Self-Checkouts - A Possible Reversal of Expansion

[engine]

Retail self-checkouts have become very common, with retailers closing attended checkouts in favour of extending the number of self-checkout booths.

It seems that trend of expansion may have stalled, for a number of reasons.

This article tried to get to the current trend, and gives us hope that it'll not all go automated.

[bbc.co.uk...]

[not2easy]

I've found way too many instances when you cannot check out without a clerk and may not save time at all. Too many items need human interpretation from trained employees. Using one where you need 6 isn't saving real money because people can go elsewhere. 'Innovative' sales people convince businesses to enhance their profits with mirages. Magic!

[lucy24]

At my local grocery store, self-check is the de facto express lane. Unlike the ordinary express lane (useless in the US because no store dares try to enforce an item count) it’s self-enforcing.

But I do like the way the Card Only machines--which warn you at the outself that they take only cards--still ask, at the end, how you want to pay.

[thecoalman]

There is a serious issue I have seen raised with self checkout. If the clerk makes a mistake whether it's double charging you for an item or missing an item it's a mistake, it happens quite a bit. if you make the mistake of missing an item you could end up facing theft charges.

[tangor]

In my locale there have been a number of reverses regarding self-check out. Too much theft involved (and it is easy to do).

One of those magic bullets that never seems to hit the target.

[lucy24]

:: looking at my earlier post and wondering why my fingers decided that “outset” isn’t a word ::