Planet Money: Self Checkout [audio]
1–10 of 46 posts
Re: Planet Money: Self Checkout [audio]
#2I always refuse to use Self Checkout, even when a store clerk offers to operate it for me. The process always takes longer than doing it "the old fashioned way". Maybe it's because I'm over 50, but I prefer face-to-face interaction with a cashier. BTW, I'm not a technophobe by any measure. I'm probably more tech savvy than most people here.
Re: Planet Money: Self Checkout [audio]
#3I always refuse to use Self Checkout, even when a store clerk offers to operate it for me. The process always takes longer than doing it "the old fashioned way". Maybe it's because I'm over 50, but I prefer face-to-face interaction with a cashier. BTW, I'm not a technophobe by any measure. I'm probably more tech savvy than most people here.
Being pretty antisocial, I tend to go to the self checkout if it's available. Though I've noticed that if there's a problem with something, and the store clerk comes over to help, that leads to far more human interaction than the old fashioned way (explaining the problem vs. "Hi")
> BTW, I'm not a technophobe by any measure. I'm probably more tech savvy than most people here.
At least in my circle of friends, it seems like it's less about being tech savvy/phobic and more introverted/extroverted
Re: Planet Money: Self Checkout [audio]
#4I always refuse to use Self Checkout, even when a store clerk offers to operate it for me. The process always takes longer than doing it "the old fashioned way". Maybe it's because I'm over 50, but I prefer face-to-face interaction with a cashier. BTW, I'm not a technophobe by any measure. I'm probably more tech savvy than most people here.
I hate the self checkout but I use them because they tend not to have lines.
They really are slow.
Re: Planet Money: Self Checkout [audio]
#5I hate these damn machines. Every one I've ever tried has been incredibly shitty. They're configured to prevent stealing, but that means they constantly stop normal shoppers just trying to check out and force everything to a halt until an assistant coms over. But whoops, the assistant always just stepped away for a moment, or is helping someone else, or, or...
Not to mention the basic fact that, screw you guys, it's YOUR job to do the checkout, not customers'.
Re: Planet Money: Self Checkout [audio]
#6I actually like using self checkout. It's great for quick purchases, but not so much when you're buying lots of groceries. One thing I usually buy quickly is beer - but here in California, there is a State law against using the self checkout lane for alcohol purchases. This is ostensibly to avoid alcohol theft, but I have a sneaky conspiracy theory it's to make these self checkouts even less used, all to appease the unions and keep labor up.
Re: Planet Money: Self Checkout [audio]
#7I refuse. The prices are usually too high to warrant scanning my own groceries.
Re: Planet Money: Self Checkout [audio]
#8I always refuse to use Self Checkout, even when a store clerk offers to operate it for me. The process always takes longer than doing it "the old fashioned way". Maybe it's because I'm over 50, but I prefer face-to-face interaction with a cashier. BTW, I'm not a technophobe by any measure. I'm probably more tech savvy than most people here.
If I have less than 5 items, the self checkout is usually faster but anything over that and then it's just too trouble to do all that stuff myself.
For one single item, which happens sometimes, it can be significantly more efficient.
Re: Planet Money: Self Checkout [audio]
#9I always refuse to use Self Checkout, even when a store clerk offers to operate it for me. The process always takes longer than doing it "the old fashioned way". Maybe it's because I'm over 50, but I prefer face-to-face interaction with a cashier. BTW, I'm not a technophobe by any measure. I'm probably more tech savvy than most people here.
I hate the self checkout but I use them because they tend not to have lines. They really are slow.
[deleted]
Re: Planet Money: Self Checkout [audio]
#10I always refuse to use Self Checkout, even when a store clerk offers to operate it for me. The process always takes longer than doing it "the old fashioned way". Maybe it's because I'm over 50, but I prefer face-to-face interaction with a cashier. BTW, I'm not a technophobe by any measure. I'm probably more tech savvy than most people here.
Being pretty antisocial, I tend to go to the self checkout if it's available. Though I've noticed that if there's a problem with something, and the store clerk comes over to help, that leads to far more human interaction than the old fashioned way (explaining the problem vs. "Hi") > BTW, I'm not a technophobe by any measure. I'm probably more tech savvy than most people here. At least in my circle of friends, it seem…
I tend to prefer less human interaction as well, but these machines offer the worst of both worlds: frustration due to dealing with a poorly designed machine, PLUS the joy of waiting around for a person to come rescue you.