Comment by rapnie
3 days ago
You wait in line because there weren't enough checkout points in the first place. Poor customer service by your supermarket. It is funny, in the supermarket near me people are coralled into a kind of scan barracks where underage teen guardians frisk their shoppings regularly. There is only one checkout with personnel still operating it. What regularly happens now is that there's a big crowd waiting for a free scan point, like cattle, while that one patient cashier is waiting idle. And will process the groceries much faster than any self-scanner can. Brave new world.
Myeah I think you're just going to badly managed stores. Here I just scan my groceries while putting them in my bag. Then I go to self checkout, put back the scanner and pay. It takes about one minute from entering the self checkout to leaving it and there is never any line.
They had such system but it led to too much grocery theft, that they put the scan barracks in place instead.
At least at my Whole Foods there are two cashiers and 6 self checkouts. Tuesdays are usually busy.
Both have lines and the self is always faster. I’m that guy and I timed it myself when I was curious. Like I said. I don’t get it.
They run a business. I just need some stuff and I’m outta there. I don’t really care beyond that exchange.
I think that there's more than just a productivity angle, and that those 3 lines of friendly and casual social exchange with the checkout clerk on every visit are meaningful and valuable, even though on themself only in a small way. These small social exchange form part of the lubricant of a well-functioning society.