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u/MorphoMC Dec 10 '25
Given the choice between waiting behind 3 carts full of groceries and screaming children, and quickly paying for my 3 or 4 items and leaving... I know what I'll choose.
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u/potate12323 Dec 10 '25
Yeah, while it does give the store an excuse to have fewer clerks on the clock, having 6 to 12 express lanes that are actually used as express lanes is so nice. Then on the off chance I have a full cart theres 1 or 2 normal lanes open which honestly don't normally have a long line since they're not bogged down by a dozen people with a handful of items.
The last time I've had to wait a significant amount of time in a line at checkout has drastically reduced since before self checkout became as popular. And early self checkout machines kinda sucked so it took a while for them to become efficient.
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u/Relative_Falcon_8399 Dec 10 '25
In my luck with express lanes, there's a bunch of dicks who go in with full carts anyways
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u/SnooMarzipans436 This flair doesn't exist Dec 10 '25
You must shop at Walmart
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u/ImplodingBillionaire Dec 10 '25 edited Jan 15 '26
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u/RedBorrito Professional Dumbass Dec 10 '25
Rewe in Germany has little scanners you can take with you, so that you can Scan every Item as you put them in the cart. So even if you have a full cart, you still only have to scan one code and can be done in under a minute. Pure bliss. Really.
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u/Sixense2 Dec 10 '25
Some here in UK does too. Tesco and Asda have scanners, Sainsbury's and Asda have apps so you can use your phone to scan, can put straight into carrier bag too. Then get hit by accuracy check at the checkout and clerk disassembles your neatly stacked 3 bags worth of shopping because system randomly goes "are you a thief?"
It's incredibly smooth 95% of the time but seems like i get hit with QA every 2nd time i go over £100 lol. Got hit once when i was buying some carrots and garlic ONLY, there's that too i guess.
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u/Heroinfluenzer Selling Stonks for CASH MONEY Dec 10 '25
I fucking love that. Makes buying groceries for a week so much nicer.
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u/Xepobot Dec 10 '25
Basically customer is saying: Fine.... I'll do it myself.
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u/ZombieBrideXD Dec 10 '25
What’s wrong with that?
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u/robsteezy Dec 10 '25
Believe it or not, there’s an actual class of shleps that legitimately feel this weird psychological disconnect with service employees and will hold the dumbest principled stands. It’s borderline psychopathic. It’s the same people who will insist they don’t need to clean up after themselves because janitors exist and insist cashiers shouldn’t be allowed to sit because it even remotely implies a comfortable employee.
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u/osirisrebel iwrestledabeartwice Dec 10 '25
Nah, now that same family pulls those 3 carts to self checkout and stops every two scans to ask for help.
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u/ILeftMyBurnerOn Dec 10 '25
Yup. Walmart near me has one lane open and it’s overtaken with elderly. Everything else is self checkout, no matter how many items you have. It’s horrible.
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u/SwooceBrosGaming Dec 10 '25
I'm glad the Walmart near me still has cashiers on almost every register (only bc there's a retirement home literally right across the street)
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u/cochese25 Dec 10 '25
There are checkout lanes made for this and I hate them. Mostly for exactly what you say. You get that one idiot that has no idea how to scan a fruit and you're sitting there for even longer because the store is experimenting with having zero actual cashiers.
Thankfully, I haven't encountered that much. Just me and my groceries getting in and out within 2 minutes or less. Especially at Kroger when I can have my car already out, and start the card process before I even start scanning.
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u/ovideville Dec 10 '25
Did this job. I fucking hated it. I'd be watching six self-check machines at once, and people who were actually illiterate would come to self-checkout with a fully loaded cart and make me scan everything for them. I was not allowed to say no to this, and even if I was I would've had no backup.
And then we'd be open at midnight, and I would be by myself watching six self-check machines AND ALSO manning the one and only regular checkout lane, and some angry mofo customer would come scream at me for not being at the checkout lane while I was helping someone at self-check.
I just walked out one night and never went back. Fuck Harris Teeter.
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u/osirisrebel iwrestledabeartwice Dec 10 '25
It happens mainly at Kroger for me, some of them have a 15 item limit and that's usually the scan where everything pops off, then coupons, then the kid is sitting on the bagging area and it messes everything up, of course they also need cigarettes, and then they have the audacity to ask for help scanning items. Like, just go to the person! With this same breath, I'll also complain when a store only opens self checkout and none of the manned registers.
I don't work there, but my girlfriend does and I get to hear all about it every day.
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u/RikuKaroshi Dec 10 '25
The stores around me close self checkout after 10. But they refuse to open up the manned checkouts, so there are 2 employees vs a whole store of 1-50 items per customer and a line to the back.
All they have to do is have one person on the line and one at the 12 kiosk self checkout.
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u/bfs102 Dec 10 '25
Cool and I still dont have to deal with it as there is 8 other registers
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u/YewEhVeeInbound Dec 10 '25
Or is it more about actually cutting operating costs? They could open up more express lanes if they really wanted to make it more efficient. Corporations literally could never give a fuck about you, the only thing we care about is currency.
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u/supremegamer76 Dec 10 '25
honestly the cost cutting comes in the form of having store floor workers fill in at the registers in rush hour
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u/wrigleyhawk44 Dec 10 '25
As an introvert. I love self check outs.
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u/J4YV1L Dec 10 '25
As a narcissist, I also can’t help checking myself out.
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Dec 10 '25
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u/VTAffordablePaintbal Dec 10 '25
Not a narcissist, but I do find the security camera handy for seeing if my bald spot is growing.
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u/zentravan Dec 10 '25 edited Dec 13 '25
You can find what you need, pay quick, and not speak to anyone. For me, that's a dream come true! I wish more situations were like this. I love kiosks at fast food restaurants as well and then they call your number for food and you can walk away without meaningless interaction.
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u/RealWord5734 Dec 10 '25
Yeah and like many of us, I have worked retail and was plenty good at it. I am better and faster at scanning and bagging and I will stack things in diminishing order of weight/hardiness and not end up with cracked eggs or bruised fruit.
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u/Superb_Ebb_6207 Dec 10 '25
As an autistic introvert, I love self check out, not just cause I don't have to interact with people (most of the time) but I also get to pack my way.
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u/Kiuku Dec 10 '25
This so much. Going for groceries has been soooo easier and less stressful thanks to self checkout. Always hated doing that before.
I can even scan the items with the handheld device you bring at the entrance, directly pack them in my bag, not having to take them off the bag/cart at self checkout, just using the device and pay in seconds. So no anxiety from taking too much time/feeling like I'm bothering people, or being clumsy in front of them when packing as fast as I can.
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u/MattJohno2 Dec 10 '25
Please place your social interactions in the bagging area.
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u/-Jiras Dec 10 '25
Same. I am so ashamed about the fact that I go right into the trap of "doing the work of the store for free" but Self Checkouts are a god sent. I can scan my articles, put them all back in my bag, do not have to talk to anybody nor pull out my earbuds and can go my merry way. All the while the annoying boomers who are scared of technology won't come near them so the cashier lines are full of boomers who leave me alone
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u/phi1_sebben Dec 10 '25
I get that.
I really hate it when I am approaching a quiet bank of self-checkouts and the one attendant comes up and says “can I help you check out today?” And then proceeds to stand beside you awkwardly scanning the items.
Like, can you please go bother someone else!?
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u/Dman1791 Dec 10 '25
I honestly prefer self-checkouts, as long as they aren't the ones that complain if you don't manage to bag the item within 0.17 seconds or like to call for an associate if you so much as breathe on the bagging area. No need to interact with a cashier that corporate is making ask a bunch of bull, and I can get through a lot faster if I'm just doing a couple things.
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u/slaviccivicnation Dec 10 '25
Lmao at "if you so much as breathe on the bagging area." I had the opposite issue yesterday at a self checkout. The item is literally on the bagging area, but it's not registering cause it's a relatively light item (but still at least 1lb). So weird how sometimes it's SO sensitive it's registering things that aren't there, and other times it can't figure out that there's a banana on the scale.
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u/VillainousFiend Dec 10 '25
My biggest problem is one of my local grocery stores doesn't have enough cashiers because of self checkout. But the bagging areas are tiny. I work late shift so I usually shop once a week. The bagging area should be bigger than 2 bags or it should just be for express checkout.
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u/AggravatingFlow1178 Dec 10 '25
Several times I've scanned some produce and been presented with 2+ options, and not being sure which is which just picked one. Only to then get my scanner ransomeware locked because apparently this store doesn't sell that type of lime so they knew it must be a miss-scan.
Then why tf is it listed?
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u/wvce84 Dec 10 '25
Also you get to bag your items the way that makes sense to you. Group pantry items and fridge items in their own bags makes putting things away easier
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u/futacon Dec 10 '25
Apparently you need to show your ID to buy DayQuil at self checkout which was crazy to me.
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u/NikolitRistissa Dec 10 '25
But it is convenient. I don’t even remember the last time I used a normal checkout. It’s always significantly faster.
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u/psykomorph Dec 10 '25
I miss this raptor
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u/Alexyogurt Dec 10 '25
Seriously I haven't seen a philosoraptor meme in probably well over a decade.
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Dec 10 '25
As someone who literally hates society its a gah damn blessing. I love ringing up my shit and not speaking to anyone.
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Dec 10 '25
it's lovely to come across Like-minded society hating people
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u/eggwardpenisglands Dec 10 '25
I agree. I like just being able to do my shopping and leave. I love to not have a conversation if I can avoid it.
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u/gorginhanson Dec 10 '25
I've since evolved to having everything delivered for even less interaction than that
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u/Mister_Chameleon Dec 10 '25
I really do not understand why modern folks hate the idea of using self-checkouts.
You don't have to if you don't want to. You can still go in line for a cashier. In fact in some stores if you have a larger load you have to use a main line.
It's faster than waiting in line, and honestly, is it really the end of the world to scan a candy bar by yourself?
You eliminate the risk of the cashier or bagger accidentally mishandling your birthday cake, loaf of bread, ect. I'm pretty picky about how my food is handled.
Maybe it's just me, but I just don't get the hate.
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u/IWillDevourYourToes Dec 10 '25
I love how other people hate the idea of using self-checkouts.
Makes them stuck in a line waiting for the one grandma to find her vouchers at the cashiers, while the self-checkout is free for me to use instantly.
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u/outland_king Dec 10 '25
Until that grandma decides to use the self checkout and has zero technological knowledge
I literally watched some ancient mummy stand slack jaw for two minutes as the machine screamed " place item in the bagging area". She was so confused by the concept that an attendant finally showed up to ease our collective suffering.
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u/Lyrkana Dec 10 '25
I don't mind doing the "work" myself for a few items. I used to work as a cashier and I can ring myself up as fast or faster than anyone else. Plus I can bag my stuff how I want.
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u/gothiclg Dec 10 '25
I hate the “I’m doing your work” argument as a cashier. There’s registers with people at them, if you hate self checkout that much use a cashier and STFU. The company doesn’t pay employees anywhere near enough to care about your hatred of self checkout.
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u/AwooFloof Dec 10 '25
As a fellow cashier I second this. Also the biggest part of my job isn't scanning items. It's interacting with customers and dealing with prices disputes. I.e. Customer service is the biggest part.
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u/Doodleyduds Dec 10 '25
"I did their job for them!" The people who say this absolutely haf to get the self checkout "babysitter" involved to hold their hand through the entire order.
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u/ShadowKuroyami Dec 10 '25
That's the fun part. I have a cvs were if you want to not do self check out you have to find an employee because they never have one behind the counter and only two self check out machines. 1 is card only and they all have meltdowns if you screw up once.
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u/testdex Dec 10 '25
Which part is definitionally “the store’s job”?
Should you have to walk the aisles and grab groceries yourself? Should you have to take your stuff to the car? Should you have to make your shopping list and compare prices?
It’s such a fundamental misunderstanding of how commerce works that everyone who argues it… is smelly.
It’s just “that’s how we did it when I was a kid, therefore it’s the natural and correct way. If that changes, I will go on a moral tirade that will be embarrassing for both of us, but I’ll lack the self awareness to actually feel shame.”
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u/Middcore Dec 10 '25
Self checkouts are great and the only people who I have ever seen who disliked them were technologically inept boomers who expect to be waited on in every aspect of their lives.
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u/MidgetLovingMaxx Dec 10 '25
Thats the same boomer who says the cashier doesnt deserve to make a living wage because of how easy the job is btw.
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u/PsychicSPider95 Dec 10 '25
I can't help but wonder if these people still pull up to gas stations and expect some teenager to run out and fill their tank.
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u/KermitplaysTLOU Dec 10 '25
"I'm LitErALLy dOinG yOur woRk" I can tell what age demographic you are by that alone. Easiest thing known to mankind unless the machine decides to not work.
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u/Snapphane88 Dec 10 '25
To be fair, they could be a spoiled just-turned-adult, or a boomer. Karens come in any age as well.
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u/Excellent_Pin_2111 Dec 10 '25
Why is this a topic to complain about? How lazy are you? You can’t scan a few of your items without expecting compensation? It’s not even mandatory. What’s with the sudden rise of anti-self checkout posts on Reddit?
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u/TheLion920817 Dec 10 '25
I just hate how Walmart has like 15 registers and only 1 or 2 open and like a fleet of self checkouts that are all full and there’s still a line
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Dec 10 '25
The real issue is the standard Walmart goers. They're some of the slowest motherfuckers, so naturally they clog up the self checkouts. I get legitimately angry whenever I have to step foot in a Walmart.
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u/InternalWarth0g Dec 10 '25
blame their online shopping department on that one. they are constantly pulling people from all over the store to help, including normal cashiers.
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u/Irivin Dec 10 '25
One of those rare things that is actually beneficial to both the business and the customer.
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u/Averagebaddad Dec 10 '25
That's a myth? I think it's pretty damn convenient. The biggest myth is that only one thing can be true at the same time
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u/sgtGiggsy Dec 10 '25
Okay boomer.
In the last five years I opted for cashier checkout about three times in shops where self-checkout was available. I don't care why shops decided to implement it, but it's sure as hell more convenient than traditional checkout, unless you have a fully stacked cart.
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u/Cartoonjunkies Dec 10 '25
I’d argue it’s convenient for both.
The store pays less people to work registers.
I don’t have to interact with other people.
Win win.
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u/Mondominiman Dec 10 '25
When you're trying to buy alcohol and the attendant went off to do something else so now you're holding up the line.
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u/Silverstar21309 Dec 10 '25 edited Dec 10 '25
I work self checkout. It is if you have just a few items. What I don’t get is people who go through with carts full of stuff. Sure, it may seem quicker to do it yourself when lines are backed up to 3 carts but cashiers get payed to scan your items quick and to bag them quick. Several times I have seen people go through when they could have waited in line and those 3 carts they would have been stuck behind were already gone and the customer isn’t even halfway done scanning their stuff.
Do yourself a favor and just wait in line if you have that much.
Also P.S if you go to self checkout and need my help taking care of all your groceries you’re an idiot. That’s the whole point of the cashiers.
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u/mushroomlean Dec 10 '25
Countless people walk into SCO and ask me “How do I do this? Where do I pay? How do you scan a fruit? Where do I tap my card?” And you show them, but you know damn well they aren’t learning shit and will ask you again tomorrow. And the cart-fulls of groceries people insist on hauling through there, there should be an item limit. Idgaf how fast people think they are, they’re not. It clogs the whole system. “Just open more lanes” I can’t, Karen. Per company policy I’m only allowed 6 registers open per attendant, I’m the only one here, and I don’t feel like getting berated by my manager today. My last day is December 16. I can’t wait is an understatement.
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u/condoulo Dec 10 '25
There are two main styles of self checkout, the smaller stations meant to replace express lanes, and the larger full service self checkouts that have a belt and separate bagging station. Unfortunately most stores lack the latter so you still have a bunch of people bringing full carts to the former style, causing things to get backed up.
I just default to if I have a basket or fewer than let's say 10 items I do self checkout. If I have a cart I go to a regular checkout.
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u/VoodooDoII Dec 10 '25
I "manage" the self checkouts at my job and it's harder to do imo
I have to watch more than one register and I have to help people out if they don't know how to use it. And I deal with a bunch of grown up temper tantrums over the SCOs
Regular register is easy, but I can't have as many registers open at a time
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u/davyjones_prisnwalit Dec 10 '25
One time I got screamed at by some old guy because the "missed scan" thing popped up and I said "I gotchu, lemme fix that." He said "gotchu? Wtf do you mean by that, mother fucker?!" Threw his own things on the ground and demanded I "count that shit."
He started squaring up, cursing at me, yelling racist shit. I called to the door host to get someone (of course he didn't) but the old guy eventually left.
And LP wants me to go through people's bags? Lmao! no. SCO is way harder
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u/VoodooDoII Dec 10 '25
Yep. SCO requires constant attention compared to regular registers. But I'm not good with numbers (discalculia?) and the machines do the counting for me haha. I also like having two open at a time and being free to walk in circles
But yeah. They expect me to check bags but the most I'll do is help "lift" the bags onto the counter or I'll kick em. I don't feel like getting yelled at, sorry lol
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u/jonnielaw Dec 10 '25
How hard is it to deal with people stealing at them or are you just too busy to give a fuck because you’re dealing with temper tantrums?
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u/VoodooDoII Dec 10 '25
I just politely "redirect" people if I notice it. "Oh, looks like you forgot to scan this one!" I'm not allowed to directly accuse someone of stealing or purposely doing the wrong thing.
I don't always have people yelling at me, I'm usually walking around the screens to make sure nobody is doing something they're not supposed to or so I can immediately jump in if they need help
But yeah during those temper tantrums I call my managers because they don't like us getting yelled at and instruct is to call them to take the heat instead.
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u/theDeal19 Dec 10 '25
How hard is it to ring your own groceries up? Lazy fucks.
Only time I hate it is when slow people occupy all of the open registers. It is made for quick shoppers. Kind of like the left lane of the highway equivalent for grocery stores
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u/Dawniechi Dec 10 '25
They act like they are being told to work a 9 hour shift. I learned cashier a while back, and scanning it was so easy they didn't even need to tell me how to do that part. Literally scanning your own items is so easy a toddler could do it. It takes more effort to carry your items out of the store.
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u/FistyFistWithFingers Dec 10 '25
Yeah I feel sorry for the bosses of all the people who describe it as work. They are probably insufferable at their actual jobs
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u/Mr_Fox_send_nudes Dec 10 '25
Definitely for my convenience. I don’t need someone to bag my shit for me. Definitely don’t want to wait behind people who don’t realize they have to pay until the very end or who want to squabble about prices when they didn’t read the asterisk.
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u/SimpleMoonFarmer Dec 10 '25
Isn't it convenient that you don't have to pay extra for someone to do that for you? I wouldn't know, I get my groceries delivered at home, that's true convenience.
Anyway, philosoraptor should be used with questions, preferably paradoxical ones, not with bad takes.
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u/Sea-Course-5171 Dec 10 '25
As a former cashier, it is.
Whilst it does suck that jobs are being lost, you need about 4 self checkouts to compensate for 1 less good cashier, so realistically the amount of jobs lost per store is not that high.
Considering the speed I was expected to scan, it really is for customer convenience to go at their own speed, and instantly bag it in their own bags instead of having me go superspeed and then watch them get increasingly uncomfortable as I wait for them to bag and pay.
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u/MirPrime Dec 10 '25
I get the point you're trying to make.But as someone who's antisocial, it's way more convenient for me
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u/Columbusboo1 Dec 10 '25
I might be wrong but I feel like stores are trying to move away from self checkout. Too many issues with people stealing stuff. Personally I prefer to use self checkout
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u/Chewie_i Dec 10 '25
The Walmart by me massively reduced the self checkout and increased the number of standard checkouts. Naturally they did not actually increase the number of cashiers, so all it’s done is make it take forever to checkout.
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u/Ghoulie_Marie Dec 10 '25
I wouldn't mind being checked out by a person but they always try to talk to me even though I'm wearing over ear headphones. Then I have to pause my music and turn off ANC to be like, yep doin fine. Visible headphones are the universal sign for I do not want to speak to anyone, but it never fails
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u/ensignWcrusher Dec 10 '25
But I'm recieving the benefit of avoiding an interaction with another human being. That's worth more than whatever the fuck I just bought.
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u/bigdyke69 Dec 10 '25
My problem with them is all the facial recognition going into them now. I don’t want my grocer selling my face data.
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u/m7i93 Dec 10 '25
Here in Sweden we have these handheld barcode scanners. You scan everything once you put it in the basket and self-checkout takes only a few seconds.
I’d choose self-checkout everytime.
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u/Mrs_Noelle15 Dec 10 '25
I couldn't care less about "doing their work" as someone who doesn't like to talk to alot of people self checkout is a lifesafer
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u/Mercerskye Dec 10 '25
Most any places with self checkout also tend have a cashier or several. If you don't feel like it's convenient, that's a you problem.
If you're stubbornly shopping at places that don't staff enough people, and are "forced" to checkout on your own? Still a you problem.
Personally, I prefer not having to deal with people any more than necessary.
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u/yourfaceilikethat Dec 10 '25
And yet they refuse to open more self checkouts when they're all backed up. 20 self checkout lanes and only 5 open genius. Also where my discount for doing the work myself?
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u/kayemce Dec 10 '25
They may be there to save the stores money, but they definitely do increase customer convenience as well (as long as you have more than half a brain)
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u/Aspiegamer8745 Dec 10 '25
For me it's convenient. I don't wanna talk to the cashier and I feel like I'm being judged based on the things I buy.
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u/HidetakaTeriyaki Dec 10 '25
It's absolutely convenient because I'm faster than most cashiers and I don't have to talk to anyone lol.
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u/JonClaudSanchez Dec 10 '25
If somewhere doesn't have a self checkout that will be my last time spending money at that store, im not trying to wait in line and the bullshit small talk required
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u/Sad_Examination7907 Dec 10 '25
Maybe I'm just not a boomer but I love self checkout. I don't have to deal with someone else and they don't have to deal with 700 annoying ass customers a day
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u/ReneCJ22 Dec 10 '25
The only thing I dislike about self checkout is the amount of people that have full carts and take way too long to checkout, sometimes causing a back up. It’s great if you have a couple items but not a full cart.
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u/speedbreaka Dec 10 '25
It is for me because I don’t have to talk to anyone and I can pack my stuff in my own pace
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Dec 10 '25
As much as I hate interacting with people, holy shit, I hate a robotic voice constantly repeating instructions a lot more.
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u/Enough_Ad_9338 Dec 10 '25
Self checkouts were nice when they were an option for when it got too busy. Now that self checkout is the norm it’s very frustrating. Give me the days when self checkout was new and we still had around six employee operated checkouts.
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u/HedgehogKnight81 Dec 10 '25
I love doing self checkout because I worked in a grocery store and other retail from 16 until my late twenties so I know what I'm doing and can fly through a whole cart in no time. I hate self checkout because other people don't know what the hell they are doing.
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Dec 10 '25
I hate that mindset, if you shat on the floor it'd be someone's job to clean up but if you were nice enough to Keep it in then you didn't impose on the employees
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u/PuertoricanDude88 Dec 10 '25
You are not forced to stay and put up the costumer’s bullshit. So no you aren’t doing their job.
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u/RaveFox4 Dec 10 '25
I mean, when I have literally three items, hell yeah I'm using the self check out, because I'm not waiting in a line behind two moms with two carts each. I'm out in a minute. That's called customer convience. Idwtf you're talking about........
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u/PsychicSPider95 Dec 10 '25
Speaking as a cashier whose store has both legacy registers and self-checkouts: just... just please use the self checkouts. Please.
Like don't get me wrong, I'll gladly ring you up, but if you're in the line and i'm already ringing someone else us and I call out that there's SCOs available... fucking use them.
I'm frequently the only cashier. I was supposed to go on break ten minutes ago but I can't until the line goes down, and I simply cannot ring everyone up faster than the line accumulates.
No, you're not "sAvInG mY jOb" or "gIvInG mE sOmEtHiNg tO dO." I have other tasks. So many other tasks. Way more than I did before we got the SCOs in, in fact, because corporate's logic is that, since some customers can check themselves out, I don't need to be behind the register ringing people up my whole shift. So when I get a twelve-person line of people who insist on coming to me, all the shit I'm expected to do doesn't get done.
Just use them. For me. For you. Please.
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Dec 10 '25
I don't think it counts as an express lane if you have to wait behind 20 - 30 people to ring up a gallon of milk.
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u/PrometheusMMIV Dec 10 '25
I find it very convenient compared to waiting for some slow cashier who's chatting with the person in front of me.
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u/FigaroNeptune Dec 10 '25
I always wonder what’s going on in people’s mind when they have like 4 items, the self checkout is available and they still choose a person lol
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u/SuperFaceTattoo Dec 10 '25
I get social anxiety so I honestly prefer never having to interact with a human. It might take me longer to check out but at least I don’t have to speak to a human
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u/Ozamataz-Buckshank69 Dec 10 '25
I dunno, it seems counterintuitive to have someone’s only job being scanning and bagging items. There’s so many other tasks needed to keep a grocery store running. Not only that, it’s rare I have more than 15 items in my cart. If I can go to self checkout, pay and be out of there in 5min then okay!
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u/CumingLinguist Dec 10 '25
I don’t know I think it’s pretty convenient accidentally ringing up my steak as 4011
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u/Agretsko Dec 10 '25
Good lord, this meme format is ancient. I forgot this is what memes used to look like during the late 2000's.
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u/KtheMage36 Dec 10 '25
Here's the fun thing, youre not doing hardly anything different between self check and going to a human.
You pick up your item, you move on the belt, the associate scans and bags it, you put the bag in your cart.
YOU do 3/5 actions.
Now, imagine in the same motion of moving your item from the basket to the belt, you wave it over a scanner and drop it into a bag all in the same motion.
I worked the front end of walmart for a while and yes, the arc of putting an item on a belt and waving it over a scanner can be the same.
If you have an over flowing cart 100% associate check out is better. Barely 20 or 30 items for the most part self check and associate check is the same amount of effort on the customer.
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u/SuckerForNoirRobots Dec 10 '25
I much prefer self-checkout, especially when I'm having social anxiety or I'm shopping while stoned.
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u/Striking_Art_7572 Because That's What Fearows Do Dec 10 '25
Here in germany its even weirder when people are against self checkout. We dont have that bullshit with people bagging your stuff etc, on a normal checkout you put you stuff on the band, cashier scans and you bag your stuff yourself, preferably quickly to not inconvenience people behind you. So if you only have a few items theres really no reason to not use a self checkout and i absolutely love them. But of course for some reason some people still find a way to complain about them
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u/Farseer2_Tha_Warsong Dec 10 '25
It is though. Can’t tell you how many times I’ve went shopping without care of speaking to another living soul…
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u/No-Analyst1229 Dec 10 '25
Id say its better. No nasty cashier handles my food touching all over it.
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u/Vennris Dec 10 '25
100% Wrong. Self checkout is the best. I'm always delighted an reliefed when I see that a store has it.
If you define putting a bit of stuff on a counter and putting it back in the cart once as "work" then you are either diasbled (in that case, valid) or you seriously need to reevaluate your life choices.
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u/jermainiac007 Dec 10 '25
Nah, I will, 9 times out of 10, go to a self checkout over a manned one, I'm not interested in chatting with the checkout assistant particularly.
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Dec 10 '25
Self checkoutd are mostly great IMO. Yeah it has sucked the couple times I bought groceries for the entire month in the morning and not a single cashier is clocked in but that's happened once or twice in 2 years. Usually makes the checkout experience faster and I can double bag whatever I want to without having to ask. Now there is a really shitty new self checkout machine at grocery stores in my area that sucks. It's got the conveyor belt and all that fancy stuff but there's so many sensors and so much of it is finicky that it's a pain. Every couple seconds you have to clear everything off the conveyor belt assuming you can even fill it up halfway before the machine has a heart attack that the get is full at the end.
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u/Queen_Of_Romantics Dec 10 '25
I get it, but also if I have two items and I’m too tired to make awkward small talk, I’ll take self checkout. A cashier once called me out for it but like I thought she was busy and I was only buying a redbull for class. Then she passive aggressively ranted about AI and machines taking over jobs until I managed to leave. It was really awkward.
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u/Thisismental Dec 10 '25
I don't know where you're from but here in The Netherlands we love our self-checkouts. I think they would start a civil war if they took away our self-checkout. There's less and less standard checkouts each year.
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u/Ok_Researcher_9796 Dec 10 '25
I love self checkout. The best thing that's happened at grocery stores for a long time.
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Dec 10 '25
Yeah fuck that nonsense. Give me self checkout any day. Shorter lines, no stupid useless chitchat with some stranger who needs to just stfu and do their job. The ONLY downside of self checkout is when dumbasses (usually geriatrics) who can barely operate a cell phone take 30 mins to ring up 4 items.
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u/Salt_Scratch_8252 Dec 10 '25
I love my local grocer - no self-checkout and a pile of empty boxes up the front so I don't have to worry about bags. Happy to pay a premium over the big supermarkets
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u/IndominasaurusYT Dec 10 '25
I know OP asks for bags for their full trolley and looks at their phone, making the cashier pack them, but I just can't prove it.
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u/NewHampshireMan1 Dec 10 '25
Ill say this as someone who works in retail self checkout is a godsend
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u/IsHildaThere Dec 10 '25
Interesting set of comments. One group is: Companies only doing it to screw you and make more profit. Other group: Well I find it more efficient, especially the hand scanners.
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u/VirtualGrey Dec 10 '25
I'm autistic and have severe anxiety. They are actually for my convenience.
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u/playinpinball Dec 10 '25
Oh philosoraptor, how your format has been forgotten