The Dos and Don’ts of Self-Checkout, According to an Expert Grocery Shopper
I’m not exactly sure when it happened, but self-checkout kiosks are now everywhere. The concept was first introduced to shoppers in 1986 at an Atlanta Kroger. Scanning my own groceries has transformed the way I pay for, bag, and exit the store. While opinions on self-checkout may vary, one thing is clear: Self-checkout is here to stay, which is why I’m here to help make the whole experience more enjoyable (and efficient).
As a groceries editor, I spend the majority of my workday (and a large chunk of my free time) talking, writing, and thinking about grocery stores — not to mention wandering the many aisles. I personally love self-checkout — especially when I’m looking for little-to-no human interaction. That’s why I’m here to share my favorite dos and don’ts to keep you (and your haul) moving smoothly.
1. Don’t bring a whole cart-full of groceries.
Although it has evolved over time to not be as rigid, my earliest interactions with self-checkout were the 15 item-or-fewer sections of the grocery store. Some stores still stay steadfast to this express-lane-style process, while others don’t have as clear of lines. That being said, the self-checkout section is tight and not conducive to large, filled-to-the-brim carts. While you don’t need to count the items in your cart to use the self-service kiosk, it is good practice for a cashier to ring up your big, once-a-month restock haul.
2. Do memorize the codes for your favorite fruits and vegetables.
Scanning produce is notoriously tricky, if not impossible. I personally buy a ton of fruit and vegetables and, in return, the bulk of my time at self-checkout is spent tediously typing in each item. The solution? Memorizing store codes for seamless checkout. I learned a hot tip from our Senior Groceries Editor, Mara, recently that revolutionized everything: The sticker codes on fruits and vegetables are typically standardized across grocery stores. So if you memorize the four- or five-digit code on your go-to produce items, it’ll make checkout a breeze. Here are a few to get you started.
Non-Organic Bananas: 4011
Non-Organic Blueberries: 4240
Non-Organic Cilantro: 4889
Organic Small Hass Avocado: 94046
3. Don’t forget your reusable bags.
More and more retailers are charging for disposable checkout bags, and some retailers (like Aldi) don’t offer any at all. To keep the process going smoothly and quickly (and save yourself some coins), make sure you’ve got your reusable bags with you. The times I have forgotten, I’ve had problems pulling out the paper bags on the small bagging surface area available at self-checkout; bringing my own just makes the process less hectic.
4. Do organize your basket in the order you bag your items.
Once you get to a point where you feel really comfortable with self-checkout, like me, all you want to do is optimize the experience to make it even more seamless. If you’ve had any experience checking out at a personal kiosk, you know that the area to bag (let alone hold) your items is limited. To make this process a bit easier for you, organize your shopping basket how you want to bag your items: Keep like items with like items (frozen together, pantry staples together) and delicates, like bread, eggs, and bananas, on top.
5. Don’t linger at the station.
Once you’ve completed your checkout, the light above the kiosk turns back on, which is how the store attendant knows it’s time to usher in another customer. While you may want to put away your wallet or sift through your bag for car keys, lingering in front of the kiosk can cause shopper confusion (more on that below) and hold up the entire process. After you grab your receipt, move to the side to sort out your belongings before heading out.
6. Do stay alert when you’re waiting in line.
More and more grocery stores have staff attendants directing shoppers to available self-checkout kiosks (Whole Foods, of note), so when you get in line you should pay attention so you know when it’s your time to walk up. This means eyes up, headphones out, and active listening! Please make sure you go to the numbered kiosk designated by the attendant, or else you risk messing up the order and holding up the experience for shoppers behind you.
7. Don’t forget to grab your receipt.
It may seem obvious, but it’s worth repeating. The receipt spits out below eye-level so you’d be surprised how often it gets overlooked by shoppers. Not only will you relieve the shopper after you from discarding it, but you can also check to make sure everything looks as it should and even earn rewards in money saving apps, like Fetch simply by uploading a photo of your receipt.
What are your self-checkout etiquette tips? Tell us about them in the comments below.
Further Reading
We Asked 3 Chefs to Name the Best Ice Cream, and They All Said the Same Thing
The “Beautiful” $3 Flower Tumblers at Walmart People Are Buying 2 at a Time
Reese’s Just Launched a Limited-Edition Peanut Butter Cup, and It Tastes 4x Better than the Original
