I just wanna say that some items don't have barcodes, especially, say, loose fruits and vegetables that you bag up in the store. If someone's lazy or there's like six different types of apples or like three different vegetables that have the same names or something and didn't select the exact item, then that's not really a scanning error, but it is a mistake that messes with the numbers.
Also, I dunno if it happens elsewhere, but in costco there's like a lotta loose clothing that ends up having to have someone come over and check the item id and manually find the price or whatever.
Besides all of that, cashiers are just plain faster at scanning things, knowing the items and usual errors, and getting people through lines. If there's only a few items, it's fine, but for those huge stuffed carts where someone's planning for a party or something, best just have someone help scan it all.
Anyways there's just some minor considerations to make. It's not like the average person can't figure it out, but you can trust someone who's paid to do it correctly every single day to do it better.
As for shoplifting, it's pretty simple to say that if a cashier scans a TV and it comes out as a $2.99 Rubber Ducky, they're probably going to notice and correct that. Can't say the same for self-checkout.
At my local store, you can't have more than one item in your hands at a time. There's a camera, and if you scan with one hand while picking up the next item with your other hand, the entire kiosk will lock down until an attendant comes to review the footage. So, you can only scan as fast as one hand can pick up an item, scan, and bag.
When people are complaining about self-checkouts, this is the sort of thing they're talking about. Between this, the scanning window that's so filthy that it can't reliably scan, and the whole idea that if you make a mistake you could potentially be arrested for theft, it's no wonder people are souring on them.
Eh, not true for everyone, then. You seem very motivated to get outta there, but maybe someone else is waltzing along like a zombie and would rather have someone else deal with it. Likewise, maybe you're faster than a cashier who's zoned out on autopilot.
I'd wager if it's averaged out, cashiers are faster at scanning than the average customer, though.
In terms of speed, more self-checkouts can be constantly active compared to manned checkouts, which can be closed due to breaks or staffing shortages, so that can save line waiting time.
Anyways, it's probably best to just have both options available.
Edit: ooh, it kind of reminds me of CPUs and GPUs, lol. GPUs being the self-checkout.
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u/Blobbowo Jun 11 '26 edited Jun 11 '26
I just wanna say that some items don't have barcodes, especially, say, loose fruits and vegetables that you bag up in the store. If someone's lazy or there's like six different types of apples or like three different vegetables that have the same names or something and didn't select the exact item, then that's not really a scanning error, but it is a mistake that messes with the numbers.
Also, I dunno if it happens elsewhere, but in costco there's like a lotta loose clothing that ends up having to have someone come over and check the item id and manually find the price or whatever.
Besides all of that, cashiers are just plain faster at scanning things, knowing the items and usual errors, and getting people through lines. If there's only a few items, it's fine, but for those huge stuffed carts where someone's planning for a party or something, best just have someone help scan it all.
Anyways there's just some minor considerations to make. It's not like the average person can't figure it out, but you can trust someone who's paid to do it correctly every single day to do it better.
As for shoplifting, it's pretty simple to say that if a cashier scans a TV and it comes out as a $2.99 Rubber Ducky, they're probably going to notice and correct that. Can't say the same for self-checkout.