http://techsociotech.disqus.com/enSat, 06 Jun 2009 15:56:44 -0000http://www.techsociotech.com/2009/06/steak-holding-stakeholders.html#comment-10569284<p>I still think you should weigh at the end of shopping when using the handheld.</p><p>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.</p>FJ!!Sat, 06 Jun 2009 15:56:44 -0000http://www.techsociotech.com/2009/06/steak-holding-stakeholders.html#comment-10568830<p>Uhm... what US self-checkouts were fast?</p><p>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.</p><p>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.</p><p>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.</p><p>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.</p><p>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.</p><p>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.</p>JeredSat, 06 Jun 2009 15:33:22 -0000