Spill the beans...on your self-service checkout tips (beep)

anniecave

It is possible to use too much change in the self-scan tills. I took a load of 1ps and 2ps in to Tesco one time and after I'd put most of them in, the machine started spitting them out as I was putting them in and the staff had to open the machine and decided that the coin receiving bins were full up!

Jellifer

My brother went to our little local Tesco Express (!) and there were 2 people behind the manual tills not serving anyone but they still directed him to use the ss machines. He asked if he would get a discount for the transaction as he was effectively doing their job for them as they watched. When told it would be the same price he insisted that they serve him .... only to be told once again to use the ss. So he moved one till to the left, made eye contact with the ss machine and with a sweet smile on his face proceeded to say "hello Mr Self-Scanner.... please can I have 20 Benson & Hedges" !! :rotfl:

Lum

anniecave wrote: »

It is possible to use too much change in the self-scan tills. I took a load of 1ps and 2ps in to Tesco one time and after I'd put most of them in, the machine started spitting them out as I was putting them in and the staff had to open the machine and decided that the coin receiving bins were full up!

The newer Tesco ones (seen in Tesco express and some newer full-size Tescos), the ones that just have a bin that you can dump a pile of coins into rather than an arcade-game style coin slot, are a good free alternative to using the Coinstar machines you get at a full-size Tesco.

Just dump all your shrapnel into the machine and see what, if anything, comes out. Pay the remainder with plastic if you feel so inclined.

BigTomBigTom

I'd say use them by yourself. Coordinating one scanning and one bagging with the machine is a nightmare!

duds1983

In Sainsbury's and Tesco you can turn the volume off which can keep you sane for a little while longer... Button is in the middle at the bottom. If only you could do it at B&Q...the girl is so patronising!

Flat_Eric

I have a Mr T Express Store next to my office which I visit most days for odd bits and thus I am quite au fait with the self service checkouts now although I used to really hate them. Crackers I bought one xmas (not the kind you eat with cheese :rotfl:) and a saisnbugs self service checkout spring to mind as my worst shopping experience with self service tills.

I tend to scan all items and pack afterwards to avoid unexpected item in bagging area.....

I often wonder though, if stores such as the express I visit experience a high level of shoplifting because ok the computer complains if you put something down that you haven't scanned but it won't complain (if as I witnessed) someone doesn't scan the item/doesn't put it in the bagging area.

I begrudge that it is doing people out of jobs but sadly they are popping up more and more and I guess is a sign of things to come

Lum

Flat_Eric wrote: »

I begrudge that it is doing people out of jobs but sadly they are popping up more and more and I guess is a sign of things to come

If the increased theft rate, or "shrinkage" to use the industry terminology, costs them less than the cost of paying staff then to the supermarket it's a worthwhile trade off.

Allegedly most shrinkage is caused by staff helping themselves, not members of the public shoplifting, so it may well be a win/win for the business.

Just a lose for all those people who end up unemployed.

martellotower

Just back from a first visit to California, where our UK Tesco has a chain of 'Fresh'n'Easy' stores.
Brilliant for finding nice French wine for our hosts but I was struck by there being no checkouts, just an area of Self-Scan stations.
Of course the Beaujolais needed manual approval but just the one friendly chappie was on duty to do it all...

spanielson

You can scan the first item without pressing 'start'
you can put cash through before pressing 'finish and pay'
you can scan your club/nectar card like groceries, no need to press the button
if your offers haven't come off, press back, then 'finish and pay' again

phonoplug

If you are using your own bags, when you scan a heavy item (eg carton of milk), put it in your bag for life before it hits the shelf. The small additional weight of the bag won't upset the system that way.