There are 17 replies in this Thread which was already clicked 263 times. The last Post () by SpaceNut.

A wee rant about self service checkouts.

    We shopped in the local Jumbo last Friday and the queue for the normal checkout was right around the whole shop. I estimated at least a half an hour's wait. So, we used the self-service checkout, which is not normal behaviour for us.


    We had about 45 items, totalling 19,000 pesos. The credit card went through normally, without a hitch.


    So straight out the door, did I hear?


    No, there was a girl checking everyone’s shopping item by item.


    What is the bloody point?


    If they are worried about robberies, install bloody cameras. Don’t make the customers wait after you have saved them time.


    Rant over…..

    Same happens in Sodimac. I scan the item through the auto service, take them to the cashier and she then does exactly the same. A complete waste of time.

    Nobody trusts anybody anymore.

    In Chile you will not likely see this at Jumbo or other supermarkets/food places but you do see it at Sodimac but it is a quick check.


    I suspect this is a question of economics. Once a country is a bit richer firstly you reduce the incentive to steal food and secondly the labour cost of checking everything becomes significant and thirdly people value their time more so resent the wait. At which point it makes more sense to not check.


    In choosing whether or not to have a check, in any country, they are probably doing what capitalism dictates is more or less profitable.

    Quote from Crossing the Andes

    In Chile you will not likely see this at Jumbo or other supermarkets/food places but you do see it at Sodimac but it is a quick check.


    I suspect this is a question of economics. Once a country is a bit richer firstly you reduce the incentive to steal food and secondly the labour cost of checking everything becomes significant and thirdly people value their time more so resent the wait. At which point it makes more sense to not check.


    In choosing whether or not to have a check, in any country, they are probably doing what capitalism dictates is more or less profitable.

    I'm amazed the unions allow it. I wonder if petrol stations in the capital have self service petrol stations? Here out in the sticks you still have to wait your turn to be served. If I'm being honest it's quite nice to have a petrol pump attendant serving you.....like the old days in the UK. They even offer to wash your windscreen. :thumbup:

    I choose my petrol stations very carefully because I don't like waiting around when there's only one or two attendants and a dozen cars, with each needing an engine check and God knows what else.

    At my regular Puma on Libertador just before Grl. Paz, I get served in less than a minute, the petrol is cheaper and the pretty girls are charming in their tight tops and spandex :)

    Quote from Splinter

    At my regular Puma on Libertador just before Grl. Paz, I get served in less than a minute, the petrol is cheaper and the pretty girls are charming in their tight tops and spandex :)

    Oh aye...we use YPF and although the staff are very good they don't have any sexy girls. Pretty sure there's a Puma on Ruta 5 on our way to the countryside......shall have to investigate. :saint:

    I can't ever see self-service kicking off in Argentina for many reasons.

    First, the companies would have to sack/indemnify forecourt workers, of which there are thousands and secondly, many unscrupulous customers would fill up and bugger off without paying. The lack of trust in anything in this country is simply staggering.

    By the way, here's a useful app for tracking prices at all petrol stations in Argentina, but you need to take it with a pinch of salt because prices change nearly every week.

    Precios en surtidor - Apps en Google Play
    Precios actualizados de los combustibles en las estaciones de todo el país.
    play.google.com

    People over here are known to walk out with items they haven’t paid for


    If it’s your first time, they’ll likely check to see if you’re being honest. Not saying you’re not, but a lot of people are not honest or not used to self checkouts. Even I’ve accidentally not scanned an item when I did it


    If you’re going to do it regularly, they will check you randomly either on a weekly to monthly basis

    Quote from SpaceNut

    If you’re going to do it regularly, they will check you randomly either on a weekly to monthly basis

    Which is rich considering. My missus rigorously checks every receipt she gets before leaving any supermarket. Last week in Dia she spotted she'd been charged three times for the same bag of tomatoes. And it's not the first time this same female has been pulled up by the missus.

    Quote from UK Man

    Which is rich considering. My missus rigorously checks every receipt she gets before leaving any supermarket. Last week in Dia she spotted she'd been charged three times for the same bag of tomatoes. And it's not the first time this same female has been pulled up by the missus.

    They'll do it regardless whether anyone is honest, not saying anything about your wife. So in reality, it isn't rich, just that some people are dishonest. This happens across the world, not just UK