Self-scanners

[Paintbrush]

Does anyone use them?

Dh just did a quick run for me. We ran out of milk and I asked him to grab a couple other things with q's. He habitually uses self-scanners. He did the q's and let me know they automatically doubled. I hadn't thought of doing it that way, but wouldn't it give less hassle if you could self-scan in an order that didn't cause beeps, and then not have to argue with clerks over coupon policies?

What are your thoughts? Are they a boon or a bane?

[CW&M Mom]

I might use it if I only had a couple of coupons...but I wouldn't generally if I had a good stack to use. Cause those are still manned by someone and if they felt that someone was up...way more work would be involved in sorting it all out.

Normally when I shop I have a massive stack of coupons.

[CheapChicChick]

when I go in for a little thing or two I definitely use the self scanners bc I hate having to talk to cashiers but if I'm couponing...I'm super nice to them so that they aren't annoyed by my Q's haha

[Paintbrush]

I might use it if I only had a couple of coupons...but I wouldn't generally if I had a good stack to use. Cause those are still manned by someone and if they felt that someone was up...way more work would be involved in sorting it all out.

Normally when I shop I have a massive stack of coupons.

Have you ever encountered that problem of the self-scanner clerk suspecting something? (or has anyone else here?)

What about it would look suspicious? If you have several grocery items, it would make sense that you have several q's if you are a q-er. I think it would look funny if you had five items with 20 q's, but I'm really new at this so I really don't know.

I like the idea of having to run in there and grab things real quickly and use a handful of q's... not have to deal with clerks. But if I have a buggy full of groceries I always use a clerk even without q's.

[Paintbrush]

when I go in for a little thing or two I definitely use the self scanners bc I hate having to talk to cashiers but if I'm couponing...I'm super nice to them so that they aren't annoyed by my Q's haha

Almost always dh uses the self-scanner. I think it's because there is rarely a line there. But he almost never has many groceries to get. 3-4 bags is the most I see him come home with.

I'm not one to fiddle with the scanner unless I can do a quicker purchase. I wonder if it's a personality thing.

I don't mind talking to cashiers, but I don't like wondering if they are going to hassle me about my q's.

[amylynne01]

I always use it at Stop & Shop. Plus they have scan guns so you scan your groceries and bag as you shop and then load up your order using your store card at the register. Scan coupons, pay, and go! It is the best thing ever! The people who man the self check out at my S&S know me and that I'm not trying to pull anything over on them. I also am very deliberate when scanning coupons and putting them in the slot so there's no question about the coupon I scanned is the coupon that went in.

I heart self check out.

[BostonRed]

I always use it at Stop & Shop. Plus they have scan guns so you scan your groceries and bag as you shop and then load up your order using your store card at the register. Scan coupons, pay, and go! It is the best thing ever! The people who man the self check out at my S&S know me and that I'm not trying to pull anything over on them. I also am very deliberate when scanning coupons and putting them in the slot so there's no question about the coupon I scanned is the coupon that went in.

I heart self check out.

S&S is the only chain with SCOs around here that actually let you have a $0 balance without cashier intervention. As long as I have an "exact amount" or "double to make free" coupon, I use those. Otherwise, I seldom use them in the other stores because they (1) can't handle coupons for free items, (2) have a limit on the number of total coupons used or (3) require cashier intervention if the % off from coupons goes above a certain level.

The S&S ones do have trouble recognizing that you have inserted a coupon (I use the plastic pen that is attached to shake up the coupon slot, but that doesn't always work). One of the S&S stores won't let you enter your nickle bag credit at the SCO (though others will). And it seems there is always something that can go wrong at an SCO and there's no help for miles. Even if I'm trying to just get in and out, there's still a good chance I'll get stopped.

[amylynne01]

I do have issues with it recognizing the inserted coupon especially if the coupon thing is full. I don't have issues though with no help being around - the person manning the SCO is always right there. It's bad that you shop there so much that the SCO person scans in their card to get to the cashier screen and lets you scan your coupons so they won't beep lol.

[rbunnymom]

I will use the self scan with coupons without any hesitancy. Jewel only lets the employee do coupons at the self scan so there is a hassle (waiting for the person to come finish the checkout) but at Ultra Foods you can do it yourself.

[Kulis]

One of my stores (Giant of PA) now requires the attendant to scan coupons at the SCO. Apparently there was a bit too much fraud going on.

And it always seems to me that when I use SCO for one or two items because I'm in a hurry, there is invariably some kind of problem and I have to wait for an attendant anyway.