trolleys, but it'll just result in lots of "Unexpected item in weighing area!" messages! :)

    • utopia on 12/11/2017 - 11:35

      I'll get my kids to drag over another trolley and take up 3 checkout counters of space.
      Then I'll get the kids to do 'play Groceries counter' and scan at their own speed.
      When they make a mistake I tell them to get the staff to actually do their job to fix it.

      Meantime I'll browse Ozbargain just to make sure we aren't getting something that's on 50% at the other store.

  • Aneurism on 10/11/2017 - 13:34
    +12

    I spend about 2 minutes trying to open each bag..

    • belongsinforums on 10/11/2017 - 21:20
      +5

      Use your thumb to press on the top middle part of the bags and drag the front bag down.

      • hawkers8905 on 13/11/2017 - 07:56

        In theory, every time you remove a bag from the bagging area, it should pull open the next bag.

    • Davo1111 on 13/11/2017 - 11:19

      Just claw at it like a rabid dog

  • TRANCE on 10/11/2017 - 13:55
    +12

    I don't understand why people are annoyed that they are being watched by staff while self serving, it is very easy to steal on these machines and the staff are doing their job. Many people steal, even people that don't look particularly suspicious, hence everyone needs to be watched just in case.

    • Wampus on 10/11/2017 - 17:33
      +9

      Because those staff members could be on a bloody open checkout

      • ceebee on 11/11/2017 - 03:55
        +2

        If it's only one staff member they don't open a checkout because if they get another person coming through at the same time, then no one is watching self service, which needs to be attended, I imagine.

        That said they could spare two staff members, one in a lane and one in the self service. But sometimes they don't make enough money late nights to justify that.

        • Davo1111 on 13/11/2017 - 11:21
          +1

          No he's saying if stealing is that bad, take self serve away and put the staff back on tills

    • [Deactivated] on 10/11/2017 - 18:26
      +3

      I don't mind being watched. But when they're standing 30cm behind you doing something irrelevant just to watch you after you tried to let them do it?

      Yeah I'm annoyed when that happens. Not sure who isn't.

      • dm01 on 11/11/2017 - 05:35
        +11

        Did you say hello and ask how their night has been? Building a bit of rapport gains trust, then it's carrots, carrots, carrots for the rest of the trolly load.

        • [Deactivated] on 12/11/2017 - 00:05

          If only I were treated in a way where I could do this…

      • ganymede on 12/11/2017 - 00:00
        +1

        If the chick is standing behind you and watching you, turn around and ask her to checkout for you instead of standing there watching you.

        • [Deactivated] on 12/11/2017 - 00:05
          +2

          Yeah, next time I will be doing just that.

    • AustriaBargain on 12/11/2017 - 00:56

      I just wish they would do something more useful while standing there, like maybe instead of checking for thievery they should have a basket of free samples to give out to anyone who uses the self checkout to buy something. Single serve cookies maybe.

  • OzzyOzbourne on 10/11/2017 - 14:59

    The ones at maccers almost never work. They crash, lock up, don't accept payment, don't give a receipt etc etc. I stopped going there now.

    And the supermarket ones… If you don't do exactly what it wants at exactly the right time, it locks up and you have to get assistance.

    The future is here.

    • Tejas57 on 11/11/2017 - 09:20

      the maccas ones for me are some of the better ones. i've never had any issues with the exception of my local store shutting down down between midnight and 6 am

    • Davo1111 on 13/11/2017 - 11:23
      +1

      To order a coke with no ice requires a secret button sequence equivalent to entering missile launch codes

  • BargainDemon on 10/11/2017 - 15:15
    +2

    The best part is when the line is long and you are being herded like a sheep.

  • picklewizard on 10/11/2017 - 15:57
    -1

    Cool story

  • gooddealmate on 10/11/2017 - 15:58
    +1

    Use the delivery lockers instead. Don't have to deal with any of their staff then.

    • seanj on 12/11/2017 - 12:52

      So when I order online but collect in-person, I don't have to deal with a member of staff? I like the sound of this.

      • gooddealmate on 12/11/2017 - 13:37
        +1

        Thats right, I do my coles order, pick it up from a Coles servo which have refridgerated and freezer lockers. Just put in the code into the computer which is sms'd to you and the lockers unlock. Totally hassle free. It's just like Austalia post parcel lockers if you've ever used that.

    • [Deactivated] on 18/11/2017 - 11:54

      Not available in most places around the country…

  • cooni on 10/11/2017 - 16:00
    +1

    I find they are perfectly fine to use when the scales in the bagging area are turned off.

    When they are on… fsck.

  • meumax on 10/11/2017 - 16:36
    +7

    I USED to love the self serve checkouts at Coles. Until they decided to turn on the scales again. Now you have to wait for the green light to indicate it's weighed and verified the item you scanned before you can put it in your trolley.

    Before, I'd just scan and straight into the trolley. If I had multiples of the same item I'd use one and wave it up and down in front of the scanner the appropriate number of times without having to even take out the others from the trolley.

    So my efficiency was almost as fast as what a regular checkout operator could achieve. But now it is so slow.

    • huntress_love on 11/11/2017 - 23:53
      +1

      yes, hate the multi item thing, now you have to put each one down. so stupid.

      But interesting I've read on here where WW people don't really care about people stealing and told not to do anything and yet,
      from earlier comment coles staff gets rewarded for catching people, assume these people don't attack you or something.
      If it were me i wouldn't risk been stabbed or something for whatever they steal…!

  • nekro on 10/11/2017 - 16:49
    -1

    Next time shop with some bikies

  • [Deactivated] on 10/11/2017 - 17:26
    +6

    Woolworths I've found is fine with self serve. There's no annoying crap with the machines (slow bagging area weighing, etc) and the staff (locally at least) do keep a look out, but they're told to assume everyone isn't stealing unless it's really bloody obvious.

    Other stores may differ.

    Coles is terrible though, bossy machines and if you're younger like me they'll profile you instantly and watch over you quite directly (they make it bloody obvious). Had one even come over and scroll up to ensure I clicked the right fruit item lol. Bloody embarrassing.

    • [Deactivated] on 10/11/2017 - 18:28
      -1

      Read what I said in this thread about waht they did to me. Annoyingly obvious.

      • [Deactivated] on 10/11/2017 - 19:51

        Depends on management I guess, only ever heard good things about the local manager(s). You still will notice the self serve monitor looking, but they won't peer over your shoulder or anything. They'll only ever really step in if it's really obvious you haven't scanned things (ie putting it straight into a bag in trolley/etc).

      • utopia on 12/11/2017 - 11:38
        -1

        I've been tempted to scan 3/4 a trolley and than just walk off irritated at the process and leave the staff something to do

  • [Deactivated] on 10/11/2017 - 17:38
    +3

    I love them. I went into my local the other day, self service centre was empty, and as I walked up to the machine, $40 came out of the slot. It wasn't like someone asked for cash out, no one was there before me. Anyway, I took the money out, and there was no one around to give it to. So I put it back in the machine. After I scanned my groceries through.

    • [Deactivated] on 10/11/2017 - 18:29

      Hmm. As someone who's accidentally left $50 behind, I think you should give it to the people. They're there to do 2 things. Keep people's left over stuff til they come back and stop you stealing.

      I think found money in any place other than a place you can pay/get the money out is always yours, but not there.

      • [Deactivated] on 10/11/2017 - 18:40
        +4

        As I said, it wasn't someone's money. It came out as I approached the machine, and there was no one there before me. It was a machine malfunction. As a good citizen, I sent it home, back where it came from.

        • [Deactivated] on 10/11/2017 - 18:46

          Oh. I interpreted that differently. Good job citizen.

          ..But it probably was someone's cash going in and out because the dumb employee can't see it.

        • [Deactivated] on 10/11/2017 - 18:48
          +11

          @StoneSin: No, the machine was sitting their quietly not ejecting anything, until I walked up to it. Then it spat out a 20, then 5 seconds later another 20. Maybe it thought I was a stripper.

        • D6C1 on 11/11/2017 - 00:21

          @Burnertoasty: and you put the money back in the slot? Yeah right.

        • dm01 on 11/11/2017 - 05:41
          +3

          @D6C1: No, tucked it into their g-string - that's the stripper way

        • [Deactivated] on 11/11/2017 - 15:53

          @Burnertoasty: Gonna need proof, send me some low-cut top photos.

        • [Deactivated] on 11/11/2017 - 21:23

          @StoneSin: I'm a dude.

        • [Deactivated] on 11/11/2017 - 21:55
          +2

          @Burnertoasty: That doesn't change anything.

        • dm01 on 11/11/2017 - 23:18

          @Burnertoasty: All good - dudes can wear a G. I don't judge you.

  • [Deactivated] on 10/11/2017 - 18:21
    +4

    If they don't have those scale things they are fine. My local WW turned them off and hasn't reactivated them. If they do I will go back to the registers.

    As far as being thought a thief, I pretty much just accept that is what people think. I am a young-ish dude with long hair and if I go a few days without shaving I can look kind of shady. Add to that I feel no need to get dressed up to buy groceries and that pretty much leads to being profiled. it is kind of amusing because I can say anecdotally the shoplifters I have seen didn't tick any of those boxes.

    The only time I have stolen shit from those self-service things is when I buy, say, a yellow capsicum but scan it as green because I have looked through the system 5 times looking for "yellow capsicum" or "capsicums yellow" and cannot find it. If it ain't there, it is getting scanned as (profanity) green.

    … Only if the green ones are cheaper, of course.

  • JUSTINO on 10/11/2017 - 19:05

    Then shop before 7pm. Simple

    • [Deactivated] on 11/11/2017 - 21:39

      Or just ask someone to open a register for you

      • Pricebeat on 12/11/2017 - 01:49

        Or just run for your life. Next time they will come see off at the door

  • ely on 10/11/2017 - 19:35

    Love self checkout. Queue length has dropped massively since they converted almost everything over at my local, $30 at a time is a big shop for me so no need to scan $100s worth (store is literally downstairs).

  • jkcat on 10/11/2017 - 20:15
    +1

    I actually find self-serve checkouts to be great in terms of fairness. Buying limits & stuff are programmed. You won't face self entitled staffs / managers who make up purchase limits / rules on the spot.

  • jlogic on 10/11/2017 - 21:05
    +1

    Self service with scales is so slow…

    So much so I always have unexpected item in bagging area errors.

    I always get a lecture but I always say turn the scales off or open more check out lanes. Normally shuts them up. Like seriously why would I spend more time in the checkout than I need to.

  • belongsinforums on 10/11/2017 - 21:17

    Reminds me of last night at 11 p.m. The bank was closed so I had to use the ATM. Effin machine wouldn't let me withdraw my money. Kept saying my PIN was wrong. Bloody bank! I want a person not a robot!

    • OzzyOzbourne on 11/11/2017 - 12:12
      +1

      Or not a robot programmed by a person. Once they program themselves, they'll no longer make mistakes.

      And there will be no humans to complain when they do lol!

      • belongsinforums on 11/11/2017 - 12:55
        +2

        Damn right. I am boycotting Burger King until they remove the self-serve refill soft drink station. Not paying for a drink only to have to fill it myself!!!!

  • [Deactivated] on 10/11/2017 - 21:18
    +7

    I love them, a way to avoid human interaction, what more could you ask more.

  • [Deactivated] on 10/11/2017 - 21:45

    Happened to my cousin last month.

    Bought a lot of groceries. Some cheaper items failed to scan. Paid for items and called for assistance.

    Assistance asked him to go to service counter. Person at counter immediately accuses him of stealing and telling lies to cover it up.

    Not sure which is worse. The self service counter or the service counter.

    • jlogic on 11/11/2017 - 16:41

      Would of recorded the conversation on video and posted it to the Facebook feed, asking if that was standard operating procedure to accuse people of stealing first before finding out what happened.

  • chrisd262 on 11/11/2017 - 00:48

    Was in a major supermarket few months ago - around 5 so quite busy - I was at a serviced checkout next to self service without supervisor.
    Customers were just walking through and out - lady at checkout noticed I was watching and said due to under staffing happens all the time.
    No one really cares.

    • bloobat on 12/11/2017 - 17:26

      Yeh I've seen this happen to, it's amazing how scummy people are. I work in coles and the level of theft is astounding.

  • muchape on 11/11/2017 - 01:22

    The one i used a bunnings yesterday is much better then the supermarket ones. But the staff stand right there watching every item put through.

  • decr on 11/11/2017 - 07:58
    +1

    Order online and get delivered for free (Coles MC, no fees). I've been doing it this way for 3 years, every time I have to go in and grab a thing or two between weekly shops just reminds me how sucky it is. People with trolleyloads queuing for checkout lanes, express and self-checkout. Self check-out is the worst as half the machines are card only and people just queue waiting for the cash ones. Luckily I am card only so however rare I have to go in there's always a card only checkout available whether I'm first or 10th in the queue. As for human interaction I still ask everyone in front if they are waiting for a cash one before jumping the queue.

    Self check-out all the way.

    • [Deactivated] on 11/11/2017 - 13:05

      Aus post doesn't deliver to my house (I get the slip 99.9%). I wonder if Woolies will…

      • Soluble on 11/11/2017 - 17:24
        +1

        Coles don't use Aus post.. they have they're own delivery trucks. As does Woolies I believe.

      • Twodogs on 11/11/2017 - 23:43

        Next time they make you go through self service just put each item in its own plastic bag :-)

        • [Deactivated] on 12/11/2017 - 00:03

          "I'm just double wrapping my potatoes, in case they spill."

  • Tejas57 on 11/11/2017 - 09:15
    +1

    self check at my local sore doesn't open until at least 9 (they open at 7) and they normally only have 1 checkout open

    it's immensely frustrating if you are picking up one or two items and need to wait for a full shop to finish checking out

    they also don't bother to fix machines when they stop accepting cash . - they just stick a "Cards only" sign on it which means if you are paying cash you can spend ages waiting in line simply because they can't fix the machines

    • Soluble on 11/11/2017 - 17:24

      Where's the CC points if you're paying cash!?

  • solidussnake on 11/11/2017 - 10:44
    +2

    Print your own labels for 79c noodles and put them on everything, they will come running lol

    http://www.news.com.au/finance/business/retail/qld-mum-admit…

    • OzzyOzbourne on 11/11/2017 - 12:17
      +2

      Interesting, she got the same prison sentence as someone who recently drove a car whilst on drugs, hit someone, drove off and left them to die. They survived but were permanently in a vegetated state.

      Not quite in the same league.

      • arcticmonkey on 11/11/2017 - 22:18
        +1

        The power of corporations vs a human life?

  • Savas on 11/11/2017 - 11:09
    +3

    last time shopping late i had to wait for someone to walk over to the register, didn't recall it being a big deal.

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