Almost everywhere that has them (Shaw's, Home Depot) has the utterly shit-tastic NCR Windows-based registers that have all the flaws you described. 5 second delays, default Windows "bing" that slows it down further, "please place item in bagging area" then "please remove unexpected item" -- despite being a fastidiously honest person I have actually walked out without paying for items when the checkout decides it won't let me pay for it.
Costco recently rolled out some that are similar in design but much less defective -- they have a detachable scanner for heavy items, the scale is integrated into a fenced-in conveyor, and they seem snappier overall.
The only really honestly good ones I've encountered, however, were in the UK more than 10 years ago -- I thought at Tesco, but I guess not. Stop and Shop has been using them in the US. The design is genius.
When you walk in, you swipe your card and get a hand-held scanner. As you shop you scan things and put them in your reusable bags. When you go to check out, you dock the scanner and pay -- no delays. They do spot checks to make sure you're being honest.
Not only does this design make everything painless, but it also allows the vendor to give you annoying promotions while you're shopping, a la Amazon. ("I see you've purchased product X. How about 10% off complementary product Y?") It's a win for everyone.
I don't understand why grocery stores continue down the path of the fundamentally flawed self-checkout scanner lane, but it drives me into a rage every few weeks when something won't work right. One of these days I am going to put my boot through the machine at Shaws.
FJ!!
· 6 months ago
I still think you should weigh at the end of shopping when using the handheld.
Actually the one's at Ralph's market in Downtown LA were fast and never gave me any problems. I think supermakrets insist on them to cut down on personnel costs. Because as annoying as they are, we still end up back behind them.
All Comments
Almost everywhere that has them (Shaw's, Home Depot) has the utterly shit-tastic NCR Windows-based registers that have all the flaws you described. 5 second delays, default Windows "bing" that slows it down further, "please place item in bagging area" then "please remove unexpected item" -- despite being a fastidiously honest person I have actually walked out without paying for items when the checkout decides it won't let me pay for it.
Costco recently rolled out some that are similar in design but much less defective -- they have a detachable scanner for heavy items, the scale is integrated into a fenced-in conveyor, and they seem snappier overall.
The only really honestly good ones I've encountered, however, were in the UK more than 10 years ago -- I thought at Tesco, but I guess not. Stop and Shop has been using them in the US. The design is genius.
When you walk in, you swipe your card and get a hand-held scanner. As you shop you scan things and put them in your reusable bags. When you go to check out, you dock the scanner and pay -- no delays. They do spot checks to make sure you're being honest.
Not only does this design make everything painless, but it also allows the vendor to give you annoying promotions while you're shopping, a la Amazon. ("I see you've purchased product X. How about 10% off complementary product Y?") It's a win for everyone.
I don't understand why grocery stores continue down the path of the fundamentally flawed self-checkout scanner lane, but it drives me into a rage every few weeks when something won't work right. One of these days I am going to put my boot through the machine at Shaws.
Actually the one's at Ralph's market in Downtown LA were fast and never gave me any problems. I think supermakrets insist on them to cut down on personnel costs. Because as annoying as they are, we still end up back behind them.