Person Exposes 22 Sinister Supermarket Tactics They Use Everyday That You Might Not Know About

Then why are my Cocoa Puffs always on floor level?

I use it because I don't want to interact with anyone and do any small talk. Also, most lines with a cashier are long and/or customers have full carts, and not many people in line for the self-checkout, so the self-checkout process is often quicker since you're not waiting on others to finish.

I just have fun using these haha

Self checkout is faster here because a) they only staff like one regular checkout 2) they have one queue for multiple self checkouts whereas each regular checkout has its own queue so the average speed goes down

I love self checkout. While the customer may actually scan slower than a cashier, its still quicker over all because theres usually one line going to four or more registers instead of one register per line. Plus most self checkouts are 12 items or less like an express lane.

I call b******t

It doesn't HAVE to be slower than going through the checkout but every time I'm waiting for it the people in front of me are spending several minutes staring stupidly at their products and the screen like they've never seen either one before in their damned lives. Holy crap are people such incredible dumbasses. It's worse than watching people drive cars.

I like self check out because there's less people and I can do it faster then a talkative cashier

I prefer self checkout because then I can pack in my time and dont have to rush. Also I dont like to interact with people. Even if it takes longer, it is much less stressful for me.

I do not believe anyone has the illusion that self checkout is quicker. But if I only have a few items, it's fine. If I have a full cart, I'd go to the cashier.

At the price I pay for groceries these days, I'll be damned if I'm going to scan and bag them too. They can keep their self-checkouts.

B******t, come here and stand in that line with all carts fully loaded... No no i just use self-checkout, and am way quicker.

I prefer to use it for only a couple-three things. I don't enjoy standing behind full carts of stuff when I only came in for a bottle of aspirin. I zip over to the self-checkout and am done within a minute, and out the door while the towering cart of groceries isn't even even half empty.

I came to like using self-checkout, but usually because I had only a few things when others in line had a huge purchase. So, it was great to get in and out faster. The Walmart near me had gone to all self-checkout, and oh merciful heavens, it was so awful. They ended up putting some cashiers back. I prefer going to cashiers now, and it's someone to talk to, especially after this two-year pandemic isolation.

Who doesn’t like self check out? You scan the groceries with your phone while shopping. Then swipe “pay” - scan exit code and exit.

Depends on the length/number of lines and how many items I have. And how much time. All bets are off if I have alcohol of any strengh....

I prefer cashier checkout, first it gives people a job and second the grocery company doesn't reduce prices for checkout....so why should I do the work so the company saves money?

...yeah, they're really manipulating me here...

I have a strong suspicion this statistic varies by location. The checkout lanes in the southern U.S. are sooooo slow, because you're expected to have a full conversation with the checkers while they ring you up. #introvertnightmare

I do self serve if I only have a basket load, regular if I have a trolley. What takes the time is bagging the items.

Long lines at the lone cashier & short or similar lines at the 6 self check stations. No brainer, the slow option is faster. Check the situation and choose accordingly.

I prefer them, I'm not good with counting money (I'm a bit dyscalculic and also anxious that people behind me are judging me and being annoyed by me taking so long lmao) /social interaction etc. It's easier for me to use a self scan if I've not got too many items.

depends... we have self-c/o that you scan your items as you take them from the shelves, so truly, you just scan one barcode, and pay, you dont have to put out everything...

you can fit more checkout spots in same area tho

I use the self scanner so I spend as little time as possible at the checkout. Just bag everything as I go along

It's slower because the machines can't work out when the item is one the scale or not on the scale, and then it doesn't recognize the bar codes and then it has a mad panic for no reason and you have to wait for an employee to come over and enter some code to carry on scanning.

I'll wait in line. Where I live there isn't really much small talk, especially with the plexiglass dividers. We're kind of "expected" to help pack the groceries. My view is, I don't work there. We won't get any lower prices. The family who owns almost all grocery stores in the entire country are too GD greedy to either lower prices, or pay their employees a good salary. They're busy putting their billions in off shore accounts to avoid paying taxes to the country that has made them that rich. All on the backs of poorer and middle class.

Self check out slower speed isn't letting people in more time too ?

I am very grateful for self checkouts, because if I'm having a low energy day, or the only cashier is one I know is the chatty kind, I'd rather check myself out than have to put on my social face.

as a former cashier, i'm pretty quick at using self checkout for a handful of items. a cart full, sure i'll use the cashier line (which is usually backed up).

Self-checkouts eliminate jobs. I won't use them.

I refuse to go to the self check out! I might be tempted IF they gave me a discount. I might be tempted IF they also had a counter big enough to bag your purchases on, But it is nice to chat with the Checkout operator. We get to know them.

When the store starts paying me to do the work, I'll use the self checkout. All they have to do is give me a discount for using it.

I always go through a line with a checker. It's their job to bag my purchases. I don't use the self-check out since it's their job.

I don't use self-checkout because I don't work for the store.

The Store doesn't pay me so I'm not going to work for them. Cashiers need a living wage also. so nope never going to use self check out.

My market has a checkout app. I open up my bags in the cart, scan items with my phone, bag them immediately, and touch "checkout" when I'm done. My total is debited from my bank account and I waltz out of the store without having had to stand in a line or unload my cart. (Prior to DL'ing the app, I always used the self-checkout. I prefer bagging my own groceries.)

I will not use them, they are stealing a persons job and the area is too small to put the items

Also products aimed at kids like candies or any goods with colorful toy freebies are placed at kid's eye level

This is NOT true. My local supermarkets typically have massive signs for Flour, Sugar etc to help you find them. What is true is that these items are well inside the supermarket making you walk past other items that you might be tempted by.

Actually, fruit and veg are in the beginning so you feel like your already got some healthy stuff in your basket and not feel bad to put some less healthy stuff in it too.

Our supermarkets do not change every few months.

I thought it was at the back to draw customers deeper into the shop?

After the self checkout machine thanks me for shopping there I always say, " Thank you robot checkout lady".

Lidl has these smaller carts. They are maybe half as big. I love them. Mostly because I am a small person and I feel dwarfed by the bigger ones.

Not at all. Grocery stores are food storage places. It's for energy efficiency and product protection. Windows let out heat, greatly affecting temperature control, which 100% of supermarkets need to track. Products not sold fast enough fade or rot in sunlight. Windows also limit space and layouts. Windows would help customers but they're bad for the actual business. There's studies that explain it.

One research says it does, another says it does not. It's probably just a side effect. Actually, everything fresh (fruits, meat, fish, bakery) are together. Often they are also the most staffed, and visible. It's just more pleasing than aisles full of inert goods and skittish clerks. Moreso, fruits and veggies are the ones that require the least backstore equipment (oven, grinder, fridge) which is why the other fresh are more often against the back wall..

the local Stop & Shop (big grocery chain in the New York/tri-state area) has the deli counter on one side of the store (along with the bakery department), but the packaged bread aisle (where most people here get their sandwich bread) is literally the complete opposite side of the store. The condiment aisle is somewhere in the middle (not near either the deli, or the bread). So this one I can confirm from experience.