Tesco's naggy checkout people

[54aardvark]

I don't use self-service tills as a matter of principle, puts people out of work.

The only exception was 2 christmases ago when our local Tescos was open 24 hours 23rd/24th Dec. Cunning plan, got in there 5am christmas eve, place virtually deserted did the entire shop in 25 minutes. Get to the tills - none open. I aked one of the dozen or so staff strolling about, "tills don't open until 8am, you'll have to use self-service" great, wait for two and a half hours or do self-service. Any other time I would just have left the trolley and walked but christmas eve is a nightmare shopping.

Went and got another trolley, staff (still hanging around doing b*gger-all) looking a bit puzzled "you try putting a full trolley of gear on that tiny shelf" Took nearly an hour to get everything through. What with getting the supervisor back at least a dozen times to unblock the computer bit and sort out the payment it would have saved them time, let alone mine - furkin' fuming!

[BillyGoat]

I don't use self-service tills as a matter of principle, puts people out of work.

The only exception was 2 christmases ago when our local Tescos was open 24 hours 23rd/24th Dec. Cunning plan, got in there 5am christmas eve, place virtually deserted did the entire shop in 25 minutes. Get to the tills - none open. I aked one of the dozen or so staff strolling about, "tills don't open until 8am, you'll have to use self-service" great, wait for two and a half hours or do self-service. Any other time I would just have left the trolley and walked but christmas eve is a nightmare shopping.

Went and got another trolley, staff (still hanging around doing b*gger-all) looking a bit puzzled "you try putting a full trolley of gear on that tiny shelf" Took nearly an hour to get everything through. What with getting the supervisor back at least a dozen times to unblock the computer bit and sort out the payment it would have saved them time, let alone mine - furkin' fuming!

Parents say this, can't help but think it's a load of b***cks myself.

- Someone has to make the tills
- Someone has to install them
- Someone has to transport them to their location
- Someone has to stock them up with bags
- Someone has to move all the baskets away, which stack up much faster than the other tills (seemingly)
- Someone has to clean and service them
- IMO it's easier to pay for a couple of items than being behind a person who has loaded up a conveyor belt FULL of stuff
- You don't get old people talking to the till for 20 minutes while paying for a turnip or something stupid
- Depending on the store, they sometimes have other languages - which is a plus for people not from the country. I find myself using them when I'm away and I can select a language I can understand rather than looking a tool when someone is asking if I want a bag the English way (they actually just shout louder in their own language).

Are they all great systems? No, they are not. But it gives choice - one which I'll happily take.

BG

[northwales4u]

- Someone has to stock them up with bags

Not over here in Wales, if you want a bag you have to gesticulate to the the self service till supervisor who will ask if you need bags and then charge you 5p per bag for the privilege of being able to carry your shopping from the shop to the car