Costco Self Scan Checkouts

[soblecram]

Was in Kanata on the weekend, noticed (and used) the self scan checkouts. As close to an express lane as I could see. Went superfast, and worked very well. Didn't take cash at the till though; had to use Credit or Debit, but hey... saved me a few minutes...

[slowtyper]

Are they limited to only a few items or can anyone go through? If it was an express lane I would love it since I like to buy a couple items at a time.

[Cas77]

Saw them too at the same Costco. I like the fact that it looked as though you don't have to put on your items in a bag on a flimsy scale where half your order won't fit. These have nice long rollers to slide your items down.

[number8888]

Problem with self-scan checkouts is that some people are clueless as to how to use it so they wind up TAKING LONGER than the usual checkout lines, all the while I am standing waiting with my 1 item that takes me 15 sec to checkout.

/RANT

I think they are taken away from the WM stores due to that reason.

[Impossibles]

I can't wait until the day when everything has RFID tags and you can just load up your cart and walk out the store and your credit card is automatically billed for everything you take with you.

[slowtyper]

I can't wait until the day when everything has RFID tags and you can just load up your cart and walk out the store and your credit card is automatically billed for everything you take with you.

I can't wait for that day either, when I can slip some items into someone elses cart then pick them up outside the store!

[brunes]

Wow... of all the places I would think self-scan would be horrible, it would be Costco. All those giant oversize packages....

Is there an item limit? Of like, 5? I hope so.

[soblecram]

No item limit that I saw...

As for RFID, I am not sure that I want to spend an extra $0.30 - $0.60 PER ITEM just for an RFID chip. That would add around 12-15$ per order at costco alone...

[xstatik]

Wow... of all the places I would think self-scan would be horrible, it would be Costco. All those giant oversize packages....

Is there an item limit? Of like, 5? I hope so.

The worst place by far is Canadian Tire!
I've been to Canadian Tire locations where the only checkout that is open is the Self-scan.. Try scanning through items such as Car Jacks, and other heavy items through that.

[LordofthePing]

In my experience, Costco has been good about opening up extra registers when the lines get long. Of course, on the weekend the lines are always long.

[pshch]

The worst place by far is Canadian Tire!
I've been to Canadian Tire locations where the only checkout that is open is the Self-scan.. Try scanning through items such as Car Jacks, and other heavy items through that.

For me the worst is walmart. They have tiny packing area which becomes completely full after first 5 items and then each time you press button to skip bagging you have wait for assistance.

[Cheap Cat]

Home Depot has to be the worst. At the newer locations, they have one cashier (if you are lucky) and then the self serve checkouts. They don't even have cash stations to open up if you prefer to go to a cashier. With all the odd shaped/large items, it is the worst place to have self serve. Almost everyone at the self serve ends up needing help to scan things.

[Si98]

Home Depot has to be the worst. At the newer locations, they have one cashier (if you are lucky) and then the self serve checkouts. They don't even have cash stations to open up if you prefer to go to a cashier. With all the odd shaped/large items, it is the worst place to have self serve. Almost everyone at the self serve ends up needing help to scan things.

The only person who ever says thank you to me at a Home Depot is the voice from the self-checkout machine. But now with more Lowes opening up I've noticed Home Depot employees are getting friendlier.

[pnyknights]

Problem with self-scan checkouts is that some people are clueless as to how to use it so they wind up TAKING LONGER than the usual checkout lines, all the while I am standing waiting with my 1 item that takes me 15 min to checkout.

/RANT

I think they are taken away from the WM stores due to that reason.

So that's why I couldn't find any at the SuperCenters :(
If I see an empty self checkout, I rush right to it before any of the idiots get to it.

I hate having to plop stuff onto the bagger before being able to scan the next item...it's so annoying, even more since I'm too cheap to pay for bags too :P

[TrevorK]

The biggest pet peeve I have with the self checkouts is the line management. At our local Superstore there are 2 sections of (4) self checkouts beside each other. Most people are fine, a line is formed in front of one and it is understood that the line is for both.


But there is always the idiot who feels that the 10 person long line is only for the one, and that no one is lining up for the section of (4) self checkouts beside it. So they cut right in and start scanning.


Pisses me off to no extent, because it should be the stores job to manage these lines. I'd prefer to see some sort of roped off area indicating that the lineup is for both.

[mangoman]

Part of the problem is that you should be lining up in the middle of both sets of 4. We had a bit of what you mentioned at our Loblaws initially but now folks have gotten with the program and always line up in the middle (things would be easier if they just put a mat or outlined a box on the ground to tell people to "form line here" in the centre of the two rows of scanners.


The biggest pet peeve I have with the self checkouts is the line management. At our local Superstore there are 2 sections of (4) self checkouts beside each other. Most people are fine, a line is formed in front of one and it is understood that the line is for both.


But there is always the idiot who feels that the 10 person long line is only for the one, and that no one is lining up for the section of (4) self checkouts beside it. So they cut right in and start scanning.


Pisses me off to no extent, because it should be the stores job to manage these lines. I'd prefer to see some sort of roped off area indicating that the lineup is for both.

[slowtyper]

I've been on this "improper lineup" pet peeve for a while now. I really think it would be more beneficial if more companies realized this and just put up little barriers or ropes to show you where to line up.

My favourite is a walmart McDonalds I've been to three times. There is a huge sign that says "please line up behind individual cash registers" however every single time there is just one long line up standing at the back (which isn't even a straight line since there isn't enough room). I could just walk up behind someone ordering on the side and point to the sign, but thats a dick move. Also I don't have the time or inclination to bother explaining to the people in the lineup what the sign means. So I just add to the problem by lining up in the weird snaking line while having to be weary that nobody else is going to pull a dick move and create a "new" lineup.

[pnyknights]

I've been on this "improper lineup" pet peeve for a while now. I really think it would be more beneficial if more companies realized this and just put up little barriers or ropes to show you where to line up.

My favourite is a walmart McDonalds I've been to three times. There is a huge sign that says "please line up behind individual cash registers" however every single time there is just one long line up standing at the back (which isn't even a straight line since there isn't enough room). I could just walk up behind someone ordering on the side and point to the sign, but thats a dick move. Also I don't have the time or inclination to bother explaining to the people in the lineup what the sign means. So I just add to the problem by lining up in the weird snaking line while having to be weary that nobody else is going to pull a dick move and create a "new" lineup.


McDonalds in Cead mall is just as bad. It's a one line that splits into two. However, again however since there's not enough space, it looks like the big line and the the first closest line are connected. One lady was waiting to go to sub-line 1 and another lady behind her branched into the (slightly) shorter sub-line 2. Holy damn all hell broke loose.