Do you use the self serve checkouts?

[tonee]

I ask because Lidl(Mesogi Road) has took out the first three manned checkouts and created a large area of self serve checkouts.

[trevnhil]

I don't like them and don't use them.. I have used them a couple of times when the assistant there has encouraged me to go into that area. But it is so strange to me.. I just prefer to use the ordinary checkout where you have an assistant

[Dominic]

I use them purely because they don't bother me and I know they bother other people. So at least it is one less in the queue for those that don't like them to worry about.

What is weird is that you need to keep your receipt in order to get out through the exit gate. They should make that clear when they print it.

[ryanaldi]

I don't like them either! I had to use one there for the first time the other day, and you have to remember to scan your receipt to be able to exit the self serve area! I suppose they're good if you only have a few items and you're in a hurry, but for myself, I would rather use the cashiers as usual.
Linda

[Uncle D]

I've always considered self service checkouts for people who only buy a few items. If I only need a few items I don't drive to the supermarket, but go a bit closer to a kiosk/mini market, where although may be a bit more expensive, but not always the case, it's more convenient.
If I need certain items that I cant buy at smaller places, I will do a big trolley shop at the supermarket and use the checkout, it does after all keep the checkout people in a job.

[ast]

I dont have a problem with self service at all and if they are free ie no queue i go straight to them, in the uk prefer the self scan hand held gadgets to as you just scan whilst going around the shop and at the checkout just pay and out the door, sign of the times me thinks.

[kansas]

We'll use them if we have only a few items, but for a large shop we'll use the normal check-outs. It's quicker IMHO and we're not too worried about queuing....

[josef k]

I refuse to use them. I prefer human contact, and don't see why I should do someone out of a job. From my observations they are often problematic.

[Firefly]

Personally I loathe them.

If I use one, it always seems that I have to wait to have five items checked, i.e. to prove that I have scanned everything. If not that, then something won't scan, and I have to wait for assistance, or there is an unidentified item in the bagging area, yes, it's my bag! Wait for assistance yet again.

The other thing is that whilst you do the supermarket's work, someone is out of a job.

[WHL]

I've tried them but sometimes get , call assistant etc, so i avoid them, but they ain't as bad as Lidls cashiers throwing the items at you as if they are going for the olympic record of how many items they can scan in under ten seconds

[daveg]

Hate them ...
Worse thing for me is that once scanned you can't take the item away and pack it until all items have been scanned....

[Yioula]

It’s the future to cut staffing costs like online banking has closed banks
In the U.K. the hand held self scanner is useful as items go straight into your shopping bag, the self service is usually for 10 items or less

[Dominic]

Hate them ...
Worse thing for me is that once scanned you can't take the item away and pack it until all items have been scanned....

The secret there is to scan a heavy item first, like a pint of milk, and place it in your empty carrier bag on the loading bay. Then you can place other items straight into the bag.

I had an interesting one today. I bought a whole chicken which was 2.043kg according to the sticker. When I scanned it and put it on the loading bay, it flagged an error, saying that the item had an incorrect weight. Given that the weight could only be ascertained via the label, it implied that the chicken didn't in fact weigh 2.043Kg. But I just weighed it now, and it was exactly that weight. So why it flagged an error I have no idea. In the end, because there was one assistant monitoring the self service tills, and all of them had errors, I picked up my shopping and took it to a manned till instead.

[ast]

I've tried them but sometimes get , call assistant etc, so i avoid them, but they ain't as bad as Lidls cashiers throwing the items at you as if they are going for the olympic record of how many items they can scan in under ten seconds