Is This The End of Grocery Store Checkout Operators at Coles and The Other Big Supermarkets?

franco cozzo on 03/09/2022 - 07:41
Last edited 03/09/2022 - 07:52

Coles seems to be leading the way in the drive towards self checkout only with stores in Victoria trialling 100% self checkout stores (Braybrook) …other locations as well.
In Victoria Aldi are trialling stores with one register only and the remainder being self checkout. No doubt Woolies are considering similar options

I'm sure we all like the convenience of self checkout at times but this is going to have major negative impact on non-abled people of all descriptions, the elderly, non-english speakers, people unfamiliar with self checkout & technology etc.

Wait times are going to be ridiculous as people struggle to unpack a trolley of items, scan, pack into bags and then finally pay for the transaction.
Jobs and hours are going to be lost and at the end of the day we know the ultimate goal is driving down costs and raising profits.

Food & Grocery

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Comments

                    • Quantumcat on 06/09/2022 - 19:23

                      @franco cozzo:

                      means im actually going out into the real world and doing things rather than relying on my phone & delivery for everything

                      Going grocery shopping is not only activity that allows you to leave the house you know. Why don't you join a social club or sport of some kind?

                      • franco cozzo on 06/09/2022 - 19:40

                        @Quantumcat: why do you assume the only time i leave the house is to shop…? sounds like youre really time poor if making an hour to shop is this much of a big deal for you. for most people its not an issue

                        • Quantumcat on 06/09/2022 - 19:42

                          @franco cozzo:

                          means im actually going out into the real world and doing things rather than relying on my phone & delivery for everything

                          If you left for any other reason you wouldn't have said this

                          • franco cozzo on 06/09/2022 - 19:44

                            @Quantumcat: that just means im not dependent on 'convenience' and for someone to do all the 'hard work' for me…i leave the house all the time, sometimes even multiple times in one day!

                            • Quantumcat on 06/09/2022 - 20:40

                              @franco cozzo: Doing work you don't have to is not heroic, it's just a bad decision. Just like I said before. It is the same as telling people they should walk everywhere instead of driving because by driving you are taking the easy, convenient way out. Would you really walk two hours to work, when you could get there in 20 minutes by driving, leaving you with zero leisure time after work? Assuming you don't particularly love walking, you've chosen to give up watching TV, hanging out with a friend, or play with your kids because you think driving is being lazy. By choosing to shop in person each week you are actively choosing to do that instead of something else. You are not being an extra good person by doing that, you're simply choosing to give up part of your life, for no gain except that you think you are better than someone else, who does get to do something more fun or productive with their day.

          • Domingo on 04/09/2022 - 13:45
            +2

            @Quantumcat: I prefer picking my own fruit and veg, especially apples - much prefer them without bruises, not the closest ones that done personal super grabs. Or getting it from the grocer place that is in the same shopping complex as the supermarket - being able to see the options available at both and picking the better one has definitely increased the average quality of the fresh produce we buy

            • SlickMick on 04/09/2022 - 20:49

              @Domingo: Is that based on a bad experience? Because the stories I've heard say the online orders get the good fruit & vegies. I'm considering going that way coz I reckon they'd be better at picking good stuff, in that they do it everyday. (I suck at it.)

              • franco cozzo on 04/09/2022 - 21:12
                +4

                @SlickMick: theyll be picking the most ripe & end of life stuff to get rid of first to mitigate waste…pick your own fruit & veg if you want quality

            • Quantumcat on 06/09/2022 - 19:22

              @Domingo: You can do that in between online shops. Then you are only getting a basketful of items and can get in and out reasonably quickly, and don't have to try and force a full, heavy, uncooperative trolley through spaces it refuses to travel through straight. Let the employees bring you your boxes of soft drink, cans, jars, bags of potatoes, etc.

    • franco cozzo on 03/09/2022 - 12:36
      +2

      agreed….im over loyalty points and the never ending bloody promotions, giveaways, points to collect and crap in general

  • vikvance on 03/09/2022 - 12:44
    +6

    How can earth can anyone be upset about Aldi introducing self-checkouts ?

    Shopping at my local Aldi stores is a nightmare, with the endless queues, and some of the most surly checkout people in the whole of Australia.

    Self-checkouts would be vast improvement.

    • franco cozzo on 03/09/2022 - 12:45
      +3

      ive watched 2/3 of the staff at front registers disappear from my coles in the last 6 months
      they no longer work in the store….thats a good reason to be upset

      • Quantumcat on 03/09/2022 - 13:03

        That doesn't have anything to do with Aldi though

        • franco cozzo on 03/09/2022 - 13:13

          well taking away 90% of the checkout operators at aldi is hardly going to cut the queues down is it?

          • Quantumcat on 03/09/2022 - 13:18

            @franco cozzo: They only ever have one checkout open anyway, at least at my local one. A self checkout added would be a massive improvement

    • Zondor on 05/09/2022 - 08:48

      I've never had an issue with Aldi Queues in SA, Have always found it to be the most efficient.

    • dcash on 06/09/2022 - 08:31

      There's nothing worse than the look you get from Aldi checkout assistants if you don't manage to remove your items quickly enough after having them scanned. Woe betide anyone who still has an item sitting there when they start scanning the next customers items!

  • SuperMick on 03/09/2022 - 12:44
    +7

    Unless I have only one or two things to checkout, I always go to a manned checkout. I will change when I get the 5% staff discount.

    • franco cozzo on 03/09/2022 - 12:46
      +5

      exactly…imagine doing their job for them and being happy about it. good on you and im with you…i'll spend my money elsewhere, in fact i already am.

      • Domingo on 04/09/2022 - 13:47
        -1

        So you wouldn't ever go to a hotpot or stone grill restaurant then?

        • franco cozzo on 04/09/2022 - 14:10

          lol…what does a restaurant 'fad' have anything to do with this?

          • Domingo on 04/09/2022 - 14:56
            +2

            @franco cozzo: You cook the food yourself at the table. KBBQ too - I'm not sure if I'd describe restaurants that have been around 30-40 years as a fad

            • franco cozzo on 04/09/2022 - 15:10
              -1

              @Domingo: yeh ive been to a stone grill restaurant…it is definitely a fad and marketing technique nothing more

              • Savas on 04/09/2022 - 15:51

                @franco cozzo: At my local restaurant the stone grill costs more than the other meals.. there’s still like preparation and cleaning the stone.

                • franco cozzo on 04/09/2022 - 16:14
                  +1

                  @Savas: stone grill restaurants have nothing to do with the topic and it was a stupid analogy in the 1st place! im not even sure why its being discussed…

                  • Domingo on 04/09/2022 - 18:30

                    @franco cozzo: Because you agree with the claim that by using a self check-out machine you are entitled to a staff discount

                    • franco cozzo on 04/09/2022 - 18:34

                      @Domingo: theres this subtle thing we use on forums called 'humour'.

                      • Domingo on 04/09/2022 - 20:28

                        @franco cozzo: I'm so glad you've appointed yourself as general representative of everyone on this forum

        • Zondor on 05/09/2022 - 12:41

          Apples and Oranges

    • AustriaBargain on 03/09/2022 - 12:53
      +1

      What about the awkwardness of standing there while they scan all the stuff, making banal smalltalk.

      • franco cozzo on 03/09/2022 - 12:59
        +7

        hardly awkward….sounds like youre a little shy and cant small talk?

      • Savas on 04/09/2022 - 15:52
        +1

        How is buying food awkward? You need food to survive.

        • franco cozzo on 04/09/2022 - 16:23
          +2

          social media and other technology is the main social outlet for a lot of people these days? real world interactions become uncomfortable?

        • SlickMick on 04/09/2022 - 20:57
          +2

          It's awkward for me. No one has given me any training and I don't know what the rules are. How rude would I be to hand over by grubby bags and expect the checkout person to load them for me. Am I supposed to do the loading? How annoying would that be for them, waiting for slow me.
          I haven't been to an attended checkout since they stopped supplying free bags, and it's too late now, I'm supposed to already know the process.
          I'm the guy blocking the self service section with bags of groceries all over the floor trying to pass a trolley load of groceries through that tiny checkout.

    • spaceflight on 04/09/2022 - 16:01

      What if that discount is prices not increasing due to the lower wage expenses?

      • Cousin IT on 05/09/2022 - 00:27
        +2

        You can only wish, I'm sure you're never going to see a publicly listed buisness that size pass on those savings. Trickle down economics only works in theory, not in practice. The bean counters will see it as a win to prop up revenue and keep shareholders happy.

    • siresteelhell on 06/09/2022 - 05:26
      +1

      Yep, the prices are already inclusive of paying the staff for the check outs… it is just another sneaky way to wrangle more money out of us…..just the the shrinkflation on the packaging sizes…I almost shit myself the other day when I saw the difference in size of a Whittakers choc bar compared to the shrunken cadbury block…..same as the shopping bags that were costed into the price of items… now we pay

  • hasselbladsnapper on 03/09/2022 - 13:54
    +3

    Aldi checkouts are great, I fly through mine, and IF there are 4/5 other shoppers waiting, a second checkout out is started in seconds!. As for a shopper with 5/6 items I most often tell them to get in front of me while I unload my trolley, and they are gone most often before I am ready to checkout. Aldi's prices kill the others big time, and their quality of fruit & veg is often way ahead.

    • franco cozzo on 03/09/2022 - 13:58

      unfortunately looks like aldi is going the self checkout route as well…our local only has one operated register left and more stores to follow soon according to the aldi guy

  • brendanm on 03/09/2022 - 17:21
    +8

    You cannot do self checkout with a trolley full of groceries, it's ridiculous. They need to be opening more proper checkouts, not less.

    • franco cozzo on 03/09/2022 - 18:15
      +1

      this is what we need to show them with our wallets….its going to be a shitshow when they roll this out. i can honestly picture customers getting angry with each other over wait times and lack of staffing and the whole experience of shopping in person becoming more difficult & unpleasant….maybe that the point? drive everyone to online….

      • vinnychase on 03/09/2022 - 19:12
        +1

        by online u mean click & collect or delivery. I had a $500 DoorDash gift card and I used it on lots of Coles deliveries but the experience was very hit or miss. Items I know of to be available being marked out of stock. Orders being cancelled. Drivers being unable to find my house. Limited selection of items compared to instore. But if these issues were ironed out and deliveries became completely reliable then yes the convenience would be hard to pass. However it would be expensive. Doordash has been paying out close to 10-15 maybe 20 bucks to the drivers while I have been paying just a 10% service fee and a minimum cart of $30.

        • franco cozzo on 03/09/2022 - 19:25

          coles online is useless….never using it again after they cancelled items didnt offer replacements and were very rude when i went to collect. its a crap system that often fails in practice

          • vinnychase on 03/09/2022 - 19:54

            @franco cozzo: I haven't used Coles directly but I saw someone who had come to collect their order from the store and he had to wait a long time to finally get his stuff it while the sole attendant served all those cigarette customers and answered calls.

            • franco cozzo on 03/09/2022 - 20:48
              +1

              @vinnychase: i bought some beer and wine and purchased a certain amount to take advantage of flybuy offers & coles promo on at the time….they cancelled the beer so my order wouldnt meet the points requirements and told me they didnt have stock. after arguing for fifteen minutes with the manager i said fine, were done. i walked into the liquorland next door where they source the beer from and theres a stack of them right in front of me…ended up with a case for free.

        • jm7 on 03/09/2022 - 21:11
          +2

          Coles via DoorDash is so unreliable. The order I made had very little attention to detail - they gave me the wrong varieties of things (i.e different flavour, white instead of wholemeal bread, small loaf instead of large, branded items instead of Coles brand) and bruised all my fruit. Won't be ordering Coles through DoorDash again anytime soon

    • Leo Getz on 03/09/2022 - 22:15
      +1

      Agree!
      The self checkout area is not designed for a full trolley load to go through.
      See when a few ppl try and it's like a gridlock in there.
      Hate self checkouts and refuse to do a trolley load.
      If I am forced due to the time and no other checkouts open I will leave the trolley for them to unpack.
      And what is with the checkouts throwing groceries through like ALDI do.
      Are they waiting for you to pack the bag?
      Used to be scan the item, bag the item.
      Seems they cannot look at the pile of groceries and pack like for like items in the same bag.

  • r2160 on 04/09/2022 - 08:36
    +5

    I dont get paid to work there so wont use them
    The only people they benefit are the senior executive and there bonuses

  • 2esc on 04/09/2022 - 08:46
    +3

    I have personally avoided self checkouts but looks likevwe are going to be forced there. The problem with self checkouts is their all designed for a few items not trolley loads of groceries. I normally do big shops or am i now in the minority? I dont like going to the shops every couple of days.

    • franco cozzo on 04/09/2022 - 08:52

      we do one a week and i go early so its done in an hour & a half tops. rarely go for any top ups at all…maybe some bread, but thats it usually.
      im one of those old fashioned types that drives their vehicle to a shop and buys things (with cash!!!) and then brings them home…the horror!!!!

    • Yola on 04/09/2022 - 09:02

      My 2 local Coles stores now have self-checkouts that are as large as the manned ones. I don't mind using them as you can go at your speed and have time to figure out which Flybuys account I need to use and which GC.

    • Domingo on 04/09/2022 - 13:49

      That's what Coles are trying to cater for with this designs - much bigger self checkout bays where can park a troller or unload onto a conveyer belt and reload after scanning and checking out.

      I'm not saying I advocate them, but they do seem to be designed to cater better to customers with your habits

  • Waltervp on 04/09/2022 - 09:02
    +3

    I find shopping annoying. Do it on line and drivr past for the pick up and go. They chose better fruit and vegies than i do, i can easily sort products in price/unit, easily see all the 50% offs etc… and picking up is too easy. And saves a fair amount of time. Im not exactly disabled but i have a chronic health condition that makes me a bit scatty, so online is easier than wondering up and down the isles looking for stuff i cant find.

    • Yola on 04/09/2022 - 09:05
      +1

      My ideal is when I get 2 offers per week and do one online for the reasons you state but the second in-store to get the clearance items. But I prefer to get my fruit and veg instore as have had some bad ones from the online pickers,

    • franco cozzo on 04/09/2022 - 09:08

      makes perfect sense for you and im glad theres facility for it…just wish they wouldnt sacrifice instore customer service at the expense of online custom

  • doctordv8 on 04/09/2022 - 10:58

    I doubt(& hope) this will not be the end of CO Operators and as only a trial the discussion has already started; I am sure they… all grocery stores are watching the feedback.

    But, regardless of your or my preferences, it is their store and they will do as they will as they see fit, the same as all business owners do.

    I will still happily push my full trolley thru a self serve while it is an option available to me, as that is my preference.

    Plus while suppliers and manufacturers still offer the special price promos to Coles and therefor to me, while collecting Flybuys, I am even happier.

  • franco cozzo on 04/09/2022 - 11:04
    +1

    looks like theres some mainstream media on it…lets see what they say

    https://7news.com.au/lifestyle/food/controversy-as-coles-sup…
    https://au.news.yahoo.com/coles-shoppers-divided-over-huge-c…
    https://journalbreak.com/coles-supermarket-confirms-that-che…
    https://www.computerworld.com/article/3474482/coles-trials-h…
    https://www.hit.com.au/story/coles-to-make-self-serve-check-…
    https://chronicleslive.com/coles-supermarket-confirms-that-c…

    Twenty of the 800+ Coles stores across the country are trialling the service, which will see shoppers with trolleys sent to the staffed checkouts.

    Assisted checkouts are a preferred choice of checkout for many customers and offer convenience and efficiency in their shopping experience. To improve service to customers and ease congestion, in a small number of stores we are accepting baskets only through the assisted checkouts. Team members are available to serve customers with trolleys in the main lane registers, and if there is not one vacant the store can open a register to assist customers with their shopping.
    - Coles spokesperson

    A Coles spokesperson said the supermarket made the move in response to customer feedback.
    “After listening to customer feedback, we are providing Braybrook customers with additional checkout options to help them complete their shop more quickly and pack their bags the way they like,” the spokesperson told 7NEWS.com.au.
    “We have installed Hybrid Assisted Checkouts at Coles Braybrook which allow Team Members to serve customers as required. Team Members are always available throughout our service area to serve and assist shoppers with their preferred checkout of choice.”

    …oh great. theyll still be available to offer assistance while were doing their job for them!

  • saltypete on 04/09/2022 - 11:18
    +2

    Self checkout is too cramped for a trolley load. If the design was better we would use it all the time.
    Checkout operators make mistakes about 50% of the time.
    So careful checking of the docket needed before we drive off. So it’s no quicker, particularly if you then need to wait at the service desk to get it sorted.

    BTW click and collect system is a bit useless to us because if we buy items on special they accept the sale online, then there is no item available when they pick in store.
    And their pickers often give manky fruit and veg.
    There is ALWAYS some issue with it…..

    • Yola on 04/09/2022 - 12:11
      +1

      My 2 local Coles stores now have self-checkouts that are as large as the manned ones.

      • saltypete on 05/09/2022 - 09:29

        Thank you for that! I’ll start to hope.👍

  • payless69 on 04/09/2022 - 12:34

    I was trying to share my just been overseas experience on another thread but got downvoted out of existence!

    payless69 on 04/09/2022 - 12:34 (Collapsed - Offtopic. Show)
  • Seaeagles on 04/09/2022 - 12:52
    +1

    When I do go to a supermarket I never use the self serve check outs as I'm not an employee.
    But I do most my shopping online at Woolworths and have it delivered.
    Living in a unit complex I don't have to carry the bags upstairs, so much easier and I don't get caught out spending extra on buying junk I don't need.

  • Willy Beamish on 04/09/2022 - 13:01
    +1

    You answered your own question….

    No, there will always be checkout options available other than self serve because not everyone is capable of using the self serve checkout.

    /thread.

  • Dack Smith on 04/09/2022 - 13:26
    +1

    People prefer machinery to human contact?

  • markathome on 04/09/2022 - 13:34
    +1

    Anyone want to run odds on how long until we have an article where the big supermarkets complain about an increase in shoplifting/customers incorrectly specifying goods?

    Also up in the air is whether they will again have audacity to claim they have "no idea" how to prevent this?

    • DemocracyManifest on 04/09/2022 - 16:26
      +1

      Yeah lol, they basically outsource it to the police, who in most cases cannot be (profanity)

  • 2024 on 04/09/2022 - 16:49
    +1

    I’m all for it. These machines didn’t invent themselves. A talented team designed, built and support them every day.

    Those sorts of jobs literally did not exist before the machines’ introduction.

    Think of all the staff, that by retiring the machines, would have no work.

    Technology has a funny way of opening up opportunities for those with different needs. Take, for example, the wheelchair. In time, these machines are likely to become more and more inclusive.

    At the moment, yes, they’re not as fast as the best checkout operators out there, but like most things, they’ll improve over time.

    • franco cozzo on 04/09/2022 - 16:58
      -2

      rubbish…most normal people want good human based customer service not machines and further automation

      • 2024 on 04/09/2022 - 17:05
        +1

        Post:

        I'm sure we all like the convenience of self checkout

        Comment:

        rubbish…most normal people want good human based customer service not machines

        Please place your item in the bagging area

  • cktftw on 04/09/2022 - 17:09
    +2

    Couldnt be happier. I exclusively use self-checkout. Avoids human interaction.

    • franco cozzo on 04/09/2022 - 17:12
      -5

      better with machines huh? you a gamer by any chance? spend most of your time on social media?
      … just curious why youd rather avoid human contact??

      • [Deactivated] on 05/09/2022 - 20:05

        You have made 72 comments on this post (so far). Would you have entered this many conversations in real life?

        • franco cozzo on 06/09/2022 - 02:51
          -1

          op makes thread….op responds to posts in thread.
          …is this your first forum?

          • [Deactivated] on 06/09/2022 - 07:17

            @franco cozzo: I only ask you a similar question that you asked cktftw above.

            • franco cozzo on 06/09/2022 - 07:28
              -1

              @[Deactivated]: a forum is specifically a place for discussion. im hardly going to apologise for using it as intended.
              i created the thread to promote discussion on a very relevant subject considering the nature of the site.
              so…whats your beef exactly?

              • [Deactivated] on 06/09/2022 - 08:42

                @franco cozzo: Why are you reading something negative in my question? I don't have any beef with you

                Don't assume I am the one downvoting your comments.

  • Bullion78 on 04/09/2022 - 17:24
    +3

    I detest the colesworth bohemeth and do everything in my power to avoid them like the plague. Adopt the buy local mentality.

    • franco cozzo on 04/09/2022 - 17:29

      agreed…was talking about this before with the family. going to be doing just the bare minimum shop at colesworth from now on and start using aldi and smaller supermarket chains that are better on pricing and have larger range for the type of products we want rather than going for the convenience of some of everything in one place.
      have found a cool grocery outlet as well and thats been helpful in cutting down spends….will also be checking out the large poultry, seafood and meat outlets in our area soon as well

  • shangoz on 04/09/2022 - 17:25

    Due to the pandemic infection between human to human, all close contact business become riskier than total machine only, also wage rise and short of low income staffs all contribute towards machine only feeding humans, matter of time will see self make coffee everywhere too.

    • franco cozzo on 04/09/2022 - 17:30

      that sounds horrifying and dystopic.. i cant imagine a world where we are only served by machines

  • Bearlion on 04/09/2022 - 17:50

    I like to take a couple items for free as payment for my services.

    • franco cozzo on 04/09/2022 - 17:55

      coles staff discount is 5% apparently.

    • Herbse on 04/09/2022 - 18:16
      +1

      Then complain when shops increase prices to cover theives.

      • franco cozzo on 04/09/2022 - 18:45
        -4

        but theyre creating an environment where it is easier / more tempting for customers to steal. its almost like theyre daring us to…lol

      • Bearlion on 04/09/2022 - 20:29

        That's an excuse to price gauge, the real reason is reducing competition and being able to hike prices. Plenty of elasticity studies going on product to product.

  • burningrage on 04/09/2022 - 18:15
    +1

    Coles Burwood (Kmart) in Vic only had 1 attended staff checkout and the rest of the checkouts are either the self serve conveyor belt or the less than 3 items checkout plus the normal self check outs.

    I am not a fan of it but looks like based on the allocation of 3 item of less self serve checkouts and the normal self serve checkouts, they must have figured out a lot of people only buy 3 things or less

  • Herbse on 04/09/2022 - 18:16

    I'll be happy when I can scan the items into the app, pay and walk straight out without dealing with lines and dumb machines.

  • thor on 04/09/2022 - 18:22

    Wait for what's coming next! Just got back from England where some supermarkets have gone to self-scanning by customers! It works too!
    Scan each item as you load it directly into your open bags in your trolley, receiving an up-date as you go! When you finish your shop, simply walk out and load it into your car and drive home!!! Charging to your registered card is done automatically as you go, and yes they do have staff randomly physically checking that you have not been naughty and incorrectly loaded something that you haven't paid for!!!

    The future awaits :-)

    • franco cozzo on 04/09/2022 - 18:33

      mastercard is trialing stores with cashless & cardless transactions as well, utilising facial recognition technology. this is all too much too soon i think….

    • macfudge on 04/09/2022 - 20:35

      The future has been here for some time. Check out Woolies Scan&Go - sadly only at a few stores. Best thing ever. Wish they would roll it out at my new local store.

  • Vancomycin 1000mg on 04/09/2022 - 19:07
    +4

    Having worked for one of the big 2 for over 10 years. I encouraged everyone to stop or atleast reduce the money you spend on groceries there. Instead buy from your local independent stores, IGA, and worst case Aldi. Woolies and Coles should be your last options and only buy things on specials.

    Coles and Woolies will do anything to make money. I can say that in every store since 2012. Both of companies have slashed atleast 50% of working hours across the stores. And then customer wonder why quality of fresh fruits are crap or there is no stock on show. Its not employees fault but the managements.

    More recently, staff in departments that used to start at 5am to prepare for store openings were all forced to start at 7 or 8am or just before the store opens. They were forced to finish as the store closes. Meant that many of them had to clean up and close certain departments way to early. Customers arent able to walk in the Deli at 8pm and get whatever they want cos they are packed and put away. Pathetic and really stressful for staff. Many staff that i know used to come in early, would work for free because they were forced by management to get things done or else they would be replaced. To this day, my old collegues still do atleast 2 - 3 hours of work for free.

    SDA also screwed staff with their loopholes in the recent enterprise and now both companies are taking advantages and pretty much doing the poor workers sideways and backways without any lubes.

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