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The failure of self-checkout technology

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421–430 of 621 posts

Re: The failure of self-checkout technology

#421

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That's exactly how it works in the Netherlands, you just scan your items and go. There are no weight checks and you can scan items more than once and edit and remove things from the list. Apart from getting a poorly executed random check sometimes (which is far from effective for the purpose of avoiding theft imho) it actually works really well.

Enjoy your homogenous, high trust society. We are all jealous.

Sam's Club does this in the US and it is great.

Re: The failure of self-checkout technology

#422
Meanwhile here in Central / Eastern Europe, self checkouts continue to be adopted and work just fine. They’re especially great for convenience stores where you can grab a quick snack, pay, and be out in a minute.

The difference may be that there is zero expectation of theft here, with shoplifting also being punished as the crime it is.

Re: The failure of self-checkout technology

#423
post #248

It feels like almost all the issues with self-checkout technology come from the attempts to minimise shoplifting, which don't even seem that effective at doing that. In theory, a system that let you scan products the same way checkout staff do without any weight checks or bagging area rules or other interruptions would be incredibly efficient. Especially if you could do things like scan the same product multiple time…

> It feels like almost all the issues with self-checkout technology come from the attempts to minimise shoplifting, which don't even seem that effective at doing that. Agreed. And in some cases the issues almost feel like they're on purpose in order to drive people away from using the self checkouts. For example, when I use self checkout at my local grocery store, I have to hit a button to tell it I want to use my ow…

I'm not a particular fan of self-checkout for more than a handful of non-restricted bar-coded items. But, subject to that caveat I find that self-checkouts in general are far less fussy than they used to be about using your own bag etc.

Re: The failure of self-checkout technology

#424
post #248

It feels like almost all the issues with self-checkout technology come from the attempts to minimise shoplifting, which don't even seem that effective at doing that. In theory, a system that let you scan products the same way checkout staff do without any weight checks or bagging area rules or other interruptions would be incredibly efficient. Especially if you could do things like scan the same product multiple time…

I disagree. The majority of the problems that I run into with self-checkout are related to not being able to buy items I picked up off the shelf like Mucinex or children's cough syrup or alcohol without getting an employee to check me out... at self checkout. What's the point of "self" checkout if somebody is required —not by failure of the system but by rules—to come help me several times during the process? Edit: a…

> What's the point of "self" checkout if somebody is required—not by failure of the system but by rules—to come help me several times during the process?

In my nearby Walmart they have a dozen or more self-checkout stations which only require a few staff in total. Most people don't need assistance.

Re: The failure of self-checkout technology

#425

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> It feels like almost all the issues with self-checkout technology come from the attempts to minimise shoplifting, which don't even seem that effective at doing that. Agreed. And in some cases the issues almost feel like they're on purpose in order to drive people away from using the self checkouts. For example, when I use self checkout at my local grocery store, I have to hit a button to tell it I want to use my ow…

I treat the self-checkout as if it has the "10 items or less" sign for an express checkout some supermarkets used to have. If I need multiple bags, it's probably not faster to use the self checkout.

The stations are just not designed for checking out a lot of non-barcoded/awkward etc. items.

Re: The failure of self-checkout technology

#426
post #248

It feels like almost all the issues with self-checkout technology come from the attempts to minimise shoplifting, which don't even seem that effective at doing that. In theory, a system that let you scan products the same way checkout staff do without any weight checks or bagging area rules or other interruptions would be incredibly efficient. Especially if you could do things like scan the same product multiple time…

I disagree. The majority of the problems that I run into with self-checkout are related to not being able to buy items I picked up off the shelf like Mucinex or children's cough syrup or alcohol without getting an employee to check me out... at self checkout. What's the point of "self" checkout if somebody is required —not by failure of the system but by rules—to come help me several times during the process? Edit: a…

My favorite is when the system says "help is on the way" and then very obviously does nothing whatsoever to notify the attendant. I have to catch their eye myself every single time.

Re: The failure of self-checkout technology

#427

Not to trot out the ol' meme: "Just as AI/ML", but why don't they add a camera that can guess what is your fruit/veg, or at least suggest 2-3 items that look close? That would solve a lot. In Hongkong, most major supermarkets have self-checkout sections now. Usually, there is a single person standing by to fix any issues. I am sure the labour cost for checkout is much lower in those areas. In Tokyo, Japan, most conve…

> why don't they add a camera that can guess what is your fruit/veg, or at least suggest 2-3 items that look close?

They had one of those in a larger supermarket I visited last summer. (EDIT: In Norway) They also had those mobile bar code scanners you bring with you and dock in your trolley, and app payment (including receipt storage), so the entire process was pretty smooth.

I live in a city so I don't use those large supermarkets, so I don't know if this is something new or not.

Re: The failure of self-checkout technology

#428

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I disagree. The majority of the problems that I run into with self-checkout are related to not being able to buy items I picked up off the shelf like Mucinex or children's cough syrup or alcohol without getting an employee to check me out... at self checkout. What's the point of "self" checkout if somebody is required —not by failure of the system but by rules—to come help me several times during the process? Edit: a…

> What's the point of "self" checkout if somebody is required—not by failure of the system but by rules—to come help me several times during the process? In my nearby Walmart they have a dozen or more self-checkout stations which only require a few staff in total. Most people don't need assistance.

Yeah, mine has 1 person overlooking 8 self-checkouts, and most of the time they're standing there doing nothing. I've only needed help like 5 times in several years, when the scale messed up.

Re: The failure of self-checkout technology

#429

In the stores here in Latvia, I've had reasonably positive experiences with self-checkout. I can pack stuff in my bags with no rush (there's usually no line for self-checkout, since not everyone uses it), just scan the bar codes for products that have them and pick from a menu/search for those that don't (e.g. freshly baked goods in paper bags). Then, I can pay with my card, or sometimes have to verify my ID with the…

In Germany there are a few Lidl's with self checkout now. But haven't seen an Aldi doing it.

There are Aldis in Germany with self checkout.

Re: The failure of self-checkout technology

#430
post #248

It feels like almost all the issues with self-checkout technology come from the attempts to minimise shoplifting, which don't even seem that effective at doing that. In theory, a system that let you scan products the same way checkout staff do without any weight checks or bagging area rules or other interruptions would be incredibly efficient. Especially if you could do things like scan the same product multiple time…

IMO it's exactly this. Back when I was a teenager I worked at a supermarket and was able to scan a basket of shopping incredibly quickly. But the self checkout machines have so many pauses and errors that it's impossible to do anything at speed.
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