Self service checkouts are turning many shoppers into thieves

Run_to_da_hills · 26-04-2012 11:09AM #1

"Almost a third have admitted to stealing at scanners. Many trick machines by giving the wrong information Techniques include slipping extra items through and lying about which items they had

Almost a third have admitted to stealing while putting items through the scanners, with many tricking the machines by giving the wrong information. Additionally, a quarter of those who did not steal admitted their only reason for not doing so was fear of being caught".

Well done Daily Mail for teaching people how to shoplift from automated checkouts. This is one problem that supermarkets have brought upon themselves when they replace checkout staff with frustrating robots.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2135284/How-cheating-checkouts-turning-nation-self-service-shoplifters.html

Owen · 26-04-2012 11:10AM

I don't find anything frustrating about self service checkouts, quite the opposite.

Cianos · 26-04-2012 11:14AM

I'm sure the chains ran their own tests to see if the increase in theft would be too much to offset the savings in wages. I presume it wasn't.

Jimoslimos · 26-04-2012 11:15AM

They'd be fine except for the postage stamp sized area for packing your bags.

Dravokivich · 26-04-2012 11:17AM

Couldn't be arsed with'em myself. They seem a bit gimmicky to me.

Stiffler2 · 26-04-2012 11:20AM

I've noticed my shopping seems to be cheaper alrite when I use those self checking ones although if it doesn't scan straight away at the first swipe I just assume the product is free since the machine didn't get it ??

I mean if the'yre not going to invent their machines properly why should I have to bother to swipe it twice ?

Run_to_da_hills · 26-04-2012 11:20AM

Owen wrote: »

I don't find anything frustrating about self service checkouts, quite the opposite.

A lot of this is down to the coding on the product, ie bar code being stretched on shrink wrapped frozen products etc I once told by assistance that it was my job to type in the number if the machine couldn't read it. Aldi and Lidl have overcome this problem with their own standard on coding.

FatherLen · 26-04-2012 11:21AM

i dont use them because usually if i am in a supermarket rather than a small shop, i am there to buy drink and you still have to get one of the people to come over and give you permission. so it's not quicker or easier, it's a pain in the hole.

kylith · 26-04-2012 11:21AM

Jimoslimos wrote: »

They'd be fine except for the postage stamp sized area for packing your bags.

what pisses me off is when I have my wheely trolly for going home I still have to cram everything on that; I can't just put it in my trolly. Other than that I love the things.

Hande hoche! · 26-04-2012 11:21AM

Handy way to get rid of change those yokes.

Seachmall · 26-04-2012 11:22AM

In Walmart in the states you can buy individual items or items in bulk. It's somewhat common for people to stick the barcode sticker from an individual item over the barcode sticker of the bulk item and then to pick an uninterested cashier to checkout.

Did it myself with playing cards a few years back, 12 decks for the price of one.

seamus · 26-04-2012 11:23AM

I use self-service checkouts because the're quicker and I use them honestly because I'm not a dirty scumbag.

o1s1n · 26-04-2012 11:26AM

One day these self service checkouts will become self aware and we'll all be doomed.

Run_to_da_hills · 26-04-2012 11:27AM

Seachmall wrote: »

In Walmart in the states you can buy individual items or items in bulk. It's somewhat common for people to stick the barcode sticker from an individual item over the barcode sticker of the bulk item and then to pick an uninterested cashier to checkout.

Did it myself with playing cards a few years back, 12 decks for the price of one.

All bar coded products are individually weighed, surely this would have set off the alarm bells if something different / heavier was placed on the bagging scales.

CardBordWindow · 26-04-2012 11:27AM

UNEXPECTED ITEM IN BAGGAGE AREA

FUUUUUUUUU...........:mad:

FatherLen · 26-04-2012 11:28AM

o1s1n wrote: »

One day these self service checkouts will become self aware and we'll all be doomed.

yeah givin us wrong change 'n' shit.

Seachmall · 26-04-2012 11:29AM

Run_to_da_hills wrote: »

All bar coded products are individually weighed, surely this would have set off the alarm bells if something different / heavier was placed on the bagging scales.

It wasn't a self-checkout.

In fact, it's not really relevant to the thread at all, I'm simple reminiscing about my crime-lord days.

haminka · 26-04-2012 11:30AM

I believe that when compared with the saving potential on staff and the probability that someone will try to cheat on the price by choosing the cheaper bread etc., they are still profitable, otherwise they wouldn't be there.

Gmol · 26-04-2012 11:31AM

The machines are quicker and friendlier

Run_to_da_hills · 26-04-2012 11:34AM

o1s1n wrote: »

One day these self service checkouts will become self aware and we'll all be doomed.

Already starting, two creepy adds from IBM promoting the next generation checkout.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XVcqoO761po

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sDyqhcy1L-0

Mr Benevolent · 26-04-2012 11:35AM

I've accidentally done it once or twice. Too ashamed to go back and pay.

Noxin · 26-04-2012 11:36AM

Only frustration I have with the machines is when someone tries to approach it with a trolly full of goods.

That or they just plain do not know how to use it. Put the item back on the scale you nitwit. :mad:

For all the stealing going on, I wonder how much the staff / business may pocket from people leaving their notes behind. I was 3rd in a queue two days a go and saw 45 euro total left behind by 3 different people in the space of 5 minutes. Lucky for them the staff member floating near by for assistance spotted it and gave it back each time. Shocking :pac:

davetherave · 26-04-2012 11:41AM

CardBordWindow wrote: »

UNEXPECTED ITEM IN BAGGAGE AREA

FUUUUUUUUU...........:mad:

Or the dreaded "Please take your items" while you are shoving coins, notes and reciepts back in your wallet/purse. Stop shouting at me, I'm going as quickly as I can.

ejmaztec · 26-04-2012 11:45AM

Gmol wrote: »

The machines are quicker and friendlier

And so far I've never seen two machines start a conversation with each other and hold me up for 15 minutes.

CardBordWindow · 26-04-2012 11:47AM

davetherave wrote: »

Or the dreaded "Please take your items" while you are shoving coins, notes and reciepts back in your wallet/purse. Stop shouting at me, I'm going as quickly as I can.

I hate when they say 'I'm not mad at you,I'm just disappointed'.

Mr Benevolent · 26-04-2012 11:48AM

It's much better than waiting in a queue behind female customers who look confused when they're asked for money. I never use a manned one now unless I have to go to feckin' Dunnes.

jack presley · 26-04-2012 11:52AM

CardBordWindow wrote: »

UNEXPECTED ITEM IN BAGGAGE AREA

FUUUUUUUUU...........:mad:

It's funny when you put a bag in the bagging area and get that message. I would have thought a bag in the bagging area wouldn't be that unexpected. In fact if I was to expect one item to be definitely in a bagging area, it would be a bag

Darkglasses · 26-04-2012 11:52AM

Stiffler2 wrote: »

I've noticed my shopping seems to be cheaper alrite when I use those self checking ones although if it doesn't scan straight away at the first swipe I just assume the product is free since the machine didn't get it ??

I mean if the'yre not going to invent their machines properly why should I have to bother to swipe it twice ?

You assume very wrong!

MonkeyTennis · 26-04-2012 11:56AM

o1s1n wrote: »

One day these self service checkouts will become self aware and we'll all be doomed.

http://192.20.225.36/tts/speech/8ccef760d176f6ba1a5be77b61004cdd.wav

antodeco · 26-04-2012 11:57AM

It's the only thing I like about Tesco. No ignorant grunts from the machine. No talking to their mates and lashing all the heavy goods down the packing area onto my now triangle bread!

Snowie · 26-04-2012 11:57AM

Run_to_da_hills wrote: »

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2135284/How-cheating-checkouts-turning-nation-self-service-shoplifters.html

It was made up bye a board jurno and he does work for the daily mail so come onnnnnnn

Self service checkouts are turning many shoppers into thieves

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