Do You Use The U-scan Checkouts?

**Logan** · 07-22-2007, 04:06 PM

I love to scan my own groceries when I only have a few things. Our Bloom grocery store (an upscale Food Lion) has the little units you can get when you come in, scan and bag, as you go. I find it takes me more time than standing in line! But I do like to put my grocery list in online, so I can print it off when I get to the store and it is printed out, neatly, and in order by aisle. Love being able to identify and tag my produce. Saves a lot of time.

Logan

**Craftlady** · 07-22-2007, 06:07 PM

Like them and use them quite often.

**Marigold2** · 07-22-2007, 10:57 PM

I really like them. I have had cashiers with colds coughing all over my food. Disgusting.

**inlovewithanimals** · 07-23-2007, 10:50 AM

me and my parents do not use them because that is taking someones job for no reason can you imagin if everything was done by computer and technolegy? what would you do for money?????

Justin,

**mruffruff** · 07-23-2007, 12:29 PM

I use them as often as I can when I go to Wal-Mart. I can stand in line for over 35 minutes to get to a cashier, or do it myself in 10. I fumble a little when it gets to produce, but I try not to get rattled. I always pay with a debit card, but I'm always six messages ahead of the dumb machine. In and out, total shopping trip in less than an hour!

**Lady's Human** · 07-23-2007, 01:18 PM

Again, to those worried about taking someone's job by using the self-scanners....

Someone has to maintain the beasties, which pays more than being a cashier, and someone still has to monitor them.

**Ginger's Mom** · 07-23-2007, 07:32 PM

Originally Posted by Lady's Human

Again, to those worried about taking someone's job by using the self-scanners....

Someone has to maintain the beasties, which pays more than being a cashier, and someone still has to monitor them.

Yes and no. It is not the same high school or college kids who would be running the registers who are maintaining the equipment. And even if they did have live cashiers they would still need someone to maintain the equipment those live cashiers are running instead of the equipment that the public run themselves. So it really is cutting out jobs.

Having said that, if I only have a few items (5 or less) I will use the self serve registers in the supermarket. When I do my bi-monthly shopping I want a cashier to check me out and help bag my items. If I am spending that much money in their store the least they can do is provide someone to help with the check out and bagging.

**Lady's Human** · 07-23-2007, 07:41 PM

It's more equipment to maintain. One maintenance person can only do so much. The more equipment there is to maintain, the more personnel needed to do the work, therefore they have to hire (or contract for) additional maintenance personnel. Those maintenance personnel are frequently paid far more than a cashier, and not much technical education is required to do the job. It's not uncommon to find college tech students doing on call maintenance or tech support service, as their hours allow them more of a flexible schedule.

So, where are the savings?

The Wal Mart in Norman, OK took out two regular registers, and put in 6 self serve scanning stations. They cut back to one express checkout lane. They still have 2 cashiers monitoring those self serve aisles, but they can serve many more customers. Fewer lines, more sales, happier customers.

**Ginger's Mom** · 07-23-2007, 09:23 PM

Hmm...good point. They usually do put in more self serve aisles than full service aisles that they remove. I didn't think about that. However, I still maintain that it does take away some jobs from high school, college students, and some part time moms or seniors who are looking for some extra cash.

**cassiesmom** · 07-23-2007, 06:05 PM

I use the one at the Jewel because, most of the time, I just have a few items so I can do it quickly. But the last time I was at Meijer I tried it, and the glass plate was all sticky (soap? shampoo? laundry liquid?). Yecch. At Meijer I go through the "person-line". But, I generally have a bigger order there anyway.

**luvofallhorses** · 07-23-2007, 07:19 PM

I have only used one once but I suppose they help if you're in a hurry.

**jackmilliesmom** · 07-24-2007, 05:51 AM

We have both those facilities here in Ireland in Tesco its U Scan in Superquinn its Scan and go and in Dunnes Stores its U scan I love them all and use them whenever possible. If I have things like apples, pastries etc which would not have bar codes on them each store has an alphabet on the UScan and I just use that - so I love them for that too so simple.

Saves time but everyone is now using them and its getting harder to get in and out of these places without them clogging up the lines...

**anna_66** · 07-24-2007, 07:17 AM

I like them and use them whenever I can.

**jackie** · 07-24-2007, 12:36 PM

This is the first I have heard of these machines!!!!

I feel really old and outdated, but I guess that is island life.

I will post when the island gets one, but when they arrive there will probably be a huge line up of people wanting to use it.

The next town over, there was a huge party when they put a walk-way over the main road.

**Donnaj4962** · 07-24-2007, 12:59 PM

Great thread!

When I was little, when my Mom would ask me what I wanted to be when I grew up, I would say, "a cash register".... meaning a cashier!

(I must have been sooooo adorable!)

Since I have never been PAID to do that job, I LOVE using the U-scans, and do so whenever I can. My local (read: closest) Wal-Mart doesn't have self scanners, so I always have to have a live person there. And it is new! Not even a year old. I think that was a bad decision to not have them installed, but then , who am I???!!!!

I always use them at Kroger and Meijer though, no matter how many items I am buying.