Self Checkout Grocery Scanners - A Shoplifter’s Delight

This is probbaly where RFID comes in. Each item scanned could have its RFID chip neutralized, so when leaving the store the alarms do not go off.

That leaves the problem of at what point the chip would be neutralized, and that would seem to be another can of worms.

In my area, the WalMarts and Home Depots have been using this. There are people who seem to be watching each checkout aisle, so where the savings comes in I’m not sure. 1 watcher for 1 aisle = 1 checker for 1 aisle. There seems to be no net savings.

The safety measure is all about cross checking whats in your cart to the correct weight. If whats in you cart weighs more than it should you won’t be able to check out until someone checks your cart.

Thanks to you both for your comments. I am aware of self checkout. Lowe’s uses it where we live as well as Wally World. I have also seen the employees assigned to watch the scanning process and to listen for the beep.

Leaving RFID aside for one moment, if I placed my own barcode on a item that I produced on my computer and stuck it on a item covering the original bar code, the system would still beep, weigh the same, yet I would reap the savings.

I might just be playing the Devils Advocate here, but unfortunately there are those who are going to use any system for their own benefit.

Ron

It is pretty difficult to shoplift using the current self check out system, I have analyzed this myself. Whatever people do manage to shoplift won’t be costing the store too much, as they are already saving a lot from the lack of additional checkers. Technologies are already in the works though for the RDIF checkout, that will make it possible to just walk out the door with your purchases. Supposedly it scans everything you have on your person, and instantly bills your credit card. No shoplifting involved in that situation. A lot of businesses are already using RFID tags in their items, making it virtually impossible to walk out the door with unpaid items. I personally like the self checkouts, especially when I am in a hurry. A lot of the stores I shop at have them now, and it seems backwards when I am in a store without this option. I live in Seattle, not sure how popular it is yet in the rest of the country.

I’ve been using this self-checkout for years.

A big supermarket in my town was one of the test locations for this technology. Its had the machines since 2000.

At first it was kind of nifty. And yes, we bag our own stuff.

But what bothers me is that I’m dinked a service charge of $1.50 from my bank card each time I use a self-checkout machine.

I don’t see why I should have to pay a sum just so I can pay for my stuff. If I drop by for groceries once a week that adds up to $6 just so I can pay for my groceries. That’s a bit much!

For that reason, I give the self-checkout machines a pass now.

But money is not the only reason. I also prefer saying “hello” to a cashier, and exchanging a few pleasantries about the day.

In our area grocery store, where the self-checkout is for 15 items or less, you are required to put all the items on the platform where the bags are and are not to remove them until the transaction is complete. You can bag the items and slide them to the end of the table, but you cannot put them in your cart. Every item’s weight is calculated, so it knows the difference between a 2-liter of soda and a candy bar. If you do not put the item on the bagging platform (scale) after you scan it, the transaction will not continue and you won’t be able to scan any additional items until you either put the item back on the scale or the supervising cashier overrides it.

At Wal-Mart, it’s basically the same except there is an override on the screen that you can push to indicate that the item is in your cart and not on the bagging scale. Again, this raises a red flag with the supervising cashier and they must approve it before the transaction can be completed.

Hello ShadowMyth, Done Zone & CST,
Thanks to all of you for the excellent information. I appreciate your taking the time to comment and sharing your thoughts and experiences.
All the best, Ron