Grocery store etiquette at self check out lines

[Anonymous]

If the line behind me is mounting and the person in front of me took a long time but is almost finished, I have asked, "do you mind if I start scanning?"

The answer has always been a friendly yes (not a grumpy yes). Some people try to put up the barrier and other people don't bother.

[Anonymous]

I like the self check outs. I have actually learned to master them pretty well at Giant and can usually self check out a cart of groceries in about the same time it takes a cashier. Some people who go to them don't have a clue how sensitive they are and totally screw it up. I think they just need to get the hang of it. As for the etiquette of the whole thing... I try to only use it when I know I can be quick. So when I have a hand full of coupons, I won't use it. I also like to wait for the person in front of me to fully finish.

[Anonymous]

OP, this problem is all you imho.

I self checkout ALL THE TIME whether I have a lot or a little. I leave the staffed lines for people who are suckers for waiting in line and can't help themselves, basically. I know that sounds cold, but why should I wait when I can do it myself, and probably faster, too, plus I can bag it the way I want it.

No one has ever tried starting before I pulled my bags off. I think at Harris Teeter, the sensor might give you a problem if you tried to do this, since it is weighing the table for what comes on and goes off. I'd think it was pretty rude if you tried to start before I left, and if it messed up my order I'd be annoyed. If it messed up YOUR order, that's on you I guess.

Learn some patience and politeness, OP. Self checkout is for everyone, big order or small.

[Anonymous]

Of course I use self-checkout when I have lots of groceries. Why wouldn't I? It's not an express lane.

And no, I don't start scanning until the other person is done. Other people have starting scanning while I was still packing up my stuff, but I'm generally pretty fast about it and can just nudge my remaining groceries to the side so they don't get mixed up with the other person's. If the guy actually threw your foil back up the conveyor belt, there's something wrong with him.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I ask because I had an experience at the store this morning. I was behind a man who had a big pile of groceries. It took forever for him to bag the groceries. There were lines everywhere and a big one behind us. I waited until he was almost done bagging but not quite. So, my tinfoil bumped into his groceries left to be bagged. He was so mad and threw the tin foil back at me. Which of course, upset the sensors.

I try not to do self check out when I have a lot of groceries myself so perhaps I was being passive aggressive by starting when he wasn't done. I can admit that but he was taking soooo long!. So, my questions: do you do self check out with a bunch of grcoeries? Are you annoyed when people do? Do you get mad if people start to do theirs before you are done bagging? Does it make a difference if it takes a long time? Just curious about non important stuff on a cold Saturday night!

I wait until people are finished, unless there is a separator. It is rude as hell to send your groceries down with other people's stuff - especially since they could have stuff that could be bruised, crushed, or damaged.

[Anonymous]

I wait until the person in front has bagged up all their groceries before I start scanning.

I get annoyed when someone sends their groceries down while I'm still bagging. To avoid this problem I've started to leave my cart up near the scanner so that they cannot even access the scanner until I'm done. I also periodically stop and bag some items if I have a lot so that way once I've scanned my last item, I only need to pack 1-2 bags instead of 9-10.

I think it's the entitlement of me, me, me that bothers me the most when someone starts before I finish bagging. Now if you were to ask me if it's okay for you to start (as someone mentioned in a previous post) I"d glady say "yes, absolutely!"

[Anonymous]

I wait because it seems polite to do so (I usually do something on my phone if it's a long wait). But I also don't get annoyed if someone else doesn't. And I definitely wouldn't throw anything. The most I would do is think angry thoughts about you. . In my experience, if people start scanning before I'm finished bagging (rare) it's because I'm either almost done or they only have a few items they can carry out with them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I never start scanning until the person in front of me has completely finished and walked away.

Same here.

Same here.

Same.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The separators at most self check-outs are no longer there. I think they were prone to break and never replaced.

When I have a big (more than 1 bag) load, I just bag as I go. It's a necessity since the bagging area will fill up otherwise, but the added benefit is when I finally go to pay, I'm all bagged up and on my way.

I always want to do this but then it throws off the scale, the system freezes, and I need an employee to do something so I can continue. I love doing the scans myself but they are very sensitive.

[Anonymous]

I've found that if you have a lot of items, self checkout is significantly slower than just going through a regular line. I think that they should limit self checkout to 10 or 15 items or less OR have two separate self checkout lines - one for express and one for people with full carts. I really think people with full carts going through self checkout defeats the purpose of having it there. I only use it if I have a few items and the line isn't long.

There's always some lady with her 3 kids taking FOREVER on a month's worth of food and she has no idea how to bag it (and there's not enough room for her to bag all that food).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I've found that if you have a lot of items, self checkout is significantly slower than just going through a regular line. I think that they should limit self checkout to 10 or 15 items or less OR have two separate self checkout lines - one for express and one for people with full carts. I really think people with full carts going through self checkout defeats the purpose of having it there. I only use it if I have a few items and the line isn't long.

There's always some lady with her 3 kids taking FOREVER on a month's worth of food and she has no idea how to bag it (and there's not enough room for her to bag all that food).

Totally disagree. I've found that self-checkout takes much less time than a regular checkout line, no matter the number of items. Not sure where people are getting the idea that self-checkout is only for a few items. It's not.

[Anonymous]

Most of the self-checkout stations I've seen don't have room for a second person. The line is behind all the stations and when one frees up, the first person in line goes to that one.

I also find the scanner very slow. I used to work retail, and there's something about the self-checkouts that throws off the rhythm -- it pauses between checking barcodes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I've found that if you have a lot of items, self checkout is significantly slower than just going through a regular line. I think that they should limit self checkout to 10 or 15 items or less OR have two separate self checkout lines - one for express and one for people with full carts. I really think people with full carts going through self checkout defeats the purpose of having it there. I only use it if I have a few items and the line isn't long.

There's always some lady with her 3 kids taking FOREVER on a month's worth of food and she has no idea how to bag it (and there's not enough room for her to bag all that food).

HT and Giant used to be two of my biggest clients, and both of them told me that their "research" showed the self check out lanes are on average slower to use than waiting in line in a regular aisle with a clerk. Sure, there is always the random slow scanner or bagger, whether it is in self check out or a regular check out, which throws off the average, but the grocery chains have done tons of research on it to determine how many lanes they need of each in stores. The reason they have self check outs is because they only require one employee to monitor a group, and because the customer has the false sense of security that they themselves are quicker and feel more in control. But the research shows otherwise.

[Anonymous]

OP, it sounds like you were at Giant - I hate the way their self checkouts are set up. I prefer not to self check at all but often have to at Safeway. Their system doesn't involve a belt - you scan and put stuff right into bags, and it's much easier to manage. Definitely don't start scanning when someone else is still finishing up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've found that if you have a lot of items, self checkout is significantly slower than just going through a regular line. I think that they should limit self checkout to 10 or 15 items or less OR have two separate self checkout lines - one for express and one for people with full carts. I really think people with full carts going through self checkout defeats the purpose of having it there. I only use it if I have a few items and the line isn't long.

There's always some lady with her 3 kids taking FOREVER on a month's worth of food and she has no idea how to bag it (and there's not enough room for her to bag all that food).

HT and Giant used to be two of my biggest clients, and both of them told me that their "research" showed the self check out lanes are on average slower to use than waiting in line in a regular aisle with a clerk. Sure, there is always the random slow scanner or bagger, whether it is in self check out or a regular check out, which throws off the average, but the grocery chains have done tons of research on it to determine how many lanes they need of each in stores. The reason they have self check outs is because they only require one employee to monitor a group, and because the customer has the false sense of security that they themselves are quicker and feel more in control. But the research shows otherwise.

I totally believe this. If I have more than 5 items, I will pick the regular check out lanes without fail.