Starting to annoy me

rpf65

Today was the day I ran errands. Part of that included getting things for the summer power tools. So I went into the local Home Depot, an this particular one has a door greeter, for lack of a better title. He asked if he could help me find anything, and before I answered, I looked toward the check out area. I turned, looked back at the gentleman, and replied "No thank you". Then I walked out the entrance.

This has probably been the 10th time in a row that there has been no employee at a check out. They have the door greeter there, and they have an employee "happy to help you at the self check out". When you walk by the regular check out, all that you see is the orange fencing and cash register. I guess that's all well and good, except for one small issue I have. I will not use a self check out in any retail establishment.

It may just be me, but I think if somebody is going to go through all the trouble to locate a building, stock the shelves, and expect people to buy their products, they could have somebody there to figure out how much you owe them, and take your money. I guess I'm just old fashioned that way. I mean if I'm going to go through all the trouble to check myself out, I may as well order the item on-line and have it delivered to my door.

Am I the only person that will leave a store, sometimes after spending 1/2 hour or so selecting merchandise, and go to the competition? Just curious about my level of sanity.

BlueFox

Doesn't bother me since it is usually faster. Why did bother me was Frys asking to check my bag as I left. Fortunately, the law here says you can decline that request, so I do.

11tsteve

I agree 100%. There is no right or wrong here, but that is what I want and expect.

polk500

I don't use self check outs either as far as I'm concerned it putting people out of work.

Cheers
Roger

AsSiMiLaTeD

polk500 wrote: »

I don't use self check outs either as far as I'm concerned it putting people out of work.

Cheers
Roger

Somebody has to design, build and maintain the self checkout machines...

sucks2beme

Those self check stations don't work very well for home improvement stores. Small stuff
doesn't scale verify after bagging, lumber doesn't work to well either.
I might use it somewhere else, but at HD the self checks are painfull.

Moose68Bash

As far as I'm concerned, I don't want to use self-check outs now because there is always a problem that requires human assistance, and that takes time and aggravates me. When the service is reliable, I'll use it. No till then.

WilliamM2

I use self checkouts whenever I can, because there is usually no line at all.

The Home Depot here always has cashiers working too, they aren't always at the register when there's no one checking out. But they appear quickly when you walk up the the register. If not, I'm sure the "greeter" could have found one for you if you asked. He did ask if he could help you find anything.

cfrizz

Moose68Bash wrote: »

As far as I'm concerned, I don't want to use self-check outs now because there is always a problem that requires human assistance, and that takes time and aggravates me. When the service is reliable, I'll use it. No till then.

^ This! Every time I've tried to use one, the machine would get flaky on me and needed to get a person who would take forever to get to me to fix it. If a person had checked me out I would have been all set five minutes earlier!

pumpkinman

Funny so many here seem to have technical problems with the self serve registers.
I've never had any trouble to date. I find especially at ShopRite that I can get the hell
outta there all the faster with the self check out.

P-man

ken brydson

I use self check outs whenever possible. Especially when the wife sends me to the store for "women" things....

soundfreak1

Whew, thought it was just me! I dont use them either.

teekay0007

I used to be a real "people person" 'til people went and eff'd that up for me. Now, some days I just enjoy the nice interaction with a machine. However, lots of trips to HD, Lowe's, etc. aren't the ideal ones for the auto checkout.

halo71

Op......so you walk in. See no cashier and turn and walk out immediately? I mean, there is a good chance that by the time you picked out what you needed there would have been someone behind the counter? I surely would not waste my time leaving a store just because there was no cashier. When there was something there that I had to have. That's just a waste of more time to me.

rpf65

halo71 wrote: »

Op......so you walk in. See no cashier and turn and walk out immediately? I mean, there is a good chance that by the time you picked out what you needed there would have been someone behind the counter? I surely would not waste my time leaving a store just because there was no cashier. When there was something there that I had to have. That's just a waste of more time to me.

Yes, I walked in, saw no cashier, and left.

This is the only store that I have a problem. Every other store in this chain has cashiers available every time I go into them, but this particular one doesn't. Last week I spent about 20 minutes shopping, went to check out, and no cash registers were open, except for the self check out and the contractor area. So I went back to the contractor area where the line was pretty much to the back of the store. At least when I see people facing the same way, with various types of carts or merchandise in their hands, I assume it's a line. I then replaced all the items, and went to the competition about 2 miles away.

After posting this yesterday, ran into a neighbor. Both he and a friend of his, both in various types on contract work laughed. They said that is normal in that store. Self check out, one contractor check out, and the garden checkouts are normally open. Mostly luck if you walk in and find a check out open inside the store. They usually go to the competition also.

Moose68Bash

halo71 wrote: »

Op......so you walk in. See no cashier and turn and walk out immediately? I mean, there is a good chance that by the time you picked out what you needed there would have been someone behind the counter? I surely would not waste my time leaving a store just because there was no cashier. When there was something there that I had to have. That's just a waste of more time to me.

My other problem with Home Depot is that whenever I have gone there for "something ... that I had to have," I end up having to go to the local Ace Hardware to get it. Home Depot never seems to have an item when I go there specifically for one. Home Depot is better for meandering around on a rainy or snowy day just looking for a way to blow some money on a tool I covet but will likely use only once or twice. I think it is amazing that in a store that is at least two acres in size with thousands of items, they so frequently don't have the specific item I want, but a little old ordinary hardware store has it. I experienced this phenomenon again and again when I had to help my daughters build school projects; even West Marine was more likely than Home Depot to have what I needed.

PolkieMan

Well Home Depot and Lowes are both self checkout and Ace Hardware is never open,
So unless I can wait for it by ordering online I just have to get nothing. Another thing
is your expected to self checkout but there is more Handicapped parking spaces than most
everywhere else and most people that are handicapped hire there work done for them.

mdaudioguy

I often choose Home Depot over Lowe's, which lacks self checkout in my town, especially when I'm just making a quick trip for one or two items, like when I realize I'm one elbow short on a plumbing job. The self checkout at HD has probably saved me hours over the years. In my town, they are literally back-to-back, and there's little difference otherwise. For larger purchases, best price wins.

I'm more irritated when Lowe's has long lines at 2 registers and 6 other registers are closed, which is a common occurrence.

HHStuart

I never use the self check out. I feel like I am taking somebody's rice bowl. It is rare that it takes any more time at the stores I have been in. You might think it would make things cheaper but it just goes into overall profits and gives that CEO his enormous bonus.

exalted512

At almost every self check out i go to, the attendant will check you out...

Seems stupid to me, but I'm sure I have weird pet peeves too.
-Cody

halo71

Do you ever catch yourself checking out the attendant? lol

Toolfan66

halo71 wrote: »

Do you ever catch yourself checking out the attendant? lol

I like the lady that pulls out the roll of carpet, as she bends over to pull the carpet over the table I forgot what I was there for..

Toolfan66

I like self check out, if it's big I just go to the contractors lines. I guess I don't get it, what's the problem in opening your mouth and asking for someone to help you.

It's not like this is anything new, this has been going on way before there was self checkout.. Depending on what time of day you go to any store if it's during a slow part of the day they have workers helping to do other things..

If you have the time to say no thank you, you have the time to ask for someone to help you check out. Also if you're paying an employee would you rather pay them to stand there and do nothing but wait for you? Or would you rather pay them to help do something more productive?

Upstatemax

Just curious, have you ever asked to speak to the manager of that location? This seems like it's less a HD issue as it's an issue with how the store manager is running their staff.

My HD usually has the CS desk, two open registers, self checkout and the contractor checkout open at any given time.

Sounds like the manager either needs to start recruiting or stop being so cheap with the payroll.

I'm not a huge fan of self checkouts myself. The only one I like is the system where I can walk into an Apple store, scan my item with my phone to pay and walk out...

Moose68Bash

PolkieMan wrote: »

. . . Ace Hardware is never open,
So unless I can wait for it by ordering online I just have to get nothing.

One of the two Ace Hardware stores I frequent has about the same hours as my local HD. Because they're independently owned, I guess, hours of operation vary by location. Still, I prefer to use the local store.

tonyb

I don't mind the self check outs....as long as it's easy stuff your buying. As far as lost jobs, it's a wash really. People have to design those machines, create the software, build them, install them, service them. I'd say that's more better paying jobs than a couple minimum wage cashiers.

I always see stories on how robotics in the next few decades will replace as much as 50% of the work force. As much as I can dig self check outs, I still prefer human interaction.

tonyb

BTW....if this minor thing annoys you, wait pal. As you get older, grumpier, you'll find almost everything annoys you. lol

steveinaz

BlueFox wrote: »

Doesn't bother me since it is usually faster. Why did bother me was Frys asking to check my bag as I left. Fortunately, the law here says you can decline that request, so I do.

Same here with Walmart. Once I PAY, it belongs to me. They ask if they can see my receipt, and I respond "No you may not." So far, they haven't challenged me on it; I hope they tackle me out in the parking lot, I'll be an instant millionaire.

pitdogg2

cfrizz wrote: »

^ This! Every time I've tried to use one, the machine would get flaky on me and needed to get a person who would take forever to get to me to fix it. If a person had checked me out I would have been all set five minutes earlier!

yep just try and write a check at one of those ...like 5 extra steps than a regular checkout with said employee.

pitdogg2

steveinaz wrote: »

Same here with Walmart. Once I PAY, it belongs to me. They ask if they can see my receipt, and I respond "No you may not." So far, they haven't challenged me on it; I hope they tackle me out in the parking lot, I'll be an instant millionaire.

you mean like at Sams Club where you pay and then must have an employee check your receipt and then go through your cart to double check that you didn't steal anything in the 12' to the door...I HATE THAT

hochpt21

I use self-checkouts whenever I can as well. Usually no line and I can get out of there much quicker.

I enjoy the human interaction sometimes, but usually its a tired, not-smiling, unhappy worker and I usually end up doing the smiling trying to make their day better. Sometimes, you get a genuinely nice person, but those are fewer and farther between.