Self Checkouts: Are they worth it?

Many people complain about using the self-checkouts at the grocery store. Some say they are inaccurate, won’t take coupons, give too many error messages, etc. I agree that some of these complaints are valid, but if you want to save money, there are some things you just have to put up with. I started using self checkouts years ago, and actually avoid one of my favorite stores because they took theirs out. Most people agree that the self checkouts are only beneficial when you have a couple of items and are in a hurry. On the contrary, I use the self checkout especially when I have a large order.

These are some of the reasons I prefer to check myself out.

1 – Grocery store cashiers are graded on their scanning speed. They want to scan your items as fast as humanly possible which means, unless you are a speed reader, you cannot assure that each item is scanning the proper price. I cannot tell you how many times I was overcharged for items that I painstakingly researched and hand selected for value. This means that when I check my receipt for accuracy and catch the mistake, I have to lug my cart full of bagged groceries to the customer service counter, rummage through the bags to fish out the item and take a tour of the store again to show the manager the shelf tag. Then we have to go back to the customer service window, where they have to fill out a bunch of paperwork and I have to sign for my refund. This is a waste of my time and theirs. On the other hand, if you are scanning your own items, you can catch it right away, call the attendant over and they simply adjust it while your transaction is still open.

2 – Bagging your own groceries may seem like a pain to some, but I prefer to bag my own. How many times have you gotten home only to find out your nice soft bread had mysteriously turned into tortillas? Usually, grocery store baggers are very young and inexperienced. Once, a bagger put my perfumed bar soap in the same bag with my muffin mix. When I got home, my muffins smelled like soap. I had to take them back to the store which cost me time, gas money and another paperwork session at the customer service counter. Another advantage of bagging your own groceries is you can bag them according to where they are going when you get home. This makes for less work when you have to put them away. Time is money!

3 – Last, but not least, when you use the self checkout, you are helping the grocery store keep their costs down. The less employees they have to keep on staff, the less their overhead expenses will be and ultimately, the more they will have in their budgets to run sales. Some people disagree and say the stores just pocket this money, but in today’s competitive market, I believe that the self checkouts will eventually lead to lower grocery prices.

Next time you go shopping, try using the self checkout. Once you get used to it, it’s really not that much of an inconvenience, and I believe you will save time and money in the long run.