Self-service kiosks boom, saving time for shoppers and costs fo...

Bryon Wiebold does self-checkout at the supermarket, self-check-in at the airport and self-banking at ATMs.

[A Talking Horse]

As far as grocery stores go, anybody that uses these things is a complete idiot.

Unless there is some kind of discount for doing the job the cashier normally does...forget it.

Why should I work for Giant (for example) for free?

I pay the same price whether I do the work or not.

It saves no time - last time I checked you still had to take the items out of your cart, wave them over a scanner, and pay money. The only difference is the employee and the money Giant is pocketing from the self-serve suckers.

[George]

I don't go to the Giant much because it's out of the way for me, but sometimes I crave salad for lunch, so off to the Giant I go(I don't make dietetic salads, mind you). When all I've got is a salad, I don't feel the need to use a bag to carry it out, but unless you put your purchase into their bag, the machines won't progress to the next step. I won't use the self-serve machines for that simple reason.

[duh]

I completely agree!!! Why should we do Giant employees job for free?! Oh, that's right...no one ever taught them HOW to bag!

[Sir Fatboy]

George wrote:

I don't go to the Giant much because it's out of the way for me, but sometimes I crave salad for lunch, so off to the Giant I go(I don't make dietetic salads, mind you). When all I've got is a salad, I don't feel the need to use a bag to carry it out, but unless you put your purchase into their bag, the machines won't progress to the next step. I won't use the self-serve machines for that simple reason.

You don't have to bag it. Just put it on the platform where the bags are. It has a built in scale that weighs the item to ascertain that you're not cheating. I once saw a person in the bulk food section weigh and tag his stuff, then add more to the bag. The scale at the self checkout got him.

I go to the shortest line. If it's a cashier, fine. If it's self checkout, that's fine too.

[what a joke]

A Talking Horse wrote:

As far as grocery stores go, anybody that uses these things is a complete idiot.
Unless there is some kind of discount for doing the job the cashier normally does...forget it.
Why should I work for Giant (for example) for free?
I pay the same price whether I do the work or not.
It saves no time - last time I checked you still had to take the items out of your cart, wave them over a scanner, and pay money. The only difference is the employee and the money Giant is pocketing from the self-serve suckers.

I do my own coupons and I use alot of them. I can meks usre they scan properly and break-up my orders if need be so, I can take full advantage of double coupons. Esp. w/ Giant, as they only double 1 like coupon.
Unless of course you want me to hold up the cashier by doing 2 or 3 transactions.
If you don't like the self-scan, fine, don't use it but some of us like saving money.

[what a joke]

George wrote:

I don't go to the Giant much because it's out of the way for me, but sometimes I crave salad for lunch, so off to the Giant I go(I don't make dietetic salads, mind you). When all I've got is a salad, I don't feel the need to use a bag to carry it out, but unless you put your purchase into their bag, the machines won't progress to the next step. I won't use the self-serve machines for that simple reason.

You don't have to bag it. Just sit it on the thing beside the bags and finish your transaction.

[A Talking Horse]

what a joke wrote:

<quoted text>I do my own coupons and I use alot of them. I can meks usre they scan properly and break-up my orders if need be so, I can take full advantage of double coupons. Esp. w/ Giant, as they only double 1 like coupon.
Unless of course you want me to hold up the cashier by doing 2 or 3 transactions.
If you don't like the self-scan, fine, don't use it but some of us like saving money.

One persons "full advantage" is another persons scam.

The fact is, the coupons say generally say "One Per Customer" - not per transaction.

You've basically called out one of the flaws in these self-serve kiosks.

I would expect, within a year, that these machines will utilize facial recognition software(which works very well)- to limit coupon scammers.

[flux]

I hate when the check out girls sneeze and cough on me and my things. I prefer to eliminate an extra set of germs on my food and use self check out.

[A Talking Horse]

flux wrote:

I hate when the check out girls sneeze and cough on me and my things. I prefer to eliminate an extra set of germs on my food and use self check out.

How do you know the customer before you didnt sneeze all over buttons?

LOTS of people touching those machines. At least equal chances of exposure to germs in the self-serve isle.

I'll take my chances with the cashier...

[flux]

A Talking Horse wrote:

<quoted text>
How do you know the customer before you didnt sneeze all over buttons?
LOTS of people touching those machines. At least equal chances of exposure to germs in the self-serve isle.
I'll take my chances with the cashier...

i hand sanitize after touching one or 2 buttons with the same finger. the cashier's belts are filthy too.

[A Talking Horse]

flux wrote:

<quoted text>
i hand sanitize after touching one or 2 buttons with the same finger. the cashier's belts are filthy too.

I prefer to be exposed to germs...it keeps you healthier.

Hand sanitizers are a joke...a product meant to capitalize on peoples irrational phobias.

[flux]

A Talking Horse wrote:

<quoted text>
I prefer to be exposed to germs...it keeps you healthier.
Hand sanitizers are a joke...a product meant to capitalize on peoples irrational phobias.

germs are all over i am exposed to millions daily. i just prefer to eliminate the obvious ones like cashiers coughing and snotting on my things especially during a pandemic.

[A Talking Horse]

flux wrote:

<quoted text>
germs are all over i am exposed to millions daily. i just prefer to eliminate the obvious ones like cashiers coughing and snotting on my things especially during a pandemic.

Pandemic?...dont you think thats a bit strong? Hardly a pandemic.

Its cold season...and there happens to be one in town.

I dont see how you are eliminating anything...are you wearing an oxygen tank or something?

[flux]

A Talking Horse wrote:

<quoted text>
Pandemic?...dont you think thats a bit strong? Hardly a pandemic.
Its cold season...and there happens to be one in town.
I dont see how you are eliminating anything...are you wearing an oxygen tank or something?

swine flu is in a isolated area? last time i checked it was world wide which qualifies as a pandemic. i understand why you have a picture of a horses arse as your avatar.

[Tex]

Most of the locals I've seen tackling the U-Scan at giant are computer illiterit. It's more fun watching them than anything Lucy ever did. I love it when their kids hang on the scales and nothing works. Most of these people should use cashiers because they just don't get it. Nothing like 21st Century technology in the 19th Century Cumberland Valley.

[A Talking Horse]

flux wrote:

<quoted text>
swine flu is in a isolated area? last time i checked it was world wide which qualifies as a pandemic. i understand why you have a picture of a horses **** as your avatar.

really - a personal insult over semantics?

Weak sauce...

[Mike]

Why did all this quickly become an issue about Giant? I believe the article doesnt say anything about a particular store chain, but one persons comments turned a whole thread into a single store chain bashing frenzy.( i dont work for giant either) Some people like it and some dont so get over it.

[A Talking Horse]

Mike wrote:

Why did all this quickly become an issue about Giant? I believe the article doesnt say anything about a particular store chain, but one persons comments turned a whole thread into a single store chain bashing frenzy.( i dont work for giant either) Some people like it and some dont so get over it.

Giant?- here's why:

Giant is not offering customers a discount for using a process that will clearly save them money. Until they offer some incentive, I'll continue to let the cashiers do the work, rather than work for them for free.

Its not really bashing - just stating the obvious.

I shop at Giant regularly. They were some of the first stores to have these self-serve checkouts. Thus, making them the most obvious target.(and, this was a national, not local story - I just made a "local" comment)

[George]

Sir Fatboy wrote:

<quoted text>
You don't have to bag it. Just put it on the platform where the bags are. It has a built in scale that weighs the item to ascertain that you're not cheating. I once saw a person in the bulk food section weigh and tag his stuff, then add more to the bag. The scale at the self checkout got him.
I go to the shortest line. If it's a cashier, fine. If it's self checkout, that's fine too.

I tried just laying it on the platform; it didn't progress. And the staff member who watches the customers wasn't interested in helping me. So I left it there and walked out. have had similar experiences at the WalMart. I will NEVER again use the self-checkouts.

[George]

Mike wrote:

Why did all this quickly become an issue about Giant? I believe the article doesnt say anything about a particular store chain, but one persons comments turned a whole thread into a single store chain bashing frenzy.( i dont work for giant either) Some people like it and some dont so get over it.

Because people were talking about groceries; that's why. Other than WalMart, are there any other self-checkout stands in Chambersburg? I'm not being smart, I'm asking an honest question; I don't do a lot of shopping in Cburg.