Dumb poll about self checkout (correlation, not causation)

[charlatti]

This is a silly random poll. How do you feel about self-checkout? I’m curious if there’s any correlation with introvert/extrovert tendencies. For the poll, assume lines are the same, time waiting is the same, whatever else is the same.

Options are 
I consider myself more of an an introvert and I would choose self-checkout
I consider myself more of an an introvert and I would not choose self-checkout
I consider myself more of an an extrovert and I would choose self-checkout
I consider myself more of an an extrovert and I would not choose self-checkout
(and special snowflake option)

[fortnightlily]

My decision about checkout method is dictated by the length of the respective lines and how lazy I'm feeling, not about whether or not I feel like interacting with a check out person.

[cap]

I chose the last option. I like self check because I’m picky at how things get put in the bags. I don’t want raw meat in with my grapes, for example.

Also, the grocery store I go to nearly every weekend has shop and scan, so all I have to do is make a quick stop at a kiosk on the way out.

Being an extrovert or introvert doesn’t factor in at all.

[mala]

I chose introvert and self-checkout. However, if I have a lot of things, like more than a minute to two to scan as the self check, I'll go to a full lane. I am not about to self scan a full cart. I usually use the hand-held scan-as-you-shop devices at the grocery store, though, so I go through the self checkout.

[emilyinchile]

For me it mostly depends how many items I have. If it's a big shop, doing self-checkout where I have to pile everything on the weighing area and then put it all in my bags at the end is a huge hassle vs. a cashier scanning and me bagging as we go. If I just have a couple things, I'm not sure what my answer would be if time was the same because usually self-checkout is faster. I guess just whichever option is closest depending on where in the store I finish my shopping.

[sdlaura]

I consider myself to be pretty balanced between introvert and extrovert, and I like self checkout because then I can bag my purchases in the most optimal way for unloading/putting away at home.

[NewGirlNic]

I’m an introvert and like to use self checkout but I don’t think being introverted has anything to do with that.

I typically think it’s faster since there are usually 4-6 or even more self checkout stations. I’m also picky about how things are bagged.

If I have more than 20 items or so, then I’ll go to a regular checkout lane because the area to bag is too small and I also don’t want to do the work. LOL Wegmans also has a sign that self checkout is for 20 items or less.

[dale]

I use the self checkout because I worked full time as for a supermarket for almost 15 years in bookkeeping and management. I'm still really good at being a cashier. Also, the lines for the actual manned registers are always long because people refuse to self checkout as much where I am.

[charlatti]

Oct 19, 2023 14:29:10 GMT -5 fortnightlily said:

My decision about checkout method is dictated by the length of the respective lines and how lazy I'm feeling, not about whether or not I feel like interacting with a check out person.

For this poll, you were supposed to assume everything was equal. I’m in search of correlation, not causation!

[fernweh]

I’m an introvert but that doesn’t weigh into my choice. I clicked the second option but there are really so many factors to consider

1. How many items do I have
2. How many people are in line at not self check out
3. How many people are in line at self check out (given comparable lines I will choose a cashier because I usually find people at self checkout aren’t as fast as a cashier so even if they have smaller orders I wait longer)
4. What store I’m at. There are some stores that the self checkout always seems to act up and then I have to wait for assistance anyway which takes forever


I guess if all conditions were perfect - I would choose self checkout.

[midwestmama]

I am generally an introvert, but it doesn't drive my choice for grocery checkout.

I prefer how I bag my own groceries, and I feel that sometimes cashiers are somewhat careless with easily bruised or damaged items (e.g., bread, eggs, produce). Those are my main reasons for using self-checkout. It usually takes more time than the employee-staffed checkout (in terms of scanning and bagging), but at least I have control over my groceries.

[Nonny]

I'm an introvert, but I'm not anti-social and have no problem making small talk with cashiers.

Me choosing self-check has everything to do with how many items I have and how long the lines are. If what I have will fit in one bag, I'm almost 100% going choose self-check because it's faster, and if I have a giant cart load I'm going pick a regular lane because the self-checks here don't have enough space to bag everything and not get yelled at by the computer/scale.

[trytobearunner34]

I’m an omnivert and choose self checkout if it is most efficient (which it usually is as I do most shopping through pick up and delivery).

[eddy]

I love self check out but it has nothing to do with being introverted.

I am of the opinion that I am more efficient then 97% of people in the store. Self Check out allows me to not be irritated with the human population lol. I don't use it though if like I have a full grocery order. 

[ssmjlm]

How much stuff do I have?

Although many stores only have self check-out as the option with a cashier as back-up only. I've seen this at Target and Kroger.

But last time I was at Target they have implemented a 10 items or less self check-out rule, so maybe they are hiring more people to be cashiers now.

[pumpkin]

I tend to almost always have something that doesn’t scan or is a problem so more often than not I have to interact with the store employee anyway.

But like others have said, my checkout choice has almost nothing to do with my being introverted/extroverted and is based on time & convenience.

[mags]

I always go to check out with cashier if I can. As a union worker I just cant do it.

[tacokick]

I don’t like self check out at all.

I don’t find that cashiers really talk to anyone during checkout so that is not part of the equation. It’s all on the self check out experience which is pretty uniformly horrible.

[Nonny]

Oct 19, 2023 14:46:42 GMT -5 ssmjlm said:

How much stuff do I have?

Although many stores only have self check-out as the option with a cashier as back-up only. I've seen this at Target and Kroger.

But last time I was at Target they have implemented a 10 items or less self check-out rule, so maybe they are hiring more people to be cashiers now.

This would be a nightmare at my Target. They usually only have one register open, and the self-check line is always PACKED. And at Target it's so easy to have a dozen little items.

[eb777888]

Introvert that hates self check-out. I'm lazy. Now if there's long lines and I have a few items, then I'm fine with self checkout.

[TR]

I'm an introvert and usually choose self-checkout, but not because of being an introvert. Talking to a cashier for a couple of minutes is not a huge drain lol It's more about convenience usually.

[carriebear822]

I go to the manned check out at the grocery store because they removed 3 cash registers to add more self check outs. And the means less people working in the store. Also, the grocery workers were essential during COVID, so that I can’t see them losing positions to self checkouts.

Now Costco is a different beast. I use them there because those lines take forever and they didn’t take any cash registers out to put those in.

[mcsangel2]

My choice is only driven by how many items I have and length of lines. If I have a full cart, I'll always 100% of the time go to a cashier. If I only have a few items, it depends on where the shortest line is.

[purplepenguin7]

I am generally an introvert by definition but it has no bearing on my self-checkout selections. Self checkout is usually dependent on

1) how many items I have
2) the store I am in
3) how long the lines are

My grocery store self-checkout is so slow. I want to move faster than the system does and I almost always have an issue. The cashiers can move a lot faster for some reason so if the line isn't long I will go to a staffed register.

My target is generally 90% self checkout and I find their systems more efficient than the grocery store.

As an introvert I crave alone time, I get headaches when I have to socialize for long periods of time too frequently but I can manage small talk with the cashier with no problem.

[rhian]

I'm an introvert and don't particularly enjoy small talk with strangers. But unless it looks like I will save a substantial amount of time by doing self check out (e.g. several full carts in cashier line, one person with 2 items in self checkout line, and I only have 1 item), I almost always choose a cashier. I know the poll assumes they will take the same amount of time, but there's no way that is true if there's no wait - people whose job it is to check people out are so much better at it than me. In the time it takes me to find the damn bar code to scan an item and get it to actually read it, a cashier could have scanned like 7 items.

If it looks to me like the wait will be equal in both lines, I will still choose the cashier, because there are so many more things that could go wrong and cause it to end up being longer in self checkout.

[goldengirlz]

Maybe this is #regional, but how much small talk are you doing with the cashier that prompted this poll? I usually exchange the typical hi/how are you pleasantries and then go straight to bagging groceries. (The only exception is TJ’s — those folks are chatty! But in a way that usually makes me smile.)

I prefer self-checkout because I’m fast at it and the line generally moves faster because there are more machines.

[ECB]

I tend to use self checkout.  Part of it is not wanting to have to interact with anyone!  Even though most of the time, most cashiers don't really chat with the customers anyhow.

But a part of it is also how much stuff I have.  I tend to go to the store a couple times throughout the week and get small amounts of stuff, so doing self checkout is usually fast.  If I do a large trip and have a lot of stuff, I usually go to a regular line - it's easier to have someone else ring everything up while I focus on bagging everything. 

[verycontrary247]

My decision choose to go to self checkout vs cashier is strictly dependent on how many items I have.

These days I mostly do grocery order pickups, but occasionally I do have to do an in-person full grocery shop. There's no fucking way that I'm doing that at a self-checkout. Especially at the places where it starts beeping at you if you take something off of the tiny bagging area after bagging it because there is not any space left for your other items.

[ECB]

Oct 19, 2023 14:42:29 GMT -5 midwestmama said:

I am generally an introvert, but it doesn't drive my choice for grocery checkout.

I prefer how I bag my own groceries, and I feel that sometimes cashiers are somewhat careless with easily bruised or damaged items (e.g., bread, eggs, produce). Those are my main reasons for using self-checkout. It usually takes more time than the employee-staffed checkout (in terms of scanning and bagging), but at least I have control over my groceries.

This may require another poll!  When I go through a regular line, I still bag my own stuff. Now, granted, I see people who won't bag and they let the cashier ring everything up and then bag it all while they stand there.  But I always pop down to the end and start bagging. 

[VillainV]

I can’t do the poll on Tapatalk. But I am an introvert and I prefer self-checkout for smaller purchases and a cashier for larger purchases. It’s rare that I go into the store for more than a few items though, because I do curbside for our main weekly shop (which is at most a 30-second interaction with a real person when they bring stuff out to my car).