Australian Politics Forum - Supermarket self checkouts

Gordon

Gold Member

Offline

Australian Politics

Posts: 20663
Gordon
Gender: male

Supermarket self checkouts
Mar 9^th, 2022 at 1:43pm

Here's my review of 3 supermarkets and their self checkout systems.

Woolies
There are 3 prompts you have to clear before you can even start scanning, do you have a bag, do you have a loyalty card, are you paying by card.
Once scanning the system is reasonable, but a little glitchy and slow. I think there' an extra annoying prompt at the end that slows you down.

Coles
There are no prompts to begin with and you can just start scanning unless the person before you walked away without pressing yes or no to print a receipt. Once scanning it's about the same as Woolies in speed, has the occasional glitch and the occasional hangup when it doesn't know you put something in the bagging area. It has the loyalty card prompt at the end and also asks if you want to print a receipt as I mentioned earlier.

Coles also has a self scanner with a conveyor belt, they're newer machines and are really fast and easy to use.

Aldi
Not many Aldi shops have self scanners, but the times I've used them they are really fast. No prompts to get going at the beginning or end so that's good. The system is really fast, probably because they're newer and they have less inventory to deal with.
One annoying thing is, after you scan something, the time it gives you to put the item in the bagging area is really short and you get an voice prompt, 'please put your item in the bagging area'. I go fast enough so it doesn't happen often but I can hear a constant repetition of it from the machines around me which is bloody annoying.

From worst to best.

Woolies
Coles normal machine
Aldi
Coles with the conveyor belt

Hope this helps.

Back to top

IBI

IP Logged

Sir Spot of Borg Gold Member Offline WE ARE BORG Posts: 26512 Australia	Re: Supermarket self checkouts Reply #1 - Mar 9^th, 2022 at 1:51pm Thankyou for your diligence in taking away low paying jobs from ppl Spot
Back to top	Whaaaaaah! I'm a Moron! - edited by some unethical admin - you think its funny? - its a slippery slope IP Logged

Gordon Gold Member Offline Australian Politics Posts: 20663 Gordon Gender:	Re: Supermarket self checkouts Reply #2 - Mar 9^th, 2022 at 2:09pm Sir Spot of Borg wrote on Mar 9^th, 2022 at 1:51pm: Thankyou for your diligence in taking away low paying jobs from ppl Spot Hope you don't put petrol in your car yourself
Back to top	IBI IP Logged

greggerypeccary

Gold Member

Online

Australian Politics

Posts: 138345
Gender: male

Re: Supermarket self checkouts
Reply #3 - Mar 9^th, 2022 at 2:14pm

Gordon wrote on Mar 9^th, 2022 at 2:09pm:

Sir Spot of Borg wrote on Mar 9^th, 2022 at 1:51pm:

Thankyou for your diligence in taking away low paying jobs from ppl

Spot

Hope you don't put petrol in your car yourself Wink

When it comes to petrol, there's no choice (not that I'm aware of).

Supermarkets offer a choice (most of the time, in Australia), and I always choose the human.

Back to top

IP Logged

Lisa Jones

Gold Member

Offline

Australian Politics

Posts: 39047
Sydney
Gender: female

Re: Supermarket self checkouts
Reply #4 - Mar 9^th, 2022 at 2:38pm

I HAVE ALWAYS REFUSED to use a supermarket self check out service.

Dear God! I'm a customer. The friendly and capable staff can scan and pack my goods for me. I appreciate it (and I'm sure they appreciate their weekly wages too)!

Have you noticed how many are students trying to study and earn their keep? Others are mums who work part time during school hrs so as to keep up with the cost of living.

I fully support such important front line workers of our community.

And our Federal Govt (who collects their income tax) would probably agree with me!

Back to top

If I let myself be bought then I am no longer free.

HYPATIA - Greek philosopher, mathematician and astronomer (370 - 415)

IP Logged

Laugh till you cry

Gold Member

Offline

Posts: 16619
In your happy place
Gender: male

Re: Supermarket self checkouts
Reply #5 - Mar 9^th, 2022 at 2:41pm

Lisa Jones wrote on Mar 9^th, 2022 at 2:38pm:

I HAVE ALWAYS REFUSED to use a supermarket self check out service.

Dear God! I'm a customer. The friendly and capable staff can scan and pack my goods for me. I appreciate it (and I'm sure they appreciate their weekly wages too)!

Have you noticed how many are students trying to study and earn their keep? Others are mums who work part time during school hrs so as to keep up with the cost of living.

I fully support such important front line workers of our community.

And our Federal Govt (who collects their income tax) would probably agree with me!

Finally, a real housewife expert opinion on cheap shopping.

Back to top

Please don't thank me. Effusive fawning and obeisance of disciples, mendicants, and foot-kissers embarrass me.

IP Logged

Gordon

Gold Member

Offline

Australian Politics

Posts: 20663
Gordon
Gender: male

Re: Supermarket self checkouts
Reply #6 - Mar 9^th, 2022 at 2:52pm

Resistance is futile, better to focus on reskilling than trying to support jobs that won't be there. I use an old school checkout when I have lots of stuff or need to do a few urgent texts.

My kid is at school career advice stage at the moment, and the future impacts of AI are being taught and factored in for many sectors, law being a standout.

Back to top

IBI

IP Logged

UnSubRocky

Gold Member

Offline

Crocodile Hunter: Origins

Posts: 25017
Rockhampton
Gender: male

Re: Supermarket self checkouts
Reply #7 - Mar 9^th, 2022 at 4:32pm

Lisa Jones wrote on Mar 9^th, 2022 at 2:38pm:

I HAVE ALWAYS REFUSED to use a supermarket self check out service.

Dear God! I'm a customer. The friendly and capable staff can scan and pack my goods for me. I appreciate it (and I'm sure they appreciate their weekly wages too)!

So, if you had 5 items, you would not just pop over to the self-serve checkouts and use them. That is, instead of standing in line behind two customers who each have $100 (2 minutes worth of scanning) groceries?

I mean, if they had water fountains at grocery stores, I would not be spending $3 for a 600mL bottle of water from a vending machine (or $2.10 from the fridge at Woolies). But, I have no intention on waiting 5 minutes behind other people if I have a few items that could be scanned by me at the self-serve. Wait times are shorter when there are more checkouts available. That is the purpose of self-serve.

Back to top

At this stage...

IP Logged

Jasin Gold Member Offline Posts: 49015 Gender:	Re: Supermarket self checkouts Reply #8 - Mar 9^th, 2022 at 5:07pm People who interact with 'machines' more than people - develop Autism (they just sit and stare at imaginary 'screens').
Back to top	AIMLESS EXTENTION OF KNOWLEDGE HOWEVER, WHICH IS WHAT I THINK YOU REALLY MEAN BY THE TERM 'CURIOSITY', IS MERELY INEFFICIENCY. I AM DESIGNED TO AVOID INEFFICIENCY. IP Logged

greggerypeccary

Gold Member

Online

Australian Politics

Posts: 138345
Gender: male

Re: Supermarket self checkouts
Reply #9 - Mar 9^th, 2022 at 6:05pm

UnSubRocky wrote on Mar 9^th, 2022 at 4:32pm:

Lisa Jones wrote on Mar 9^th, 2022 at 2:38pm:

I HAVE ALWAYS REFUSED to use a supermarket self check out service.

Dear God! I'm a customer. The friendly and capable staff can scan and pack my goods for me. I appreciate it (and I'm sure they appreciate their weekly wages too)!

So, if you had 5 items, you would not just pop over to the self-serve checkouts and use them. That is, instead of standing in line behind two customers who each have $100 (2 minutes worth of scanning) groceries?

No. I wouldn't.

I never use the self-serve if humans are available.

At Target in the CBD, I have no choice.

In London, I have no choice.

But here in Perth, we (mostly) still have a choice, and as long as that choice exists I'll take the human over the machine every time.

Back to top

IP Logged

AiA

Gold Member

Offline

Posts: 18405
Gender: male

Re: Supermarket self checkouts
Reply #10 - Mar 9^th, 2022 at 7:50pm

My local supermarket has self-checkouts but those only take electronic payments but I prefer to pay cash so never use them. My local Walmart has self-checkout machines that DO take cash and there are ZERO prompts to get started - one simply starts scanning - so I use those a lot. However, should I try to buy a bottle of wine, well, then the trouble starts ...

Back to top

“Jerry, just remember: It’s not a lie … if you believe it.” George Costanza

IP Logged

John Smith

Gold Member

Online

Australian Politics

Posts: 74844
Gender: male

Re: Supermarket self checkouts
Reply #11 - Mar 9^th, 2022 at 8:06pm

One of the biggest complaints when 'MASTERS" started trying to compete with Bunnings was that all their checkouts were self serve. After about 6 months they allowed their 'customer service' desk to check out customers. They never recovered. It only took them a couple of years to go bust.

Any business who wants to force all their customers on self serve should take note. Customers want service. I'll start using self serve when I get offered a discount. Whilst I'm paying for service, I expect to get it.

Back to top

Our esteemed leader:
I hope that bitch who was running their brothels for them gets raped with a cactus.

IP Logged

Gordon

Gold Member

Offline

Australian Politics

Posts: 20663
Gordon
Gender: male

Re: Supermarket self checkouts
Reply #12 - Mar 9^th, 2022 at 8:17pm

John Smith wrote on Mar 9^th, 2022 at 8:06pm:

One of the biggest complaints when 'MASTERS" started trying to compete with Bunnings was that all their checkouts were self serve. After about 6 months they allowed their 'customer service' desk to check out customers. They never recovered. It only took them a couple of years to go bust.

Any business who wants to force all their customers on self serve should take note. Customers want service. I'll start using self serve when I get offered a discount. Whilst I'm paying for service, I expect to get it.

Bad locations, bad store layout, products people didn't want to buy from a hardware store, bad restock and purchasing systems etc etc etc. Nothing about self checkout.

Every time I go to a Bunnings these days they have just 2 people checkouts and that usually includes the service desk.

https://www.thecourier.com.au/story/4571244/self-inflicted-wound-how-masters-hom...

https://www.smh.com.au/business/companies/what-went-wrong-at-woolworths-masters-...

Back to top

IBI

IP Logged

Gordon Gold Member Offline Australian Politics Posts: 20663 Gordon Gender:	Re: Supermarket self checkouts Reply #13 - Mar 9^th, 2022 at 8:19pm One of the funniest complaints about Masters, tradies hated it because its decor was supposed to be more female friendly
Back to top	IBI IP Logged

John Smith Gold Member Online Australian Politics Posts: 74844 Gender:	Re: Supermarket self checkouts Reply #14 - Mar 9^th, 2022 at 8:19pm Gordon wrote on Mar 9^th, 2022 at 8:17pm: Bad locations, bad store layout, products people didn't want to buy from a hardware store, bad restock and purchasing systems etc etc etc. Nothing about self checkout. yeah, thats why they changed their policy after 6 months
Back to top	Our esteemed leader: I hope that bitch who was running their brothels for them gets raped with a cactus. IP Logged