The local walmart in my area took out half of the check out lines and put in self checkouts. The local car wash I frequented went to an automated check in doing away with the person who took your order and printed your bill. They also eliminated the cashier. You still have to get out of your car, walk in the building and wait for the car wash to be completed. I went to a McDonalds the other day and now they have a self ordering and paying kiosk. I may only go to McDonalds maybe once a month if that. I doubt I will ever be fluent with their new setup. I find it distressing that businesses are doing away with many low skill jobs. God bless them but for some people these are the only jobs that they are capable of doing. I also haven't seen a lowering of prices for these goods and services. They aren't passing the savings on to the consumers. I also think that there are so many of us over 60 and are not super computer savvy that we will gum up the works and could kill any possible time saving that these machines could have provided. What are your thoughts?

I personally love these machines. If I don't have to talk to anyone during the day, I'm happy.  

posted by ppaw1999

The local walmart in my area took out half of the check out lines and put in self checkouts. The local car wash I frequented went to an automated check in doing away with the person who took your order and printed your bill. They also eliminated the cashier. You still have to get out of your car, walk in the building and wait for the car wash to be completed. I went to a McDonalds the other day and now they have a self ordering and paying kiosk. I may only go to McDonalds maybe once a month if that. I doubt I will ever be fluent with their new setup. I find it distressing that businesses are doing away with many low skill jobs. God bless them but for some people these are the only jobs that they are capable of doing. I also haven't seen a lowering of prices for these goods and services. They aren't passing the savings on to the consumers. I also think that there are so many of us over 60 and are not super computer savvy that we will gum up the works and could kill any possible time saving that these machines could have provided. What are your thoughts?

The biggest problem I have is that with Wal-Mart, McD's, etc., the 'clientele' that are expected to use these self-serve registers and such are not the brightest, and so it not only takes twice as long for them to figure it out, it also takes a clerk to help them along the way. It's frustrating to say the least.

If self checkout/serve is an option, that's the the route I'm going.

Old folks couldn't figure out debit cards and ATMs in the past, they'll adapt.

Thing I hate the most about self service is watching ppl treat them like  futuristic robots. No clue if this has been studied, but I feel I waste more time as the person in front of me is usually a moron and watching them try to figure out a machine is like watching my grandmother hunt type 1 finger at a time. Infuriatingly slow.

Same thing to put money on my transit card, I'm at the machine it legit takes me 15 sec or less to add $$$. The dipshit in font of me? Could be 2-3 min.

posted by Automatik

If self checkout/serve is an option, that's the the route I'm going.

Old folks couldn't figure out debit cards and ATMs in the past, they'll adapt.

Yes and no. I've seen so many old folks taking 5 minutes trying to sign their names after using their debit cards. They don't seem to understand the machine can't read. Just scribble your name and be done with it.

Next time, help them out!

posted by Automatik

Next time, help them out!

No.

posted by Automatik

If self checkout/serve is an option, that's the the route I'm going.

Old folks couldn't figure out debit cards and ATMs in the past, they'll adapt.

No, they're not adapting, especially when shopping at Kroger    They are only atritting, although at a rate too slow for me.   Sometimes I will be in that self-checkout lane and be amazed at how long it takes someone to scan and pay for 10 items or less.  Painful.

I'll help them if they drop a can of soup or something, but help them use their credit card at the checkout?  That's sticking my nose into their business, to say nothing of maybe being able read their card number.  I don't want that, and I don't think they do, either.

I only use the self checkout at Kroger if i only have a couple of items, and then only if the regular checkout lanes are slammed.

However, now that I'm retired and I do the regular grocery shopping for the family.  I go at my leisure during the day, and I always go thru the cashier lines.  Let the whippersnappers do the scanning, and maybe help them keep their jobs a while longer before they get shuffled out the door as a relic of days gone by.  Plus, I get to exchange pleasantries with them.  Zunardo always brightens their day.

I try to stay away from the self serve lines.    Usually some issue with it and I'd rather talk to a person in the regular line.

posted by ppaw1999

The local walmart in my area took out half of the check out lines and put in self checkouts. The local car wash I frequented went to an automated check in doing away with the person who took your order and printed your bill. They also eliminated the cashier. You still have to get out of your car, walk in the building and wait for the car wash to be completed. I went to a McDonalds the other day and now they have a self ordering and paying kiosk. I may only go to McDonalds maybe once a month if that. I doubt I will ever be fluent with their new setup. I find it distressing that businesses are doing away with many low skill jobs. God bless them but for some people these are the only jobs that they are capable of doing. I also haven't seen a lowering of prices for these goods and services. They aren't passing the savings on to the consumers. I also think that there are so many of us over 60 and are not super computer savvy that we will gum up the works and could kill any possible time saving that these machines could have provided. What are your thoughts?

You can thank the "minimum wage should be $15/hr" crowd.

posted by jmog

You can thank the "minimum wage should be $15/hr" crowd.

Please, PLEASE don't start this shit again.

posted by Commander of Awesome

Please, PLEASE don't start this shit again.

No matter what side of the aisle you are on, if you think minimum wage should be raised or not, my statement is a fact. 

Self Serve kiosks are a direct result of rising wages for low skilled workers.

posted by jmog

No matter what side of the aisle you are on, if you think minimum wage should be raised or not, my statement is a fact. 

Self Serve kiosks are a direct result of rising wages for low skilled workers.

Yep. Turns out the real minimum wage is zero.

posted by Zunardo

No, they're not adapting, especially when shopping at Kroger    They are only atritting, although at a rate too slow for me.   Sometimes I will be in that self-checkout lane and be amazed at how long it takes someone to scan and pay for 10 items or less.  Painful.

I'll help them if they drop a can of soup or something, but help them use their credit card at the checkout?  That's sticking my nose into their business, to say nothing of maybe being able read their card number.  I don't want that, and I don't think they do, either.

I only use the self checkout at Kroger if i only have a couple of items, and then only if the regular checkout lanes are slammed.

However, now that I'm retired and I do the regular grocery shopping for the family.  I go at my leisure during the day, and I always go thru the cashier lines.  Let the whippersnappers do the scanning, and maybe help them keep their jobs a while longer before they get shuffled out the door as a relic of days gone by.  Plus, I get to exchange pleasantries with them.  Zunardo always brightens their day.

Sounds rough.

Amazon Fresh?

posted by queencitybuckeye

Yep. Turns out the real minimum wage is zero.

Great, please keep your manifesto to the political forums.

I wonder if advances in technology has anything to do with it? 

posted by Commander of Awesome

Thing I hate the most about self service is watching ppl treat them like  futuristic robots. No clue if this has been studied, but I feel I waste more time as the person in front of me is usually a moron and watching them try to figure out a machine is like watching my grandmother hunt type 1 finger at a time. Infuriatingly slow.

 

Same thing to put money on my transit card, I'm at the machine it legit takes me 15 sec or less to add $$$. The dipshit in font of me? Could be 2-3 min.

Drives me fucking crazy.  What is the likelihood that person is using a self check out for the first time ever?  I would say very low and they act like they have never seen it before.  It shouldn't be that fucking hard to do after doing using it one time.

Edit: You might be onto something, because wholefoods and trader joes do not have self checkouts.  At least I haven't seen one yet.

posted by superman

I personally love these machines. If I don't have to talk to anyone during the day, I'm happy.  

That's me, too. I tend to just grab a few things at a time because I look at shopping as a "get in, get out, get away" sort of ordeal instead of something I actively enjoy, so I just want to get what I need and get out as quickly as I can so I can get on with my life. Cashiers have people with full carts; U-Scans usually don't. Now, when they do, it's a PET PEEVE ALERT waiting to happen because there's nothing quite like inbred trash struggling through scanning $100 worth of shit (usually on their phone for part of it, making their tard ass move even more slowly), but at least that doesn't happen normally.

posted by Commander of Awesome

Great, please keep your manifesto to the political forums.

Not a manifesto, just Econ 100.

sensitivities > economic reality              :)

Plus, I get to exchange pleasantries with them.  Zunardo always brightens their day.

Same with retired BRF. 

I like the idea of self-checkout, and they've gotten better.

But they still seem limited for more than like, 3-4 items.  First you've gotta put everything on that little 12"x12" scale.  Then place everything into bags on the other side.  Once you start piling things up on the scale, or going to multiple bags then all bets are off as to smooth functioning.

I like the self checkout at Walmart. Scan it myself and a lane always open. Most around here hate it.

As for McDonalds my buddy owns 4 of them around here and he said he actually hired 2 servers for each store when they added the self serve.

posted by Ironman92

I like the self checkout at Walmart. Scan it myself and a lane always open. Most around here hate it.

As for McDonalds my buddy owns 4 of them around here and he said he actually hired 2 servers for each store when they added the self serve.

I didn't know you were friends with Sleeper. 

posted by Iliketurtles

I didn't know you were friends with Sleeper. 

Sleeper is an ass. Hope this helps