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Self-checkout theft causing problems for retailers — and shoppers who despise receipt checks (www.cbc.ca)
submitted 3 years ago by to c/canada@lemmy.ca
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I started using grocery self-checkouts during COVID, but I've kept using them because there's rarely a line (and I'm a misanthrope). I'd probably go back to using regular human checkouts if I had to dig through all my crap to prove what I bought.

Having said that, I've noticed myself making mistakes. I've accidentally failed to scan an item, and I've accidentally entered incorrect codes for produce. When I notice, I fix them, but I've probably missed a few.

I guess the easiest answer is for grocery chains to reinvest some of those windfall profits and hire more cashiers.

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[–] 7 points 3 years ago (6 children)

Yeah I agree. It’s a tough question, are trains good for horse stable workers? Like they might lose their jobs if people stop using horses.

What’s good for the working class as a whole is the end of bullshit work. You don’t argue to prop it up just because the system is shit, you argue to change the system.

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  • [–] 8 points 3 years ago

    These don't end bullshit work though. They just mean that I am doing it myself, but still paying the same price for my groceries.

    If I got a discount for doing the self checkout, since the company isn't paying a cashier, maybe it would be another story, but what they're actually doing is saving money on labour and passing those savings onto themselves.

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  • [–] 2 points 3 years ago (4 children)

    What’s good for the working class as a whole is the end of bullshit work. You don’t argue to prop it up just because the system is shit, you argue to change the system.

    I don't disagree with automation, which is why I mentioned checkout-free systems. Still, you must recognize that this technology could eliminate hundreds of thousands (millions?) of jobs within a very short period of time and would have significant ramifications on society.

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  • [–] 4 points 3 years ago* (1 child)

    Right, but only because we organize things in such a way that all of the gains from automation go to the owners only. If we restructured things so that enough of that value went to the workers that they still made enough money to live but worked less, no one would fight automation. We would universally see it as a blessing.

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  • [–] 2 points 3 years ago

    I agree. My comments made no arguments for or against automation. I only pointed out that the broader debate about its long-term impact on society is beyond the context of OP's post.

    If we restructured things so that enough of that value went to the workers that they still made enough money to live but worked less, no one would fight automation.

    Many of those workers would no longer be employed by the company, as they would now be surplus to requirements.

    Between AI and robotics, millions will likely be surplused within the decade. Where will they go? Will the 55-year old cashier retrain to work in robotics? Will we mandate companies to find alternative positions? Will we finally tax the rich appropriately? Will we expand welfare? These are the kinds of questions I was alluding to in my original comment.

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