That’s the price companies chose to pay instead of workers. I like self-checkout, mostly because I don’t have to talk to someone doing something that I’m capable of, but I know many people appreciate having a person doing it for them. Furthermore, there should be an employee immediately available when using self-checkout, but that’s just my two cents.
When self checkouts came around, I was a big fan. I hugely preferred it because I’m pretty socially awkward. I used it pretty much exclusively for a decade or so.
But this past year, something flipped in my brain. The rise of AI taking over everything, economy in shambles, general shit state of the world, I don’t know… But now I go out of my way to avoid self check outs. I will stand in line waiting for a cashier even if there’s self checkout wide open. I want that cashier to have a job. I want them to be able to afford their groceries.
As far as grocery stores go, I’m pretty fortunate. I live in an area (St. Louis) where we’ve got good unions for the grocery stores. Schnucks and Dierbergs are the dominant grocery stores here - both local and great union representation.
My grandmother died 25 years ago, and I remember being with her at a store with self-checkouts (they had them now and then back then, the tech wasn’t so different), and she kept refusing, and stayed in line for the live cashier.
Finally, after about the third request from the bubbly, smiley young woman, my grandma snapped, “I want a human to check me out! I’m trying to save your JOB, young lady!”
That’s the price companies chose to pay instead of workers. I like self-checkout, mostly because I don’t have to talk to someone doing something that I’m capable of, but I know many people appreciate having a person doing it for them. Furthermore, there should be an employee immediately available when using self-checkout, but that’s just my two cents.
i like self-checkout cause it’s easy to steal from
Valid
When self checkouts came around, I was a big fan. I hugely preferred it because I’m pretty socially awkward. I used it pretty much exclusively for a decade or so.
But this past year, something flipped in my brain. The rise of AI taking over everything, economy in shambles, general shit state of the world, I don’t know… But now I go out of my way to avoid self check outs. I will stand in line waiting for a cashier even if there’s self checkout wide open. I want that cashier to have a job. I want them to be able to afford their groceries.
As far as grocery stores go, I’m pretty fortunate. I live in an area (St. Louis) where we’ve got good unions for the grocery stores. Schnucks and Dierbergs are the dominant grocery stores here - both local and great union representation.
My grandmother died 25 years ago, and I remember being with her at a store with self-checkouts (they had them now and then back then, the tech wasn’t so different), and she kept refusing, and stayed in line for the live cashier.
Finally, after about the third request from the bubbly, smiley young woman, my grandma snapped, “I want a human to check me out! I’m trying to save your JOB, young lady!”
And the girl stopped smiling and left her alone.
I hate using the manned checkout at Sainsbury’s. No I don’t want to talk about my day, no I don’t want to talk about the weather.
Manned checkout at Aldi or Lidl though, bliss. Bags at the ready and try to keep up as they throw it all at you. Got Lidl+, yep scan, pay, done.