Supermarkets discussion

[The exile]

I'm not scanning as you go is any quicker than scanning all at the end. From a time and motion approach I would expect the opposite

And it is certainly more frustrating for other shoppers as the person trying to get the item to scan is often blocking access to the goods on the shelves. At least when you’re in the checkout queue you’re expecting to wait.

 

[jon81uk]

And it is certainly more frustrating for other shoppers as the person trying to get the item to scan is often blocking access to the goods on the shelves. At least when you’re in the checkout queue you’re expecting to wait.

People standing trying to decide what to buy block things far more than the second it takes to scan an item and place it into the bag & trolley.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

People standing trying to decide what to buy block things far more than the second it takes to scan an item and place it into the bag & trolley.

Indeed. Very possibly a whole new level of 'dithering'??!

 

[BuhSnarf]

People standing trying to decide what to buy block things far more than the second it takes to scan an item and place it into the bag & trolley.

Or standing there having a 'catch up' with their neighbour / friend / mother / brother etc.

 

[jon0844]

And it is certainly more frustrating for other shoppers as the person trying to get the item to scan is often blocking access to the goods on the shelves. At least when you’re in the checkout queue you’re expecting to wait.

I step away when I've picked something and not really had an issue with scanning in ages, either using a handheld scanner or my phone. I think supermarkets are quite demanding on things like barcode placement (there are some products where they're on a fold or something, which is dumb) and some supermarkets will switch to QR codes in the future.

 

[PeterC]

I'm not sure scanning as you go is any quicker than scanning all at the end. From a time and motion approach I would expect the opposite

Each item needs to he picked up twice if you scan at the end. Once off the shelf and once out of the trolley. That assumes that you can repack straight into your bag. Most self scanning tills that I have used throw a wobbley when a bag is placed in the bagging area so you end up handling each item three times

 

[Djgr]

Each item needs to he picked up twice if you scan at the end. Once off the shelf and once out of the trolley. That assumes that you can repack straight into your bag. Most self scanning tills that I have used throw a wobbley when a bag is placed in the bagging area so you end up handling each item three times

Assuming the scan times are the same for each method

 

[Kite159]

Scan as you go also has the benefit of being able to see at a glance if the price shown on the label is actually what is being charged, as well as any promotions. It's easier to notice mistakes when you scan as you go rather than at the checkout. For example product X is shown as £2 on the shelf edge label but is scanning for £5 because the shelf edge label is for the smaller sized product which is out of stock and instead of having a gap one of the staff decided to fill the gap with the larger sized item.

 

[jon0844]

Scan as you go also has the benefit of being able to see at a glance if the price shown on the label is actually what is being charged, as well as any promotions. It's easier to notice mistakes when you scan as you go rather than at the checkout. For example product X is shown as £2 on the shelf edge label but is scanning for £5 because the shelf edge label is for the smaller sized product which is out of stock and instead of having a gap one of the staff decided to fill the gap with the larger sized item.

Waitrose is great in that it gives different sounds for promotional items and will give a further congratulatory tone if you complete the deal.

Seeing your running total is something that makes it worth doing as you go than at the end too. It also allows you to check items that may not be priced (increasingly due to short staffing, shelf edge price labels can be missing entirely).

 

[sprunt]

Seeing your running total is something that makes it worth doing as you go than at the end too.

Especially if you've got a "Spend £X and get £Y" off coupon - once you've got everything you were planning to buy it's nice and easy to see whether it's worth sticking however many more items in to get over the threshold.

 

[AM9]

Waitrose is great in that it gives different sounds for promotional items and will give a further congratulatory tone if you complete the deal.

Seeing your running total is something that makes it worth doing as you go than at the end too. It also allows you to check items that may not be priced (increasingly due to short staffing, shelf edge price labels can be missing entirely).

All of these conveniences are great, - and despite the frequent messages of bargains that one might not want to purchase, I really can't understand those who refuse to use a scanner saying that they might end up on some retail equivalent of a STASI register.

 

[GusB]

All of these conveniences are great, - and despite the frequent messages of bargains that one might not want to purchase, I really can't understand those who refuse to use a scanner saying that they might end up on some retail equivalent of a STASI register.

Perhaps some people are simply set in their ways and prefer to do things as they always have. Even though I hate the things, I will use a self service checkout if I have only a few items, but prefer to use a staffed checkout if I have a trolleyfull. It's not because I think I'll end up on some sort of register but because it's my personal preference. What's wrong with that and, more to the point, is my preferred way of shopping any of your business?

 

[AM9]

Perhaps some people are simply set in their ways and prefer to do things as they always have. Even though I hate the things, I will use a self service checkout if I have only a few items, but prefer to use a staffed checkout if I have a trolleyfull. It's not because I think I'll end up on some sort of register but because it's my personal preference. What's wrong with that and, more to the point, is my preferred way of shopping any of your business?

Not necessarily referring to you or anybody specific, but there have been many posts in threads on this subject voicing complaints that without subscribing to these schemes, they cannot benefit from any or some of the discounts. The choice is theirs, take it or leave it. Complaining about missing benefits is pure cakeism.

 

[Tetchytyke]

Complaining about missing benefits is pure cakeism.

How cakeist it is will depend on whether you believe the discounted price is actually a genuine discount or whether you believe the normal price is artificially inflated. The jury still seems to be out on which it is. It's probably a bit of both.

 

[Djgr]

Especially if you've got a "Spend £X and get £Y" off coupon - once you've got everything you were planning to buy it's nice and easy to see whether it's worth sticking however many more items in to get over the threshold.

I just do it in my head...to the nearest £.

 

[PeterC]

Assuming the scan times are the same for each method

In Waitrose the hand held scanners feel quicker to me but the difference is negligible compared with double handling at the checkout.

 

[jon81uk]

How cakeist it is will depend on whether you believe the discounted price is actually a genuine discount or whether you believe the normal price is artificially inflated. The jury still seems to be out on which it is. It's probably a bit of both.

The prices of some items have been inflated and discounted down at regular intervals for 30 years or longer, this isn't a new thing.
Yes its changed so you need a loyalty card to get access to the discounts now, but many items (especially branded) have been priced high and then on special offer every few months for decades.

 

[gg1]

I regularly use self-scan at Sainsbury's and I think I've paused to make decisions a few times but never actually noticed the handset do this. I did get adverts though, I think when I scanned milk a cheese advert came up.

I've never seen either ads or reminders when I haven't scanned for a while, at either Sainsburys or Tesco. Maybe it's a new thing they haven't introduced to all stores yet.

Two of my local Tescos have now got rid of the designated scan and go checkouts in favour of expanding the main self checkout area. Can't see any obvious reason why to be honest

If it's anything like my local Tesco, it's probably because a lot of people using self scan routinely ignore the dedicated checkouts and use the regular self checkout area instead. May as well make them all dual purpose when that's the case.

 

[AM9]

How cakeist it is will depend on whether you believe the discounted price is actually a genuine discount or whether you believe the normal price is artificially inflated. The jury still seems to be out on which it is. It's probably a bit of both.

No, it cakeist complaining about not getting a discount when it is available for the price (in personal data terms) that those benefitting are quite happy to offer. So Waitrose (mainly), Sainsbury and Tesco (less frequently) know what I buy, where I buy it and when I buy it. So what?

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 9 Jun 2026 ==

The prices of some items have been inflated and discounted down at regular intervals for 30 years or longer, this isn't a new thing.
Yes its changed so you need a loyalty card to get access to the discounts now, but many items (especially branded) have been priced high and then on special offer every few months for decades.

Yup. At Waitrose, I buy my regular cheese (Davidstow Vintage) in a 3 week period that occurs every 9 weeks. I keep it in the fridge as it is post dated about 2½-3 months ahead and save 20% in the bargain. Similarly Anchor spreadable butter 750g is 20% off for 3 weeks, then 400g 20% off for 3 weeks and by the end of that there's enough in the fridge and freezer to get through the next 3 weeks before the next cycle begins. Pizza Express pizzas are reduced to half price regularly.
The above offers are available to any customer but I also get personalised vouchers for some regular buys, and there's the free coffee.
Today I needed some more Pro-enzyme Q10 capsules which I get from Tesco. £13.50 per 60 tub, with a 3 for2 offer for Clubcard holders. That's 33% discount for letting Tesco know what I buy from them!

 

[Russel]

Scan as you go also has the benefit of being able to see at a glance if the price shown on the label is actually what is being charged, as well as any promotions. It's easier to notice mistakes when you scan as you go rather than at the checkout. For example product X is shown as £2 on the shelf edge label but is scanning for £5 because the shelf edge label is for the smaller sized product which is out of stock and instead of having a gap one of the staff decided to fill the gap with the larger sized item.

I wish Morrisons would introduce scan as you shop for this very reason, they are awful for prices not matching.

 

[Hadders]

I don't get why they are not forcing suppliers to put rfids on each item and all you need to do is push the trolley and yourself through an arch to scan your items.

RFID isn’t cheap enough (yet) for high volume, low margin products. It probably will be in future but not yet. It’s starting to be used in supermarkets for clothing, General Merchandising and to help control stock levels on some In store bakery items (but by tagging outer cases, not individual items)

Also, RFID doesn’t prevent theft but done properly it will improve inventory accuracy and on shelf availability.

Sainsbury’s locals don’t have the smart shop handsets so you scan and pay for everything with your phone. I’d been out for the evening and went in a branch to get some chocolate and a drink to snack on on the way home. Saw the “start shop” qr code as I entered and was right in front of the security guard when I scanned it. Picked and scanned my items, went back to the front of the shop and again, was in view of security when I clicked pay on my phone so he could see what I was doing. Went to leave and he stopped me and insisted on checking my phone for the receipt. When you pay it tells you to scan the qr code again, but as long as the payment successful message has appeared, the shop is completed and it doesn’t actually matter whether you scan the qr code again before leaving or not.

The security guard should not have done that.

Last time I tried this I got a rescan. The problem was nobody in the Local knew how to do it so I had to abandon the app and use a self checkout (forgoing my nectar price offers, which is why I used it in the first place). Because the rescan wasn't completed, it seems to have left a black mark on my account which means more frequent checks.

That’s very poor from the staff and it goes down as an avoided rescan more rescans in future, at least for a period of time.

It all seems like all the supermarkets are desperately changing things around with self scanning as they know it's costing them loads in losses

Stock loss has increased with self scanning but the losses are more than outweighed by the labour savings, especially when you consider the inflation busting increases in the minimum wage, increases in NI, pension contributions and apprenticeship levy that has all happened over the last 10 or so years.

And it is certainly more frustrating for other shoppers as the person trying to get the item to scan is often blocking access to the goods on the shelves. At least when you’re in the checkout queue you’re expecting to wait.

You don’t stand at the shelf scanning your items, you scan them as your walking to the next item!

One of the main advantages of using a smartshop is the ability to pack your bags as you move around the store. This is a game changer and saves so much time.

Sainsbury’s are trialling pay on handset in some supermarkets, similar to the pay in app facility in their Local stores.

I wish Morrisons would introduce scan as you shop for this very reason, they are awful for prices not matching.

I was told by someone I know who works for Morrison’s that smartshop handsets aren’t right for their demographic. No wonder they’re struggling given the extra cost of more staffed checkouts.

Tesco and Sainsbury’s have really led the way in moving their front of store operations to a self serve model over the last 10 years.

 

[Freightmaster]

Tesco and Sainsbury’s have really led the way in moving their front of store operations to a self serve model over the last 10 years.

You say that like it's a good thing!

 

[Buzby]

You say that like it's a good thing!

For those of us that use it - it is a game-changer! Whilst no luddite, it has practically halved my shopping time, packing as I shop with no need to load a conveyor and pack in deperation to speed the queue, my price reductions come off and my points go on. I'm barely in the car park before my points are added. I now shop there in preference, as I take in a folding crate, pack as I go round and lift it directly into the car. Magic!

 

[Hadders]

You say that like it's a good thing!

Better for our supermarkets to be efficient, profitable, well run organisations.

 

[Russel]

I was told by someone I know who works for Morrison’s that smartshop handsets aren’t right for their demographic. No wonder they’re struggling given the extra cost of more staffed checkouts.

More likely that Morrisons just don't' want to spend the money on it, most of their stores are being run into the ground.

 

[SuspectUsual]

More likely that Morrisons just don't' want to spend the money on it, most of their stores are being run into the ground.

I was told by someone I know who works for Morrison’s that smartshop handsets aren’t right for their demographic. No wonder they’re struggling given the extra cost of more staffed checkouts.

This week Morrisons have announced they're going to trial some sort of AI-fitted trolleys that include a set of scales so customers can do literally everything on the fly. It seems an expensive way of achieving not very much more than conventional scan and go offers, but what do I know? As I was once told by a consultant from Deloitte, "you're just a trucks and pallets man"

 

[Hadders]

This week Morrisons have announced they're going to trial some sort of AI-fitted trolleys that include a set of scales so customers can do literally everything on the fly. It seems an expensive way of achieving not very much more than conventional scan and go offers, but what do I know? As I was once told by a consultant from Deloitte, "you're just a trucks and pallets man"

Sounds like this is some sort of trial being paid for by a supplier at little or no cost to Morrisons.

Supermarkets don't really need cutting edge technology but they don't want bleeding edge either. What they need is reliable stuff that is solid and does the job.

Ironically, when it comes to self scan handsets, Safeway introduced them 25 years ago but they were removed because the commercial proposition didn't add up then, and customers probably weren't ready for the tech either. Safeway was acquired by Morrisons in 2004....

 

[Sonic1234]

Safeway was acquired by Morrisons in 2004....

Who undid a lot of the progress in IT that Safeway had made

 

[Bald Rick]

You say that like it's a good thing!

For those of us that use it - it is a game-changer! Whilst no luddite, it has practically halved my shopping time, packing as I shop with no need to load a conveyor and pack in deperation to speed the queue, my price reductions come off and my points go on. I'm barely in the car park before my points are added. I now shop there in preference, as I take in a folding crate, pack as I go round and lift it directly into the car. Magic!

Same, it is a great thing. No waiting for a till. No waiting for the person in front to argue about an item cost, or decide that, actually, they wanted the Nescafe gold becasue its on offer, they misread the label, sorry, “I’ll just go and get it”. No waiting behind people while they find their purse in their bag, then look for the right card, then stick it in the machine for £20 (CONTACTLESS!!!!). Or waiting behind someone who is paying in cash that they won at the penny arcade. No unloading trolley and then packing bags. No bits falling off the belt. No people who have no idea how to load a belt effectively. No fiddling about with vouchers. No painful rueing as till operator scans each of the thing you have bought 10 of, individually.

It’s given me 20 mins back every Saturday, AND my shopping is cheaper as offers are presented to me, rather than me having to hunt them out (and inevitably miss many).

 

[GusB]

Sounds like this is some sort of trial being paid for by a supplier at little or no cost to Morrisons.

Supermarkets don't really need cutting edge technology but they don't want bleeding edge either. What they need is reliable stuff that is solid and does the job.

Ironically, when it comes to self scan handsets, Safeway introduced them 25 years ago but they were removed because the commercial proposition didn't add up then, and customers probably weren't ready for the tech either. Safeway was acquired by Morrisons in 2004....

It was more like 30 years ago (I'm not feeling old, honest!)

Did Safeway remove Shop'n'Go before the acquisition by Morrisons, or was it Morrisons that scrapped it? The first store I worked in had it installed as part of a refit, but I'd moved on to a smaller store by then. I only ever used it once for the novelty factor and was re-scanned (as expected) and never really had the need to use it again.