this post was submitted on 15 Jan 2024
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517
'It hasn't delivered': The spectacular failure of self-checkout technology (www.bbc.com)
submitted 10 months ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]
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[–] [email protected] 31 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago) (19 children)

I don't recognize these pain points. I always use the self checkout and it's usually quick and painless. My experience is.

Edit: seems I made the assumption that everyone uses wireless scanner handles.

  1. When we enter the store we scan the ID to get a wireless scanner handle.
  2. Collect your wares, scan with the handle, placing them directly into the bags along the way.
  3. Put the handle back and blip your membership id (card or qr code on phone) again to start the checkout.
  4. Blip your payment card.
  5. Walk out

Every once in a while I get caught in a random check, which is kind of a pain, but it's so infrequent that it is acceptable.

Is this not how it usually works?

[–] [email protected] 2 points 10 months ago (2 children)

Are you Dutch? I recall an old NJB video describing how Dutch supermarkets worked like this. (Plus, Martin is a name I associate with the Netherlands…)

But no. Most often, you put stuff in your trolley or basket, then when you get to the checkout, you scan the things and bag them yourself one-by-one, then pay.

Here in Australia, one of our two main supermarket chains in the last 2 years rolled out something similar to what the Netherlands has had for at least half a decade. You use their app on your phone and scan things with the app as you go, before paying through the app and scanning a QR code at the exit.

The other main chain, and the two main smaller chains, have made no moves to follow, so you're stuck with a long line for a small number of open checkouts, or the self-checkout where you have to scan everything after you get to the checkout.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago) (1 children)

I live in Sweden. The system in the Netherlands sounds similar to what we have. There are also wireless scanners you can use throughout the store if you don't want to use your phone.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 10 months ago

@mundane @Zagorath

In 🇫🇮 these mostly are hybrids: conventional checkouts plus a variable nr. of self-checkout points. Some chains have also portable scanners but only recently (I recall that in 🇸🇪 they have existed for years).

Based on my own N of 1 -experience I use the "human check out" slightly more often than machine. Why? Hmmm. The conveyor belt makes everything roll a bit smoother ;D

The BBC article, I understood, was maybe more about the totally or almost totally cashier-less stores.

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