The self-checkout lane is a modern marvel of retail efficiency. It is also a place of great social tension. The unspoken rule is to be fast, efficient, and considerate of the people behind you. However, some shoppers seem to be completely unaware of this rule. They will engage in several annoying and time-wasting behaviors. These are the eight things that will make everyone else in the self-checkout line secretly hate you.
1. You Bring a Full, Overflowing Cart
The self-checkout lane is designed for a small or medium-sized order. It is not the place for your massive, weekly stock-up trip. When you bring an overflowing cart to the self-checkout, you are monopolizing a kiosk for an extended period. This holds up the entire line for the people who are just trying to buy a few items. It is a deeply inconsiderate move.
2. You Don’t Know How to Use the Machine
The self-checkout machine is not the best place to learn how to use it. If you are a first-time user, you should go to a traditional cashier. Fumbling with the scanner, the scale, and the payment system can be a slow and painful process. This forces the other shoppers to wait while you slowly figure things out.
3. You Don’t Know the Code for Your Produce
When you buy loose produce, you have to look up the price look-up (PLU) code on the screen. You should do this while the machine is processing your other items. If you wait until the very end of your transaction and then spend five minutes slowly searching for the code for your kale, you are holding up the entire line. You should learn the codes for your favorite items or write them down.
4. You Ask for a Price Check on Every Other Item
The self-checkout lane is not the place to dispute the price of an item. If you think an item is ringing up at the wrong price, you should step aside and let the person behind you go. You can then wait for the one employee who is managing the section to come and help you. Having a long and drawn-out conversation about a 50-cent price difference is a major breach of etiquette.
5. You Try to Pay with a Difficult Method
The self-checkout is designed for a quick and easy credit or debit card transaction. It is not the place to try and pay with a huge pile of loose change. It is also not the place to try and use a personal check or a complicated gift card. These difficult payment methods will often require the help of an employee, which again slows down the entire line.
6. You Have a Long and Loud Phone Conversation
The self-checkout lane is a public space. No one wants to hear your loud and personal phone conversation. Being on your phone is also a major distraction. It means you are not paying attention to what you are doing. This will make your transaction much slower than it needs to be, which is frustrating for everyone who is waiting behind you.
7. You Don’t Have Your Payment Ready
You have scanned and bagged all of your items. The machine has told you your final total. This is not the time to start digging through your purse to find your wallet. You should have your credit card or your payment app ready to go. Fumbling for your payment at the very last second is a classic and very annoying rookie mistake.
8. You Don’t Move Your Cart When You’re Done
After you have paid, your job is not over. You need to immediately move your cart and your bags away from the kiosk so the next person can begin their transaction. Standing at the kiosk while you slowly organize your bags or look at your receipt is a final and very frustrating bottleneck that shows a lack of awareness for the people around you.
The Social Contract of the Scanner
The self-checkout lane is a delicate social ecosystem. It relies on a shared, unspoken agreement to be as fast and as efficient as possible. By being a mindful, prepared, and considerate shopper, you can do your part to help the system work as it was intended. The goal is to get in, to get out, and not to make anyone else’s day a little bit worse. It is the simple social contract of the scanner.
What is your biggest pet peeve at the self-checkout? Are you guilty of any of these annoying habits? Let us know in the comments
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The post If You Do Any Of These 8 Things At The Self-Checkout, Everyone Secretly Hates You appeared first on Grocery Coupon Guide.
