Self Checkout Lanes in Grocery stores

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Eli

Super Moderator | Elite Member
Oct 9, 1999
50,419
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81
Originally posted by: Amused
No.

And I'll tell you why.

They offer no discount on the prices for the decrease in service I experience. Were I offered a discount, I would think about it. But why should I do more work and not even save money? What is the advantage of that? There is none.

So if I'm going to pay the same, I'm going to get full service.

It's like asking me to pay full service prices at a gas station, yet pump my own gas.
lol... you DO pay full service gas station prices and pump your own gas, unless you live in OR or NJ. :p

Interesting way to look at it, though. When you put it that way, it does kinda make you go.. :confused:
 

Amused

Elite Member
Apr 14, 2001
57,347
19,507
146
Originally posted by: Eli
Originally posted by: Amused
No.

And I'll tell you why.

They offer no discount on the prices for the decrease in service I experience. Were I offered a discount, I would think about it. But why should I do more work and not even save money? What is the advantage of that? There is none.

So if I'm going to pay the same, I'm going to get full service.

It's like asking me to pay full service prices at a gas station, yet pump my own gas.
lol... you DO pay full service gas station prices and pump your own gas, unless you live in OR or NJ. :p

Interesting way to look at it, though. When you put it that way, it does kinda make you go.. :confused:

LOL, actually, there are a couple stations here that still offer full service, and they are around .20 more a gallon at the full service pumps. :p

Yep, I never understood why people were so happy to give up service for no discount in price.
 

Eli

Super Moderator | Elite Member
Oct 9, 1999
50,419
8
81
Originally posted by: Amused
Originally posted by: Linflas
Originally posted by: Amused
No.

And I'll tell you why.

They offer no discount on the prices for the decrease in service I experience. Were I offered a discount, I would think about it. But why should I do more work and not even save money? What is the advantage of that? There is none.

So if I'm going to pay the same, I'm going to get full service.

It's like asking me to pay full service prices at a gas station, yet pump my own gas.

I consider the amount of time spent not standing in line as my discount.

Actually, it seems to take longer because there is always an idiot ahead of me who can't use it.

To be honest, I think people think it's faster simply because they are busy rather than standing around while someone else does the work.
I only frequent 2 places that have them(Home Depot and Fred Meyer), but in my experience approx. 80% of the time, there is always one free.. dunno though.

I think it also has to do with your personality type. There are some people that would just rather avoid the social aspect, or at the very least at certain times.

Like when I picked up some Astroglide for us to try out the other day. :p
 

saxophonoia

Platinum Member
Nov 6, 2003
2,835
1
0
I like to use them but it always ends up taht I'm the one that has something screwed up and the person at the desk is never there clear it out so I end up waiting until they get back.
 

purepolly

Senior member
Sep 27, 2002
630
0
0
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Originally posted by: Eli

quote:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Originally posted by: Amused
No.

And I'll tell you why.

They offer no discount on the prices for the decrease in service I experience. Were I offered a discount, I would think about it. But why should I do more work and not even save money? What is the advantage of that? There is none.

So if I'm going to pay the same, I'm going to get full service.

It's like asking me to pay full service prices at a gas station, yet pump my own gas.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

lol... you DO pay full service gas station prices and pump your own gas, unless you live in OR or NJ.

Interesting way to look at it, though. When you put it that way, it does kinda make you go..
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------



LOL, actually, there are a couple stations here that still offer full service, and they are around .20 more a gallon at the full service pumps.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

You may not be looking hard enough. I get my gas at a full service station and the price is the same as the self serve station around the corner. Granted the station isn't as "modern" an up to date, but I've never had any problems with the gas, the price is good, and the guys are friendly and decent people.
 

Amused

Elite Member
Apr 14, 2001
57,347
19,507
146
Originally posted by: purepolly
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Originally posted by: Eli

quote:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Originally posted by: Amused
No.

And I'll tell you why.

They offer no discount on the prices for the decrease in service I experience. Were I offered a discount, I would think about it. But why should I do more work and not even save money? What is the advantage of that? There is none.

So if I'm going to pay the same, I'm going to get full service.

It's like asking me to pay full service prices at a gas station, yet pump my own gas.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

lol... you DO pay full service gas station prices and pump your own gas, unless you live in OR or NJ.

Interesting way to look at it, though. When you put it that way, it does kinda make you go..
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------



LOL, actually, there are a couple stations here that still offer full service, and they are around .20 more a gallon at the full service pumps.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

You may not be looking hard enough. I get my gas at a full service station and the price is the same as the self serve station around the corner. Granted the station isn't as "modern" an up to date, but I've never had any problems with the gas, the price is good, and the guys are friendly and decent people.

I live in a small town (100,000 people). There isn't much to look at, much less to look harder for.
 

Hossenfeffer

Diamond Member
Jul 16, 2000
7,462
1
0
I use the self-service lanes if I only have a few things and can just throw em in a bag. I don't think they'll really become effective until they've been around longer. Since there isn't any "training" but rather an assumption that the instructions will be sufficient (they generally are), everybody who uses one has to go through a similar learning curve. At present, they give the illusion of control/speed. They can potentially be more valuable in the future.
 

purepolly

Senior member
Sep 27, 2002
630
0
0
quote:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

You may not be looking hard enough. I get my gas at a full service station and the price is the same as the self serve station around the corner. Granted the station isn't as "modern" an up to date, but I've never had any problems with the gas, the price is good, and the guys are friendly and decent people.
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I live in a small town (100,000 people). There isn't much to look at, much less to look harder for.

hehehe

dude... I live in a town of 10,000 - you're just lazy
 

Rob9874

Diamond Member
Nov 7, 1999
3,314
1
81
I use it so I can get out of there faster. Why wait in a line just so I don't have to scan my own groceries?
 

Amused

Elite Member
Apr 14, 2001
57,347
19,507
146
Originally posted by: purepolly
quote:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

You may not be looking hard enough. I get my gas at a full service station and the price is the same as the self serve station around the corner. Granted the station isn't as "modern" an up to date, but I've never had any problems with the gas, the price is good, and the guys are friendly and decent people.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------



I live in a small town (100,000 people). There isn't much to look at, much less to look harder for.

hehehe

dude... I live in a town of 10,000 - you're just lazy

OK, come to Springfield and point them out. :p
 

raynman68

Member
Jul 13, 2004
100
0
0
I use them all the time. They are great unless you get some moron in front of you. But hey, if you had to go through regular checkout that moron or one of their brethren would more than likely be in front of you anyway.

Robert
 

purepolly

Senior member
Sep 27, 2002
630
0
0
I live in a small town (100,000 people). There isn't much to look at, much less to look harder for.

hehehe

dude... I live in a town of 10,000 - you're just lazy
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------



OK, come to Springfield and point them out.


Springfield, MA?
 

Amused

Elite Member
Apr 14, 2001
57,347
19,507
146
Originally posted by: purepolly
I live in a small town (100,000 people). There isn't much to look at, much less to look harder for.

hehehe

dude... I live in a town of 10,000 - you're just lazy
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------



OK, come to Springfield and point them out.


Springfield, MA?

IL
 

AFB

Lifer
Jan 10, 2004
10,718
3
0
Originally posted by: benliong
Originally posted by: Wheatmaster
I like them, but on the flip side, i really hate them. Those machines could be 10-20 jobs.

just think of it as transfer of jobs opportunities from Grocery store to those machine makers.

You really think China will let them in?
 

AFB

Lifer
Jan 10, 2004
10,718
3
0
Originally posted by: Eli
Originally posted by: Amused
No.

And I'll tell you why.

They offer no discount on the prices for the decrease in service I experience. Were I offered a discount, I would think about it. But why should I do more work and not even save money? What is the advantage of that? There is none.

So if I'm going to pay the same, I'm going to get full service.

It's like asking me to pay full service prices at a gas station, yet pump my own gas.
lol... you DO pay full service gas station prices and pump your own gas, unless you live in OR or NJ. :p

Interesting way to look at it, though. When you put it that way, it does kinda make you go.. :confused:

Not around here. Full service prices == Self serve prices
 

purepolly

Senior member
Sep 27, 2002
630
0
0
OK, come to Springfield and point them out.


Springfield, MA?
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IL


Ahh... that's a bit more than I'm willing to travel to prove a point. I'm south of Boston. But I'll give you some pointers - look for the independent older gas stations with typically 8 or less pumps and actual working service bays. You'll find a decent one if you look at the not so obvious.
 

OrganizedChaos

Diamond Member
Apr 21, 2002
4,524
0
0
depends on what i have for cashier options, if its someone under 20 and over 40 i'll use the machine. i go for speed, the machines are pretty quick but they still slow me down. old cashiers are useless, and the teenagers don't care about there jobs. a middleaged experianced cashier is the best, there the ones that know where every barcode is without looking at it, and they use two hands to pick things up and throw them the the counter, across the barcode reader and into a bag.
 

Amused

Elite Member
Apr 14, 2001
57,347
19,507
146
Originally posted by: purepolly
OK, come to Springfield and point them out.


Springfield, MA?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------



IL


Ahh... that's a bit more than I'm willing to travel to prove a point. I'm south of Boston. But I'll give you some pointers - look for the independent older gas stations with typically 8 or less pumps and actual working service bays. You'll find a decent one if you look at the not so obvious.

I have looked. There are only two of those that I've seen in this town.
 

brtspears2

Diamond Member
Nov 16, 2000
8,659
1
81
I hate them. The idea is good, but the system has to be perfected. My local K-Mart had 4 such terminals, but they were removed due to "teenage abuse".
 

josh0099

Senior member
Aug 8, 2004
543
0
76
At Wal-Mart I got behind someone who had the smart idea of taking a live fish through one with no upc on the bag or anything. Made me really mad....
 

Saulbadguy

Diamond Member
Jan 27, 2003
5,573
12
81
Originally posted by: Amused
No.

And I'll tell you why.

They offer no discount on the prices for the decrease in service I experience. Were I offered a discount, I would think about it. But why should I do more work and not even save money? What is the advantage of that? There is none.

So if I'm going to pay the same, I'm going to get full service.

It's like asking me to pay full service prices at a gas station, yet pump my own gas.

Its more work, but as a single guy only buying a few items, I find it quicker to do it myself. I also don't like seeing the cashier spending time on sacking my groceries when they could just ring me up and I could sack them myself, while she helps the next person in line.