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

jax1305

much as i object to using them on the basis that the staff wages are incorporated into the pricing structure/overheads and that using SS checkouts means I'm giving the supermarket free money as they don't have to pay the wages for that transaction .... when I do use them, it's times when I've got only a few things. I never bag as I go - i just drop it all into the bagging area then bag it afterwards. don't scan until previous item has registered as being in the bagging area. i hate that they often give you ridiculous amounts of small change instead of larger denominations. and i always answer back when the voice tells me to take all my items and my change ... as if i'm likely to leave them there!!! and always tell them you've used your own bags especially if you get loyalty points for doing so

minicooper272

I've noticed self service in S'burys don't take off multi-buy offers straight away - click 'finish & pay' then click 'go back' and suddenly it will decide to honour those 2 for £1 offers you thought you were getting...

Always 'go back' and just make sure all the deductions have come off!

Buzzsailer

I hate school holidays where mummy or daddy let daughter son put items though, so if school holidays will use checkouts or shop at time when little one are in bed. Otherwise love SS check outs as normally faster for me.

Forgive typos, punctuation the joy of dyslexia.

Buzz

jenniewb

moneysavingkitten wrote: »

This is my best tip, it particularly applies to Sainsbury's, but has happened to me in Tesco's and elsewhere too.

If I am buying special offer items, especially multibuys, I will put them all through the self service checkout, then press 'Finish and Pay'. When you do this you would expect the checkout to take all the multibuy discounts off BUT IT RARELY EVER TAKES THE MULTIBUY DISCOUNT OFF THE FIRST TIME.

To get the discount to actually come off, you need to press 'Finish and Pay' then 'Back' then 'Finish and Pay' A SECOND TIME TO GET THE DISCOUNT TO COME OFF. If you press back a second time you will often see a second round of discount has now come off.

Thats odd, because it works fine for me.

For example, I put through my shopping and get an end bill of £10.91. Now I know I have several multi-buy items and discounts which have not been applied.

I go to pay the bill with my card and put my card in, suddenly the bill appearing on the card reader reads £7.01 this is because my multi-buys have come off, the screen is also adjusted.

I have not had to go back to see this happen and can say I do this regularly if not daily, if I had to press "go back" each time I'd go barmy! Its not something you have to do to get the discount to come off, it does come off automaticly or at least of the past few years of shopping like this is, its always done so for me.

pattayalob

I find them very convenient. When the normal aisles are busy, the SS aisles have only a short queue. Tip- if taking your own bag, put a heavy item in first then it doesn't balk. Scan alcohol items first, the assistant should see the flashing light and verify your age, you can then continue scanning the rest of your items. Get rid of loose change first and then pay the balance with a card.

pattayalob

Buzzsailer wrote: »

I hate school holidays where mummy or daddy let daughter son put items though, so if school holidays will use checkouts or shop at time when little one are in bed. Otherwise love SS check outs as normally faster for me.

Forgive typos, punctuation the joy of dyslexia.

Buzz

If you really are dyslexic, your comment is almost perfect, in fact a lot more accurate than the average poster.

david39

I firmly believe that if you say "Thank you" to them as you pick up your bags to leave, the machines treat you more tolerantly next time you use them.

nigelr2000

I used to work for a large retailer, cant say who but the same one Jamie Oliver used to work for

We had SS checkouts installed and whilst I was running them a person said they had the wrong change, I opened the front to find their 20p as well as about 8 quid that had missed the slot and fell into the machine. I shut it down and reported it to management. This was Monday, my next shift was Friday, imagine my shock when working the same tills again I found more money in the bottom, I reported it again and was told oh we will call the engineer but just leave it open as we can't afford to be one till down. What a bunch of swindlers so ALWAYS check you have been given the right change, never assume the machine is always right.

Millie2008_2

I love them! Partly because I am a complete fidget a*se and don't like queueing when I am buying a couple of items and I have never had any major problems with them. I hadn't thought of the tip of using up loose change I tend to pay by card

OH hates them though. Horses for courses, I guess

eventallerpaul

Eurgh! Avoid them! I wrote a little article on them a few years ago.

Go to small shops and enjoy conversation with people who give a toss.

Huge supermarkets are not time-efficient, and don't necessarily save you money.

Save yourselves!