Is This The End of Grocery Store Checkout Operators at Coles and The Other Big Supermarkets?

franco cozzo on 03/09/2022 - 07:41
Last edited 03/09/2022 - 07:52

Coles seems to be leading the way in the drive towards self checkout only with stores in Victoria trialling 100% self checkout stores (Braybrook) …other locations as well.
In Victoria Aldi are trialling stores with one register only and the remainder being self checkout. No doubt Woolies are considering similar options

I'm sure we all like the convenience of self checkout at times but this is going to have major negative impact on non-abled people of all descriptions, the elderly, non-english speakers, people unfamiliar with self checkout & technology etc.

Wait times are going to be ridiculous as people struggle to unpack a trolley of items, scan, pack into bags and then finally pay for the transaction.
Jobs and hours are going to be lost and at the end of the day we know the ultimate goal is driving down costs and raising profits.

Food & Grocery

Related Stores

Coles
Coles

Comments

  • franco cozzo on 03/09/2022 - 07:45
    +21

    this weeks shop at Coles was less than half of what we used to spend…im finding more and more reasons not to spend my money there anymore and if so only the stuff we cant do without, or 1/2 price off. sick of paying for marketing promotions & irrelevant bullcrap while…. 'up, up, the prices are up!"

    • filmer on 03/09/2022 - 11:08
      +14

      Are you expecting prices to not increase?

      • RefusdClassification on 04/09/2022 - 23:50
        -2

        Remember the Coles ad "Prices are going down and staying down". I wish we could hit Coles with a class action lawsuit for such lies.

        • filmer on 05/09/2022 - 09:56
          +4

          and some prices have gone down and stayed the same. I think you need a reality check.

          • franco cozzo on 05/09/2022 - 10:08
            +11

            @filmer: …..haha pull the other one. nearly every product group in the supermarket has increased in the last 6 months…some by quiet alot i.e 40%+

          • lonewolf on 05/09/2022 - 12:13
            +3

            @filmer: haha do you really fall for their brainwashing? Gone down since when? 2 months ago or a couple of years ago and when they say gone down, is it the same amount? Notice how so many packets are decreasing in size slowly.

          • JonSteele on 05/09/2022 - 21:03
            +2

            @filmer: Notably the media hyped it up as why the public though, G, prices are going down, yet all the did was lock in prices on many items, so when they return they will go up even higher. 1KG mince for example. Staple item, yep……………… Media report prices are slashed, customer goes yipee it's a win for us, reality price locked in, no decrease.

            Oh there's the word "media".

    • Ozpit on 04/09/2022 - 10:55
      +1

      only the stuff we cant do without, or 1/2 price off.

      Are you saying 1/2 price off double the normal price is worth a trip to Coles?

      • franco cozzo on 04/09/2022 - 10:59

        huh? …you lost me?

        • Harold Halfprice on 04/09/2022 - 12:05
          +7

          They're saying the stuff marked half price is really just normal price.

          I saw pringles yesterday at woolies.. 1/2 price!!!! Down to $2.50 from $5.00. Since when were they $5? Crazy

          • franco cozzo on 04/09/2022 - 13:36
            +11

            @Harold Halfprice: all snackfoods have been hit with a huge price increase…chips i was buying for $3.00 are now $4.80 for example

            • mrhugo on 04/09/2022 - 19:20
              +3

              @franco cozzo: That should help my waistline and my wallet.

              As I see it win/win, just going to buy less frequently….. probably should have been doing that anyway.

              • franco cozzo on 04/09/2022 - 19:24

                @mrhugo: exactly my thoughts too when i saw the price bumps as well!

              • s1Lence on 06/09/2022 - 17:21

                @mrhugo: Same here, have cut down on junk food a lot thanks to them.

            • therealoptimus on 05/09/2022 - 19:56
              +2

              @franco cozzo: A fellow toobs connoisseur I see. Or secondly twisties or cheese and bacon balls.

    • Hahuh on 06/09/2022 - 12:59

      We use big chain supermarkets as top up stops for veggies. We don't buy meats from supermarkets. We mainly buy staples like milk, eggs and bread.

      We've shopped this way ever since I could remember.

      • kaleidoscope on 07/09/2022 - 05:00
        +1

        Where do you buy meats from? All butchers shops I’ve tried are so expensive compared to supermarket variants, aldi coming at cheapest (with least selection) Costco is good for eggs. Recently a mate got 60 eggs for $10 🙃

  • Boioioioi on 03/09/2022 - 08:08
    +15

    Aldi has self checkout!?? Here in QLD there are none.

    I've also noticed my local woolies has actually increased the number of staffed checkouts during busy times. maybe depends on the area and what customers like?

    • franco cozzo on 03/09/2022 - 08:10

      aldi are trialling in vic (1 store so far) and have quite a few active in nsw i believe…

      they (all of them) seem to have test store locations where they trial and perfect the format before implementing in a more broader fashion

      • berger on 04/09/2022 - 19:56
        +2

        More than one store, Keysborough our local has it for a few weeks now.

    • Chuppa on 03/09/2022 - 20:13
      +3

      Have them in NSW too.

    • fedwood on 04/09/2022 - 20:46
      +2

      Aldi Bondi Junction has them. I never went to Aldi before because I hated waiting for one of two open checkouts with 26 people queuing, but now with self serve you can pop in and just grab an item or two.

  • kyle on 03/09/2022 - 08:12
    +31

    I'd prefer to use self checkout as i don't want to hold up the manned queue if i have multiple small value gift cards to use

    • elgrande on 03/09/2022 - 08:47
      +11

      Yep, the staffed checkouts are not so eager with a 2 cent balance..

    • spaceflight on 04/09/2022 - 15:54
      +2

      If your shop at Woolworths have a look at using Everyday Pay.

      If you add gift cards as payment "your Gift Cards will be debited up to the available balance and, if required, any remaining balance for the transaction will be debited from your default Bank Card."
      https://www.woolworthsrewards.com.au/content/woolworths-rewa…

      Then you can use lots of gift cards with only one payment.

      • kyle on 04/09/2022 - 16:10
        +1

        Used it when it first launched. Worked fine. Then last week, got the error connecting to wallet message

        • marioland on 05/09/2022 - 10:25
          +1

          I have used it too because I thought it would make the checkout process quicker, but it's been a hit and miss for me too.

          • clover on 06/09/2022 - 22:57

            @marioland: I couldn’t use it at one of the woolies that is underground in the CBD. No internet connection.

  • sharkyoz on 03/09/2022 - 08:27
    +4

    already used the one at Braybrook, wasn't happy with the service at all, ended up going to Ballarat rd store.

    • franco cozzo on 03/09/2022 - 08:29

      share your experience….? was it as bad as im imagining and what were other shoppers responses?

    • jm7 on 03/09/2022 - 21:04
      +3

      The Ballarat Rd store is so much better than Central West but there's so many online order packers that block the aisles 😑😑

      • sharkyoz on 03/09/2022 - 21:12

        noticed that too

    • Plasma on 04/09/2022 - 19:17
      +1

      No deli at Braybrook either.

  • Benoffie on 03/09/2022 - 08:58
    +6

    It would be commercial suicide in places like SA with high senior and disabled populations. Certainly wouldnt entice me

    • franco cozzo on 03/09/2022 - 09:02
      +6

      ive family members & know people that fall into these groups and i can see many issues…people with wheelchairs & walking aids, people with disabilies that impair movement, people with poor vision & the blind, people with poor english skills and those that cant read….so many people will be effected by this and we just know there wont be enough staff to assist them.

      • Yamai on 04/09/2022 - 15:42
        +1

        Really though shouldn’t the home delivery/ pickup be Better utilised amongst these citizens? And don’t say it’s the social outing aspect because we all know that they aren’t shopping during peak hours so have the option for more in store assistance if needed

        • CBrads4 on 04/09/2022 - 19:06
          +7

          I think you underestimate how important independence in menial everyday tasks is to an individual's quality of life, particularly amongst those that are elderly or with a disability.

  • Mechz on 03/09/2022 - 09:21
    +10

    My local woolies self checkout has 9x bays that take up about the same space as 3.5 regular checkouts.

    It only takes 1 staff member to service those 9 self checkout bays.

    It's a huge efficiency gain overall.

    Agree that non-abled people will be worse off but I think they will have the manned ciggy/refund counter with checkout for those people for a long time to come.

    • franco cozzo on 03/09/2022 - 09:40
      +9

      and if those 3.5 registers were actually open and staffed theyd be even more efficient than 9 registers of people labouring through the process of doing their own checkout. these checkout operators are quick & efficient……youve seen how slow some people are at doing their own checkout, right?

      • outlander on 03/09/2022 - 11:44
        +5

        Yeah. I hate having to deal with people, but even I can admit that a checkout chick scans things much more efficiently than people do themselves. The only reason why it feels like it's faster to self checkout is because you're doing it yourself. Same way that when your waiting in line at a bakery it feels as if the jackass infront is taking 5 minutes to choose what they want, but when it's your turn it feels like you only use a few seconds.

        While in theory it would be quicker for people who only had a few items if they turned the entire checkout into like 50 self checkouts.. you know in practice that's not how it's gonna go. They will close off the extra checkouts, as they do now, and make you queue for the 10 self checkout machines, which will be clogged up by all the people struggling to scan the 10,000 items in their trolleys

        • BobLim on 06/09/2022 - 22:52
          +1

          Same way that when your waiting in line at a bakery it feels as if the jackass infront is taking 5 minutes to choose what they want, but when it's your turn it feels like you only use a few seconds.

          Dunno - sometimes I can still beat them out the door afterwards…

    • A-mak on 04/09/2022 - 09:53
      +3

      That ciggy/refund counter at my local coles is 12 items or less. With a basket sized hole next to the stupid CoViD protective window.

      So those people should only be allowed to shop for 12 items or less?

    • Nebargains on 05/09/2022 - 08:14
      +5

      Efficient for who? Seems to be a benefit for the supermarket at the customers expense.

      Some of the checkout people just whiz through the scanning and packing while it's still being loaded into the conveyor belt. Now customer has to do all 3 tasks with no experience in how to do it efficiently.

      Surely this results in customers standing as the checkout for longer.

      • Mechz on 05/09/2022 - 08:20

        So every time you do it you don't learn how to be faster? Sounds like a you problem.

    • Zondor on 05/09/2022 - 08:45

      With an entire trolley of goods though it takes ages to put them through.

      I like em for a basket of things, but anything more is a pain in the ass.

    • dcash on 05/09/2022 - 09:00
      +2

      9 bays that don't come close to having enough room to cater for 9 people with a trolley load full of groceries, and 1 staff member who is required to (but can't) simultaneously attend 9 self serve checkouts complaining that they don't believe the customer has placed the item in the bagging area!

  • Barca123 on 03/09/2022 - 09:59

    You have also got the issue of people scanning fruit & veg differently to what they are purchasing (i.e. cabbage instead of expensive lettuce) and rorting the system…

    • franco cozzo on 03/09/2022 - 10:04

      the answer is cameras…theyre viewing you during checkout and are are also viewing items as you scan them and are able to detect differences in what you scan and what you say you are scanning on the checkout prompt, i believe. dont forget kmart bunnings good guys & woolies are using facial recognition technology in their stores already

      • spaceflight on 04/09/2022 - 15:59

        dont forget kmart bunnings good guys & woolies are using facial recognition technology in their stores already

        No they aren't
        https://www.afr.com/companies/retail/bunnings-kmart-bow-to-p…

        • franco cozzo on 04/09/2022 - 16:11

          lol…they were and now theyve 'paused' as they received so much backlash!

          • pufffdragon on 06/09/2022 - 09:26
            +3

            @franco cozzo: I like their wording "paused".

            Meaning 2 months down the road when it blows over and everyone has forgotten about it, they will switch it back on.

            • franco cozzo on 06/09/2022 - 09:27

              @pufffdragon: ….exactly. this is just a 'soft' introduction to their nation wide rollout, more likely

      • squaredonut on 06/09/2022 - 12:25
        +1

        This. Woolworths now has a top-view camera, coupled with some AI image recognition to guess if you're trying to steal.

        Happened to me in on two occurrences

        1) Usually bring my own bags, sometimes I just dump it into the basket, so stuff gets piled on it. Scan all items, tap Finish, then I took the bag out of the basket to get ready to just put the stuff inside the bag. Then I get an error saying, have you scanned all your items? Then needed staff manual intervention

        2) Was trying to scan faster, so both hands had an item, scanned one, while my other hand holding the other item, bag wasn't completely opened, used the other hand to open it wider, put the item in. Other hand's item still holding onto it, then the system halts and says I didn't scan all the items.

        Anyways, Woolworths is quite aggressive with their technology roll outs and advancements and you can definitely see where they are heading, it would eventually also be completely self-checkouts and also lots of cameras and AI to detect, just complete electronic. I mean with receipts, they want to push hard to go paperless, which is good I think, but it also means you have to share your data with them through everyday rewards.

        • franco cozzo on 06/09/2022 - 12:59

          'convenience' ….lol!

        • 811b11e8 on 06/09/2022 - 13:03

          Checkouts won't even be necessary soon. You can already scan items on your phone and just pay on your phone and walk out - showing the operator your phone as your leave similar to the way you show a costco receipt on exit..

      • King Tightarse on 11/09/2022 - 18:16

        I know Woolies has those little checkout cameras but my understanding was that they were just for the psychological "you are being watched" effect, not facial recognition?

    • USER DC on 03/09/2022 - 11:05
      +5

      The camera aren't gonna start charging people dude, At most what woolies/coles can do is ban you. But I highly doubt that security would be going over all the footage, its just ridicoulous amount. Woolworths/Coles may rely on their team member to spot any suspicious behavior though, and ask them to show receipt, bags etc.

      • franco cozzo on 03/09/2022 - 14:01
        +1

        these technologies are highly automated and wont require manual viewing…theyll alert staff as they see errors occur

    • Quantumcat on 03/09/2022 - 12:14
      +5

      The amount they lose is a lot less than if they had paid people to man the checkouts instead of self serve

      • USER DC on 03/09/2022 - 19:34
        +1

        exactly and even when they do find someone stolen a large value item stolen, Police will generally take ages to find that culprit (that's only when there cameras show clear photo/description). Store will only really get any good outcome (if they do) for no earlier than 6 months usually

  • shaybisc on 03/09/2022 - 10:11
    -1

    I'm glad I get everything delivered these days because those self checkouts screw up regularly and I'm left waiting 5 minutes for staff to turn up and then they take another 5 minutes to fix. Which usually ends in them taking me to a regular old fashioned checkout.

    When they get it so you can scan things yourself into the trolley as you shop - they have them in Japan don't they? - then I might start shopping in store again.

    • USER DC on 03/09/2022 - 11:10
      +2

      I think from my memory, (haven't tried it) But the Fulham gardens store had something like that, where customers could scan stuff as they put in trolley, and then afterwards scan the barcode from all the shopping at checkout. Was told about this when the store had opened newly and they were literally giving out some discount to so many people ( I think it was $10 for over 100 I cannot remember)

    • Ozpit on 04/09/2022 - 11:13

      I can see a time not too far off when all the big grocery chains will become giant warehouses without a shopfront like Amazon and all purchases will be made online and delivered by lowly-paid couriers, and smaller non-competitive grocery stores will gradually become quaint relics from the past. People will accept it and life will move on like it always does.

      • franco cozzo on 04/09/2022 - 11:14
        +1

        & life will be worse for it. thats not progress…thats dystopian

    • macfudge on 04/09/2022 - 20:28
      +3

      Woolies had "Scan&Go" for quite some time already although only in selected stores. I used to live near Macquarie Centre and that store has it. Best, Thing, Ever! I get to choose what I like, pack my bags as I go (without squashing the things that shouldn't be squashed) and simply walk out once I'm done. Even things that need weighing - they have special scales that produce a barcode which you simply scan. No queues, no hassle, incredibly convenient. I only hope they roll it out at my new local Woolies soon.

  • coxjon on 03/09/2022 - 10:34
    +11

    There’s nowhere for kids to stand at self-checkouts. I regularly have my 6 and 4 year olds with me and it’s a clusterf*** amongst the trolleys and other customers. I hate it, and wish the organisation was different.

    • USER DC on 03/09/2022 - 11:11
      +1

      may be get kids to do the shopping aka you pay for all using your wallet, and they scan on two/three different registers ?

      BTW coles does have usually a big register (with belt etc) exactly similar to a manned checkout, just that you scan stuff there. So they are long and should fit ya, + your kids.

      • coxjon on 03/09/2022 - 11:46

        Haven’t seen this big register you speak of, I’ll keep my eye out.

        Great idea teaching the older one to scan!

        • USER DC on 03/09/2022 - 11:57
          +1

          NW talking about this checkout type

          • Yola on 04/09/2022 - 13:41

            @USER DC: These are great to have used them many times. Also does not weigh your purchases so has fewer tizzy fits where you need to have someone come over and fix it.

      • squaredonut on 06/09/2022 - 12:32

        My local coles has that kind of register, but people are dog slow. It's no surprise the ordinary customer is not trained to be efficient with scanning and bagging groceries. The lines at mine are usually extremely long, that people just push a full load of trolley to the standard self-checkouts.

        At the end of the day, I think, scanning, bagging, weighing, error messages make self-checkout something that supermarkets think twice about or they need to introduce something else to it.

        If anyone has shopped at uniqlo recently, their checkout systems is amazing. I think they're RFID tags or some tagging system, but you literally dump your entire basket with mangled up goods in a tray, and it will workout exactly what's inside. I imagine if coles or woolworths managed to employ the same technology, it would make the scanning and paying extremely fast, they would probably just need to sell cardboard boxes in stores instead of grocery bags, or you can bring your own box, and just put all your stuff in the box, go to checkout, and place it in the scanner and it can workout your bunch of items.

    • Domingo on 04/09/2022 - 12:28

      There's actually more room at the ones at this Coles since they redesigned the area. May actually be more appropriate for family groups.

    • ChickenTalon on 06/09/2022 - 20:28

      My 2 and 4 year old do all checking out for me, admittedly they don’t mind dropping a watermelon on a loaf of bread. But other than that I find it’s the best way. They love it

  • vinnychase on 03/09/2022 - 11:53
    +6

    I mean Amazon Go stores in US don’t have any checkouts. You just pickup and walkout

    • Zondor on 05/09/2022 - 08:47
      +3

      I do this at all grocery stores, nothing new!

  • apiecost on 03/09/2022 - 11:56
    +8

    Because I don't like people very much I just do direct-to-boot at Woolies now. For picking up a few items I like ALDIs system… push it through fast and dump everything in the trolley. Pack it into a crate in the boot of the car.

    In general, I'm getting tired of rewards points systems, having to boost discounts in advance, faffing around with scanning your card etc. so another win for ALDI here. Just give us the best price you can, and let us get the heck out of the store ASAP.

    • Quantumcat on 03/09/2022 - 12:25
      +5

      I prefer the self checkouts at Woolies and Coles, I get out faster (as long as it isn't peak time like 6pm on a weekday or something). Although I have the delivery subscription and get 99% of stuff delivered. Aldi only ever has one checkout open and there always seems to be a big family doing their monthly shop in front of me when I go there.

      • franco cozzo on 03/09/2022 - 12:37
        +6

        basket is fine for self checkout… a trolley full of groceries is where i want someone serving me so i can load the trolley, prepare payment and get the hell out of there

        • Quantumcat on 03/09/2022 - 12:51
          +2

          For a whole trolley load, it would make much more sense to get them delivered or use direct-to-boot

          • franco cozzo on 03/09/2022 - 12:56
            +1

            @Quantumcat: maybe some of us like to leave the house and do things and interact with people occasionally?

            • Quantumcat on 03/09/2022 - 13:05
              +2

              @franco cozzo: Maybe find something more constructive to do or get a hobby or do a sport? Grocery shopping is a chore to do as quickly as possible so you have more time for your actual life

              • franco cozzo on 03/09/2022 - 13:10
                +2

                @Quantumcat: 1.5 hours a week and all our shopping is done for a full house of 4 adults. hardly the chore you describe and id much rather select my own produce & groceries for best quality & freshness & shelf life. i guess im just not lazy & dependent on convenience?

                • Quantumcat on 03/09/2022 - 18:24

                  @franco cozzo: Avoiding doing pointless work isn't lazy, it's smart. It means you have the time to do something productive. Do you drive? That's incredibly lazy. Why don't you use your own two legs?

                  • franco cozzo on 03/09/2022 - 18:28
                    -4

                    @Quantumcat: are you the convenience culture rep here? you seem triggered…

                    • Quantumcat on 03/09/2022 - 18:31

                      @franco cozzo: There's no argument you can make that means walking around a supermarket is preferable to either doing paid overtime at work, or spending more time hanging out with friends, or working on an art project, or practicing your musical instrument, or going for a longer hike or bike ride, or spending more fun and meaningful time with your family each week. Unless there's no activity in your life you would prefer to do over being in the supermarket.

                      • franco cozzo on 03/09/2022 - 18:34

                        @Quantumcat: LOL! …you honestly sound like an ad for coles online!

                        • Quantumcat on 03/09/2022 - 18:35
                          +1

                          @franco cozzo: You honestly sound like an ad for the local Seniors Centre

                          • franco cozzo on 03/09/2022 - 18:35
                            -3

                            @Quantumcat: ok zoomer…keep spending more for convenience and kidding yourself thats its making your life better

                            • Quantumcat on 03/09/2022 - 18:37

                              @franco cozzo: Lol you edited that. It was, "ok millennial". I knew it, you're about 76 years old right 😂

                              By the way, I'm not spending more - the delivery subscription is $120 a year. I get paid about $70 an hour. As soon as I use that extra hour a week on overtime twice, I make a profit on having items delivered. Then the rest of the year I get a bonus hour a week to spend doing whatever I want to.

                              • franco cozzo on 03/09/2022 - 18:51
                                -2

                                @Quantumcat: well im not a twenty something wet behind the ears fragile little snowflake….no. lol

                                you do you …other people want to shop instore and have a decent experience.

                      • Assburg on 06/09/2022 - 18:01
                        +2

                        @Quantumcat: This thread is about 'non-abled people' who probably can't do those things as easily, and probably have to grapple with some loneliness.

                        In any case, posting on ozbargain doesn't meet your efficiency requirements but here you are, finding some joy in an activity that amounts to nothing. Sort of like that time on the bike or the instruments amounts to 0 when you die.

                        As a very productive person (2 instruments, 2 languages, 2 degrees, 1984 vintage road bike with no rust, service my own car to save money, consistently beat stock market by 30% every year, etc), I don't mind going for a wander in the shops every now and then.

                        To look at the bread, to compare health products nutritional info side by side, to draw a bit of cooking inspiration from the fruit and veg section. Not every week, but it's nice, there's no pressure.

                        • Quantumcat on 06/09/2022 - 19:18

                          @Assburg: As an occasional activity sure. And if you want to buy some avocados or bananas or other fruit where you care about the ripeness, in between online shops. Or you want to try something new and want to look at the items in person, or browse. But do you want to be doing all of your everyday shopping every week, when you get most of the same items every shop? Franco cozza is acting like he is proud that he doesn't know how to use online shopping.

                • DiscountForThee on 05/09/2022 - 10:02
                  +2

                  @franco cozzo: 1.5 hours EVERY WEEK sounds like a terrible chore and something I would try and reduce and eliminate asap - no ty sir

                  • franco cozzo on 05/09/2022 - 10:05

                    @DiscountForThee: 1 weekly trip to visit 2 supermarkets, green grocer, butcher and chemist i think its quite an efficient use of my time
                    …means im actually going out into the real world and doing things rather than relying on my phone & delivery for everything

                    • DiscountForThee on 05/09/2022 - 10:08
                      +2

                      @franco cozzo: I prefer doing that as quick as possible, and as infrequent as possible. I prefer going into the real world for pretty much any other fun reason

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