Only about one-third of surveyed retailers plan to invest in self-checkout technology this year, significantly fewer than in 2025, according to an annual retail industry report. While...
I’m a introvert and hate dealing with people, but for some reason I don’t like using the self-checkout. I don’t know why. But anyway, I recommend moving to Finland. My interactions are as follows:
A very quick eye contact with a nod as a hello.
I pay, receive the change, say thank you.
I go away.
There is no small talk or push for registering for their bonus card systems, etc, here. You go in, do your thing, say thank you, go away. And saying anything is optional. I do it because I feel like that’s the least I can do for the poor person who has to deal with humans all day. But often I see people not even look at the checkout person, just stare at the register until it gives out a number, pay and bugger off.
A Swede is visiting his Finnish cousin. They are sitting in a boat, drinking beers and fishing. After the 8th beer, the Swede asks “so, hows the family?” And the Finn replies “did we come here to drink or to talk?”
That’s pretty much the interaction I expect in New England.
And, it’s better than waiting around for the self-checkout attendant to fix the error when the self-checkout kiosk doesn’t detect the reusable bag I brought correctly.
I know I’m lucky that I live in a country that has 17 people living in it, I don’t remember the last time I was in the checkout line for more than 5 minutes. Also, we have shops that are open until late at night and most of the hyper-markets are 24h. So I just go shopping at around 23:00 or later, when there is 2 people in the shop.
Pulling back doesn’t necessarily mean cancelling all existing self check-out systems. It probably means they will have both, which is how it’s supposed to be, to be honest. Sometimes I just want to scan three items and leave and other times I want someone else to deal with it.
That’s sometimes part of the awkwardness. My additional gripes are completely pedantic, but hear me out:
None of the grocery chains in my area offer bagging services, so I have to wait for the attendant to scan my items, bag them myself, and then shuffle back to the register to pay. None of this is a problem, except that the human attendant rarely ever scans the items in the order that makes sense to bag them. So there’s the weird dance of waiting, pushing items aside, etc.
If I’m doing self-check, I can scan and bag using my own patented autistic process ™ that is quick, makes sense, and doesn’t crush things, and I can do it in one shot.
I use this method, mostly works, cashier sometimes reaches past items when scanning. 🤷
I have observed others just reloading the cart and bagging once at their vehicle in the parking lot. Only downside i see is when having weather.
You can pay after they scan the first item. It won’t go through until they finish the transaction. So put stuff on conveyor. Wait for them to scan first item. Tap your card. Go pack up your bags while they’re scanning. When they’re done you’re done.
This seems highly location/payment system dependent. You can’t do it where I live, the CC terminals require the final amount to be sent to them before it will accept a card, if you scan your CC before the final amount is sent to the terminal it just gets ignored and a CC will still be requested once the cashier has sent the final amount to the terminal.
As someone who finds interacting with register attendants painful, and doesn’t steal, this is unfortunate news.
As someone who also doesn’t enjoy interacting with register attendants, but does steal, I too find this to be unfortunate news.
I’m a introvert and hate dealing with people, but for some reason I don’t like using the self-checkout. I don’t know why. But anyway, I recommend moving to Finland. My interactions are as follows:
A very quick eye contact with a nod as a hello.
I pay, receive the change, say thank you.
I go away.
There is no small talk or push for registering for their bonus card systems, etc, here. You go in, do your thing, say thank you, go away. And saying anything is optional. I do it because I feel like that’s the least I can do for the poor person who has to deal with humans all day. But often I see people not even look at the checkout person, just stare at the register until it gives out a number, pay and bugger off.
I’m sure you know the old joke:
How do you spot an extrovert Finn?
When he talks to you, he looks at your shoes instead of his own.
Indeed I do :)
Cool :)
A Swede is visiting his Finnish cousin. They are sitting in a boat, drinking beers and fishing. After the 8th beer, the Swede asks “so, hows the family?” And the Finn replies “did we come here to drink or to talk?”
Haha, thanks, I didn’t know that one. I would honestly love to visit Finland someday.
I can recommend it :P
Just skip Helsinki, 'tis a pointless place to spend any more time than necessary.
Thanks! :)
That’s pretty much the interaction I expect in New England.
And, it’s better than waiting around for the self-checkout attendant to fix the error when the self-checkout kiosk doesn’t detect the reusable bag I brought correctly.
I know I’m lucky that I live in a country that has 17 people living in it, I don’t remember the last time I was in the checkout line for more than 5 minutes. Also, we have shops that are open until late at night and most of the hyper-markets are 24h. So I just go shopping at around 23:00 or later, when there is 2 people in the shop.
As it should be! The exaggerated fake politeness I’ve encountered in the US is fucking horrible and makes everything worse.
Agreed. Devastating.
Pulling back doesn’t necessarily mean cancelling all existing self check-out systems. It probably means they will have both, which is how it’s supposed to be, to be honest. Sometimes I just want to scan three items and leave and other times I want someone else to deal with it.
We introverts pay the price 😭
Or those who shop while stoned…
Agreed. I am sad.
They don’t interact bro
That’s sometimes part of the awkwardness. My additional gripes are completely pedantic, but hear me out:
None of the grocery chains in my area offer bagging services, so I have to wait for the attendant to scan my items, bag them myself, and then shuffle back to the register to pay. None of this is a problem, except that the human attendant rarely ever scans the items in the order that makes sense to bag them. So there’s the weird dance of waiting, pushing items aside, etc.
If I’m doing self-check, I can scan and bag using my own patented autistic process ™ that is quick, makes sense, and doesn’t crush things, and I can do it in one shot.
This is why I unload them onto the belt in the order they must be bagged
I use this method, mostly works, cashier sometimes reaches past items when scanning. 🤷 I have observed others just reloading the cart and bagging once at their vehicle in the parking lot. Only downside i see is when having weather.
I suppose that’s a solution, but you’re also doubling your responsibilities, and the price of the groceries still stays too damn high.
It doesn’t really feel like work, I just sort by weight+size in descending order
I go by uncrushable first, fragile last.
Today I learnt doing what most of the world has been doing is “doubling my responsibilities”
You can pay after they scan the first item. It won’t go through until they finish the transaction. So put stuff on conveyor. Wait for them to scan first item. Tap your card. Go pack up your bags while they’re scanning. When they’re done you’re done.
This seems highly location/payment system dependent. You can’t do it where I live, the CC terminals require the final amount to be sent to them before it will accept a card, if you scan your CC before the final amount is sent to the terminal it just gets ignored and a CC will still be requested once the cashier has sent the final amount to the terminal.