Michigan Radio & TV Buzzboard

In my latest shopping trip to Aldi, the store had only two lanes open and about six self checkouts which is fine. But one problem with the self checkout at this location is the self checkout was credit or debit card only, no cash. Now I usually feel guilty when I use the self checkout and that in my opinion, that it puts people out of work. I also feel that when I’m patronizing a business, I’m paying for a service, a Cashier and even someone to bag all my groceries. I do realize that we are living in an automated age, but we still need that human element. Another reason is I don’t care for the self checkout because a machine doesn’t pay into the payroll tax which affects Social Security. The Social Security Trust fund will be depleted by 2034 and if the politicians in D.C. do nothing to reform the program, all of the recipients of Social Security will no longer get 100% we will be lucky to get 77%. Medicare is going to run out of money by as early as 2029. So the question is when you patronize a business and it has self checkouts do you favor that or do you prefer to go to the lane where there is a live cashier? And what about Social Security, are you concerned about its future?

Based on the number of help wanted signs I see I wonder if part of the self checkout is a lack of employees wanting to work the job.
Alternatively I read about how razor thin the profit margins are in the business maybe there is some necessity to it.
Maybe a store with self checkout didn't get rid of people, rather moved them to other things like stocking shelves.

Self checkout is the way to go.

How old are you people? Most of life has moved toward automation.

For example, AI wrote this response.

During Covid, self checkouts at big box stores wouldn't take cash. I thought that was trash as I didn't want to use a card. So I had to wait in long lines instead at regular check lanes, just for a couple items.

TC Talks wrote: ↑

Sun Dec 10, 2023 11:06 am

How old are you people? Most of life has moved toward automation.

True but self checkout has nothing to do with automation. Except I suppose if you pay with cash. Then a machine takes your money and spits out change. Everything else is a customer doing exactly what a cashier and bagger do except draw a paycheck for the work.

I use self check wherever it is available. It is faster, easier to make sure the price is right and I can bag things the way I want usually with less bags involved.

zzand wrote: ↑

Sun Dec 10, 2023 4:46 pm

I use self check wherever it is available. It is faster, easier to make sure the price is right and I can bag things the way I want usually with less bags involved.

For me, if I'm not using Instacart, I like self checkout because I don't like to wait. Self checkout is faster by a mile. I haven't used cash for a long time.

TC Talks wrote: ↑

Sun Dec 10, 2023 11:06 am

How old are you people? Most of life has moved toward automation.

For example, AI wrote this response.

Oh oh I'll take the survey to improve the product...

Rate This wrote: ↑

Sun Dec 10, 2023 9:19 pm

TC Talks wrote: ↑

Sun Dec 10, 2023 11:06 am

How old are you people? Most of life has moved toward automation.

For example, AI wrote this response.

Oh oh I'll take the survey to improve the product...

Other AI results

First try
"How old are you all? The majority of life has transitioned towards automation."

Angry
"How old are you all? Life has practically shifted entirely to automation!"

Super kind
"How old are you all? Life has gracefully evolved, leaning heavily towards automation."

Aspberger
"How old are you all? Life seems to have shifted significantly towards automation, a fascinating transformation."

Mormon
"How old are you all? Life has embraced automation, weaving a tapestry of progress and adaptation."

Conservative Republican
"How old are you all? Witnessing the inexorable march of life towards automation, emphasizing the importance of traditional values and fiscal responsibility."

And... Donald Trump
"How old are you guys? Life's going automated, tremendous progress, just fantastic, folks!"

Not long ago, I was shopping at a Meijer. I was in there for not quite an hour. When I went to check out, the only lanes that were open were self checkout lanes. There was not a single one with someone at a register who could help you bag, give change intelligently, or other things that service people do. I just parked the full cart, and walked out. One hour of my valuable time wasted.

Self checkout leads to theft. Since a lot of posters here are at best wishy washy about Mosaic Law, and profess atheism, they prefer automation that makes theft easy. You also see how the "990 dollars stolen a day is OK" in California, along with lax new bail laws, just doesn't work. The pharmacy and fast food drive up pickup lanes model may soon be extended to convenience and other stores.

https://www.fox5dc.com/news/retailers-r ... ction-rise

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/one-in-thr ... oll-shows/

paul8539 wrote: ↑

Mon Dec 11, 2023 1:55 am

Not long ago, I was shopping at a Meijer. I was in there for not quite an hour. When I went to check out, the only lanes that were open were self checkout lanes. There was not a single one with someone at a register who could help you bag, give change intelligently, or other things that service people do. I just parked the full cart, and walked out. One hour of my valuable time wasted.

That is a dick move. You are an asshole. Somebody had to use their valuable time restocking your cart.
If having an actual cashier is that important to you then make note of it when you walk in the store which conveniently is right where the check stations are. If you don't see a live cashier station just walk back out.

paul8539 wrote: ↑

Mon Dec 11, 2023 1:55 am

Not long ago, I was shopping at a Meijer. I was in there for not quite an hour. When I went to check out, the only lanes that were open were self checkout lanes. There was not a single one with someone at a register who could help you bag, give change intelligently, or other things that service people do. I just parked the full cart, and walked out. One hour of my valuable time wasted.

“Look at what they made me decide to do!”

craig11152 wrote: ↑

Mon Dec 11, 2023 11:17 am

paul8539 wrote: ↑

Mon Dec 11, 2023 1:55 am

Not long ago, I was shopping at a Meijer. I was in there for not quite an hour. When I went to check out, the only lanes that were open were self checkout lanes. There was not a single one with someone at a register who could help you bag, give change intelligently, or other things that service people do. I just parked the full cart, and walked out. One hour of my valuable time wasted.

That is a dick move. You are an asshole. Somebody had to use their valuable time restocking your cart.
If having an actual cashier is that important to you then make note of it when you walk in the store which conveniently is right where the check stations are. If you don't see a live cashier station just walk back out.

Not only that, but I wonder how much food melted or spoiled before his abandoned cart was noticed and determined to be abandoned. Many times a grocery store will not restock that because they don't know how long it's been sitting, so it goes in the trash because of the ass who said who cares about the dead animal. I regularly see abandoned meat, fish, eggs, and milk in stores because of assholes like that, and that's the type of food spoilage that really pisses me off.