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'It hasn't delivered': The spectacular failure of self-checkout technology (www.bbc.com)
submitted 2 years ago by to c/technology@lemmy.world
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[–] 153 points 2 years ago (35 children)

Fuck this bullshit article.

I fucking love self service. I don't want to deal with people.

Just let me buy my stuff and get out. I don't want or need small talk.

I want the disgusting supermarket shop to be as cold and sterile as possible.

I bring my own bag. I'd Honestly rather just scan everything as I go. And just pay as I walk out.

Current system is stupid. Walk around shop picking things up. Then take everything out and rebag

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

    There are stores trialling exactly your preferred method. One of my local supermarket chains has portable barcode scanners on a wall. You pick one up, scan your groceries as you collect them, then take the scanner to a self checkout that links to the scanner. At that point you pay for your items and leave.

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  • [–] 21 points 2 years ago

    Best Buy started doing this with their app. I've used it multiple times already. It's so convenient. Scan the barcode with your camera in the app, it adds to the cart, pay when you're done.

    Anecdotal experience: Unfortunately, products that are locked up create a problem. I went in for two items. One of which was a single RAM stick for laptops. The employee refused to give me it even though I was literally going to pay for it on the spot as I had already collected the other item I wanted. He insisted it goes to the register per policy. I quickly got the barcode as he held it, then paid. "There. Paid for. See" as I showed him the screen. Dude was so annoyed as he handed me the RAM.

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  • [–] 16 points 2 years ago (6 children)

    That system has been a thing for at least a decade in most supermarkets in Sweden, is it not a thing in (I assume) the US?

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  • [–] 9 points 2 years ago

    Assumption wrong.

    Although may be correct. I don't know USA shops.

    In the UK some shops have had them for 10 + years but not all shops. Lidl for example did not.

    Although my current area is NZ. Some shops again do have them but not all.

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

    Yeah the little self scanner thing you can take around the store as you shop is not much of a thing in the US.

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  • [–] 5 points 2 years ago (2 children)

    My local grocery store does it with their smartphone app. I shop this way almost every time. Bag as I go, then stop at a special self checkout at the end to pay.

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  • [–] 13 points 2 years ago (10 children)

    small talk? If you start small talk in Germany, the cashier will probably be confused...

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  • [–] 13 points 2 years ago (9 children)

    Note to self. Move to Germany.

    To do list

    Learn German. Get a German job

    Cheap ass rent control. C'mon.

    Bratwurst. Kick on

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  • [–] 12 points 2 years ago (8 children)

    When interacting with the bus driver, make sure to say only "Hallo" when you step in. Technically, this is even optional and only 33% do that.

    When leaving the bus, don't say anything. It'd be weird.

    And under no circumstances, talk to them between entering and leaving.

    The only legitimate way to talk to them is when the bus stopped, you and the driver are both outside and he or she approaches you first.

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

    Whoa there, overachiever. Saying "hello"? A curt smile, a slight nod and a passing glance. All things in moderation, after all.

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

    We don't smile here, unless there is a good reason.

    You need to learn a lot before moving here!!!!!!!!!!11

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  • [–] 11 points 2 years ago (2 children)

    Literally the opposite of Scotland. Must say thanks or cheers when leaving bus. Weird not to

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  • [–] 7 points 2 years ago

    Nah, when you are on a late night run on an (almost, max. 2 pax) empty bus, especially the last run, especially in shitty weather, it's appropriate to say "Nacht" when you leave.

    You form a special bond then and there. The driver is your hero who brings you home in the most shittiest shift.

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  • [–] 6 points 2 years ago

    I stopped using them. It's always something, requiring me to wait for and deal with people.

    The rack with the mobile scanners is full, and scanner not in the rack is not paying, so flag someone to deal with it.

    The thing double scanned an item, and it takes someone from the shop to remove the scan, so wait and then explain.

    I had a coupon, but the system can't deal with those. Again wait and explain.

    And because now apparently I'm a trouble maker I get flagged for a random check by the system regularly. Again wait and deal with that.

    On average, it turned out to be less waiting and dealing with people by getting in line at the regular cashier.

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

    You can do scan and go at Walmart now, if you were previously only using that at Sam's Club. It's fantastic.

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  • [–] 3 points 2 years ago (1 child)

    Is self scan that rare around you? One of our (Latvia) two big brand supermarkets have scanners you carry around, then deposit at the slef checkout lines. The other one, however, I just scan everything with my phone, then at checkout scan a QR code with my phone and pay.

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  • [–] 1 point 2 years ago

    Sure, it works great if you're a single person who doesn't have all that much to buy, but here's the thing; if you're shopping for a family or a multi person household or whatever, and you have to buy a lot of things at once, your self checkouts just plain suck ass because pretty much no matter what you do, you'll get dinged with an error message every ten or 12 items and have to wait for the overworked and underpaid attendant to come free you up so you can keep going until the next inevitable fuckup.

    Self checkout is fine if you have something like 15 or less items, but anything more than that and it's more trouble than it's worth.

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