Im going to be trained on self checkout within the next couple weeks cause I asked my CSM if there was anything else I can do other than regular cashiering, and apperently the answer is self checkout.
I basically want to know how difficult it is, if its bad and kinda what to expect because I dont know much about how it is other than you direct customers to the machines and help them with issues they are having with them.
I also find it weird I wasnt trained there when I started when it seems like most new cashiers are nowadays
The new setup clears itself for almost everything. It almost runs itself.
Depending on how busy it is, it seems like it's completely boring, or absolutely frantic.
Does your store still have extreme couponers? They love SCO, which is a tremendous pain in the ass since it brings everything to a halt. Then you have all the other customers screaming at you.
Most of what you do is just clearing age restrictions, decapping bottles, and dealing with idiots. All day long you will scan VIP cards for customers, press "Pay Now", and press the card button for them. They are too dumb to do this and won't follow instructions, so you actually have to go up to their machine and do it for them while they try to argue with you. And produce. Every single customer struggles with produce. Cipolina onions are alphabetically before the other onions, so you will have to fix it every single time unless the machine scans a sticker on them. The elderly and foreigners are also entirely unable to operate the machines, which is a problem if you have large local populations of them nearby.
It's risky to learn new things. Simply learning it means that you might get stuck over there no matter how much you hate it.
Most of what you do is just clearing age restrictions, decapping bottles, and dealing with idiots. ... Every single customer struggles with produce. ... It's risky to learn new things. Simply learning it means that you might get stuck over there no matter how much you hate it.
All of this is very true.
Anonymous wrote:
Does your store still have extreme couponers? They love SCO, which is a tremendous pain in the ass since it brings everything to a halt. Then you have all the other customers screaming at you.
Doesn't have to bring *everything* to a halt. Here's how I deal with such a long task. If a customer on one Uscan has a big batch of coupons, or a large number of items that need to be price overrided, I multitask in the event another customer needs help on another Uscan. So let's say customer A has some coupons, and then customer B needs an ID check, and customer C has a security check, but oh wait, Customer D needs to pay cash on a Uscan that doesn't take cash. I scan a couple of customer A's coupons then tell them to wait a minute while I jump onto customer B and check their ID then hop onto customer C and clear their security check, then I tell customer D I'll be right with them after I help customer A. If another customer has a quickie problem, I rinse and repeat until I finish all of customer A's coupons and then I go to cashout customer D.
Anonymous wrote:
All day long you will scan VIP cards for customers, press "Pay Now", and press the card button for them. They are too dumb to do this and won't follow instructions, so you actually have to go up to their machine and do it for them while they try to argue with you.
You know it still amazes me how many customers continue to do this. They truly believe once they've swiped their card on the pinpad that everything is paid for. Proven time and time again by me finding an occasional customer walking away towards the door while their order is still on the screen and the pinpad just stays on "processing..." I see the same customers all the time doing it. Even some Kroger employees (mostly higher-ups) have done it, lol, store manager once did it. I actually gave up on explaining the "Card" button a long time ago as it is truly pointless. No arguments, I just pretend I'm hitting the screen to "make it process faster." Some customers actually do get what I'm doing and it clicks in their head that they didn't press the button. But the majority don't.
Anonymous wrote:
I also find it weird I wasnt trained there when I started when it seems like most new cashiers are nowadays
Yep, Kroger is desperate. The more skills they know you have, the more flexible you are to them. If one person who knows how to do one task is out sick and they know you can do it, guess what? lol. I've actually seen new cashiers, barely in a couple weeks, being trained to do Uscan and some the service desk.
I view the self checkout like a video game. Ya gotta be quick and efficient to dodge the enemy's minions while you work your way up to the final stage so you can defeat the final boss. I actually like the self checkout because I get to walk around and give myself my own tasks and I get to decide how and when I do those tasks. Unlike the slavery that is being behind the register, where you just stand there and do the same task over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over .... and over again. If it wasn't for the Uscan, I would have quit and found another job by now.
The new setup clears itself for almost everything. It almost runs itself.
Depending on how busy it is, it seems like it's completely boring, or absolutely frantic.
Does your store still have extreme couponers? They love SCO, which is a tremendous pain in the ass since it brings everything to a halt. Then you have all the other customers screaming at you.
Most of what you do is just clearing age restrictions, decapping bottles, and dealing with idiots. All day long you will scan VIP cards for customers, press "Pay Now", and press the card button for them. They are too dumb to do this and won't follow instructions, so you actually have to go up to their machine and do it for them while they try to argue with you. And produce. Every single customer struggles with produce. Cipolina onions are alphabetically before the other onions, so you will have to fix it every single time unless the machine scans a sticker on them. The elderly and foreigners are also entirely unable to operate the machines, which is a problem if you have large local populations of them nearby.
It's risky to learn new things. Simply learning it means that you might get stuck over there no matter how much you hate it.
We do have some extreme couponers but the ones here seem to love regular checkouts(unfortunately, they and other similar people seem to love me)
From what you said it does sound annoying but not as much as a regular register where sometimes people get impatient and push stuff at me or let me do stuff myself and micromanage literally everything Im doing. Ive actually wanted to try UScan for a while but it was my plan B if I couldnt switch departments.
Anonymous wrote: Ive actually wanted to try UScan for a while but it was my plan B if I couldnt switch departments.
Try it. You'll love it. I think it's the easiest job in the store. In my opinion.
I guess I'll find out lol, the shame is that I might like it and my CSM says I cant just do UScan so I'll keep getting stuck with the annoying regular lane crap.
All day long you will scan VIP cards for customers, press "Pay Now", and press the card button for them. They are too dumb to do this and won't follow instructions, so you actually have to go up to their machine and do it for them while they try to argue with you.
You know it still amazes me how many customers continue to do this. They truly believe once they've swiped their card on the pinpad that everything is paid for. Proven time and time again by me finding an occasional customer walking away towards the door while their order is still on the screen and the pinpad just stays on "processing..." I see the same customers all the time doing it. Even some Kroger employees (mostly higher-ups) have done it, lol, store manager once did it. I actually gave up on explaining the "Card" button a long time ago as it is truly pointless. No arguments, I just pretend I'm hitting the screen to "make it process faster." Some customers actually do get what I'm doing and it clicks in their head that they didn't press the button. But the majority don't.
I blame the software. It takes the card, PIN, all that, then shows "PROCESSING...". They either need to change the wording and/or add a prompt TO THE PINPAD, or better integrate the pinpad software with the SCO's so the SCO machine knows when a customer is paying with a card.
It's the most boring thing you'll do. All you do is ID people and help people with the machines. If you have a fun person working with you, it's alright. That doesn't happen much though. Good luck.
It's the most boring thing you'll do. All you do is ID people and help people with the machines. If you have a fun person working with you, it's alright. That doesn't happen much though. Good luck.
I could honestly take that. I just hate regular cashiering and bagging lmao
If you have the opportunity to learn SCO, then go for it!
The more you know, the more valuable you are, and the more likely you are to advance.
Overall SCO is a pretty easy job once you learn the system. Just make sure you interact with customers and keep the SCO Stations cleaned and stocked. If everything is running smoothly (which it usually does) you'll most likely be bored out of your mind. I spend most of my time cleaning and keeping an eye on customers... some need a little help while others are trying to slip unscanned items in their bag.
Some customers are so bold they don't scan half of their items and then try to walk out the door. To prevent this, offer to lift big/heavy items for each customer whenever possible and help them place their bags back into their cart. I've had thieves pair up with one trying to distract me while the other attempts to walk out with only half their items scanned.
You will need to be very aware of everyone and everything. Most potential theft can be averted by just making contact and actively engaging with your customers. Greet everyone and be ready to assist. Being friendly and helpful goes a long way. And did I mention cleaning?? There is nothing worse than checking out at a filthy SCO!
And did I mention cleaning?? There is nothing worse than checking out at a filthy SCO!
Yeah, please keep the Uscans clean. Our store's Uscans are so filthy cause nobody, except me, cleans them. Please don't be like the cashiers at our store who don't clean their Uscans.
Kroger has the absolute worst self checkout kiosks of any retail store, there are always lines backing up into the isles at the peak hours for this reason, if you want to be totally honest, the design, set up and software is insane, you have a small shelf that is way lower than the tiny scanning area, for what reason? then once you scan the item and place it in a bag, it expects you to lift it above shoulder level to a higher shelf that is not very big, and no hand scanner for large items, like 40 count waters, the software for a first time or even 2nd time user, is not easy to follow, I personally bypass my local Kroger and go to Publix or Walmart for this very reason, if the stores do not want to pay cashiers then at least have self checkouts that are designed to make it easy and quick not harder and take more time, Walmart has the best self checkouts, they are designed two ways, one is small for people with just a few items, the others have a conveyor belt with ample bagging area at the end for those shopping for a family, the software is very simplistic and extremely easy to use, the attendants there don't have to do much but keep the bags stocked and wipe off the scan screen occasionally. Kroger needs to get rid of the 1st version units they have and upgrade to a better system, the ones in my area have lost business because of this.
It's easy but you're dealing with a lot of people all at once. If you can handle assisting people crabbing about it you'll be fine. It's really easy. Hell children use it daily. I don't force any one who doesn't want it through it. Don't close or open or you'll get a lot of people b-it-ching at you.
