I don’t like being screamed at by a computer voice/speaker. I can read. I would do it more often if it was silent like at IKEA. Also at Whole Foods I usually have one of their 50% today only deals which requires a cashier. And it’s stupid you can’t buy beer. Basically I only use self checkout as a last resort, or if I have like 2 or 3 items.
this post was submitted on 25 Sep 2026
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I think it's a temporary thing. Scanning won't be necessary at all when more products get RFID tags.
It will come, because stores will love it, since it also makes shop lifting more difficult.
I use the cashier when the line isn't clearly much shorter for the self-checkout. When I have to use the self-checkout, the store comps me a little treat as a thank you for running the register for them.
My twin is a cashier at a grocery, so does texting them a grocery list count as using them??
When we shop together on their days off, we use the self checkout though cause we're only buying a little generally.
I've been car free for several years now, and it's such a decent savings that I just get groceries delivered. £45 for 6 months of free deliveries, no sweat.
I used to fill up a shopper and drag it home every week, but now the only place close enough for that is Asda, and their produce is pretty disappointing.
Not quite the question you asked, but "secret third option" is kind of a family tradition for us, sorry. When I do find myself shopping, I prefer not to use self checkout. The machines are too chatty.
Mostly, I use a cashier and cash.
My children like them so as long as they want to play cashier, I usually will. Alone, never.
That's the only choice I get where I shop. I like it better, though.
I use self checkout if it’s available. My time is valuable to me and I am able to go through self checkout faster and more efficiently than going to a cashier, so I get to keep more of my time.
Only if I have to, which is increasingly rare these days.
Self-checkout always unless I have loads of stuff. I don't want to talk to someone and it's quicker.
This was a question for me in like 2012 when they started becoming more common here. Never did it occur to me that it was my responsibility to maintain a level of inefficiency in my life to keep someone else employed in a shit job. To me, that kind of calculus is absolutely wild.
Pretty much every store around me other than Walmart has shut down their self checkout stations due to thefts. So I only use self checkout on the rare occasion I have to go to Walmart
No because it's not like the price of the groceries would be any lower if you subsidized the store's labor costs. I've also had annoying experiences having my cart more thoroughly checked in Costco's exits because self checkouts produce special blue receipts that flag you as a potential shoplifter.
yes, but most grocery stores, chain stores have eliminated or reduced its usage, because of the shoplifting you can do with the self checkout.
I really don't want to do that but my family does not know how to use these machines.
Most of the places I shop don't even have automated checkout so yes.
depends entirely on how much I have to check out and how simple the items are. 8 2-ltrs and I will do self chex. any veg without a barcode or a cart full of stuff. cashier. oh and also the length of lines will cause me to call a mulligan on the usual call.