It's getting tough out there. Feeling the pinch?

Caroby

I like using Scan As You Shop, like knowing exactly what I'm spending as I shop. Also like packing my own shopping without it having been roughly grabbed then almost thrown at me by a sullen checkout operator who just spent five minutes swiping slowly while having a leisurely chat with a pal in front of me but now feels the need to work super fast to make up for it and doesn't care if I can keep up with them, will let the groceries build up in the bagging area, knowing tins are now crushing more delicate items. I know some if not all have to get so many items through per minute but I'm paying for those goods that were ok when I put them on the belt and now aren't. We always keep our trolley away from the shelves/cabinets and walk over to get an item, we're considerate like that but of course not everyone is.

timehastoldme

Anxious introvert, and big fan of self scanners, wish Aldi did them. Small talk is exhausting. 

ladyholly

I do not like  talkative cashiers. I dont want to pass the time of day with them. I just want to get my shopping through as fast as possible and leave. The ones who stop scanning every time they say something are especially annoying to me, not to mention the ones who insist on chatting to their friends, other cashiers etc. while they are checking my shopping. I have been known to point out how rude this is as is being on the phone (as a customer) while you are being served. I use both manned and unmanned tills depending on how much shopping I have or in the case of our local Sainsbury whether they have more than one till open with a long queue which is very common.

CKhalvashi

Happy to talk here, prefer not to talk too much.

Also someone who aims to shop mid-week here when it's quiet, which luckily is possible due to work circumstances. Most aren't in that position though.

greent

Always shop and scan if that's available in where I'm shopping - otherwise will go for self scanning checkout over a person. I can pack my shopping how I'd like without feeling any pressure and (with shop and scan) can see what I've spent - which is especially useful if using a 'spend X and get £Y off' coupon.

JIL

I use the till with the shortest queue I dont mind if theres a person or if I scan it myself. As long as I dont have to hang around waiting. 

Rosa_Damascena

timehastoldme said:

Anxious introvert, and big fan of self scanners, wish Aldi did them. Small talk is exhausting. 

Aldi staff are unfailingly polite and efficient. As a youngster I held your view about small talk but over time I came to associate it with politeness and good manners, and consequently highly value it. There is so much stress and angst in the world, we need more people offsetting this by being pleasant.

Floss

Rosa_Damascena said:

timehastoldme said:

Anxious introvert, and big fan of self scanners, wish Aldi did them. Small talk is exhausting. 

Aldi staff are unfailingly polite and efficient. As a youngster I held your view about small talk but over time I came to associate it with politeness and good manners, and consequently highly value it. There is so much stress and angst in the world, we need more people offsetting this by being pleasant.

I agree - also, my local Aldi staff are quick & rarely engage in small talk, they are too busy clearing the queue.

timehastoldme

Aldi staff are great, it's a false equivalence to link my social exhaustion with their politeness.

Tbh I only posted because to offer a different perspective. Supermarkets offering a mix of till types seems positive to me. I'll always self scan given the option, but 95% of the time I'm shopping in Aldi because it's the nicest experience in general and the prices aren't terrifying. 

maryb

I like the Waitrose system where you have a scanner that sits in a holder on the trolley.  I tried the Sainsburys system where you use your phone but found it awkward juggling phone and shopping bag.  Some Lidl and Aldi stores have self scan checkouts, though, interestingly, not the two newest ones near us.  They aren’t all in operation though as they only have one member of staff sorting them out when the tills have a hissy fit which they seem to do quite often