Scan and shop

[EveryonesMom]

Has anyone heard this phenomenon that Stop & Shop just initiated in some of its supermarkets? They have eliminated checkout as we know it. You are given a scanner before you shop. As you put items in your cart, you scan them. Then, by the time you get to the check out, all you have to do is pay.

I am having trouble digesting that this is possible. Has anyone shopped like this yet? Apart from checking out, I love to grocery shop, so this new technology tickles me! I can't wait to try it out!

[alikat316]

I have seen it at our stop an shop but have not tried it yet. I am very concerned of this---how are they going to control shoplifting--for example you scan 1 thing but put 2 in your cart. I am just nervous people will do that, with the current economy, which will ruin it for everyone with higher prices or stricter rules at the store. Do you know how the whole system works??

[2sillybugs]

My Giant Eagle has this technology. I haven't tried it out yet. It seems to be very popular because about half of the shoppers in the store are doing it. My concern was using my coupons when I'm finished. I guess I need to investigate it further.

[bobatly]

Our S&S was one of the first experimental stores so we've had it for several years now. I've never used it - I shop primarily at Shaws. But last time I was there, I asked how it worked with coupons and the checker said that you just had him the coupons at the register like usual.
My kids are dying to try it but since I always have two kidlets, a giant coupon notebook and a fist-full of coupons, I just don't have the time to stop to learn how it works.

[vworonec]

I dragged my fiance to the store a few weekends back and he was like "If I have to grocery shop we are using this thing!". So he scanned and I bagged (you bag as you go), and then when you check out you just hand the scanner to the cashier and your store card and it "rings up" on the screen. Then they take all your coupons off the price like normal. The only thing I had a question about was as you scan "free coupons" pop up on the screen, like $.50 off Lays chips, I don't know if they consider that a mq or a store q. But it was easy enough. One tricky part is if you scan something and then decide to get a different brand for example, you can't delete. You have to have the cashier take it off at the register which could be tricky to remember if you have kids or are in a rush ect. All in all it kept my fiance happy and he complained much less than I expected so I think it was a win-win!

[Mr. Mom]

[QUOTE=vworonec;105659]One tricky part is if you scan something and then decide to get a different brand for example, you can't delete. You have to have the cashier take it off at the register ,...QUOTE]

Actually, you CAN delete items right on the spot. The middle button will display "remove" above it. You hit that and then scan the item that you want to put back on the shelf.

Our two local S&S have these hand held scanners and I LOVE them. It's great to make sure your items are being rung up correctly on sale as you go and to use as a price checker. Going to the other local stores and checking out the old fashion way is painful after you get used to the hand held scanners.

The only downside is how this might go as the system grows. The bagging-as-you-go isn't bad per say, but as more and more people start using the scanners the aisles of S&S are going to get unbearably congested with slow people lingering and fiddling even more than they already do. We'll see.

[queenoftherv@yahoo.com]

Doesn't this elimate more cashier's jobs? I refuse to use self check out because I was a cashier raising my kids, and I wouldn't have wanted to loose my paycheck because of a computer cashier. So I think about those cashiers raising their kids now. Just expressing my opinion!

[janetlr1974]

I do it all the time at Giant Food. I love it. Give me extra discounts on items. It takes inventory of what you buy and then the next time you come in it might give you .50 or 1.00 off that item, and you can use coupons with it. When you get to the register the cashier has a special barcode she scans to let the register know a self scan is checking out and then scans your card and it randomly does a bag check. You can remove products that you don't want. I have had one issue with salad that the scanner said it would give me a $1 off but when I scanned it in it rang up the regular price. So I had to take it to the checker. But I really really really like it. It does make your trip slow. I thought I used to be slow but goodness I'm even slower now. But it's well worth it. The first time I used it I bought a oven ready roaster $ 4.99, scanned it and about two minutes later the thing went cha'ching and bam BOGO free roaster. It was a huge chicken. I got four that day. So I did really well.

[gatherer]

I used it for the first time today and I liked it. I don't do a full cart of groceries at S&S so it's not so cumbersome to bag as I go. And I liked being able to check the price so easily. Also, there were "coupons" just for using the scanner....I got .50 off strawberries and .50 off grape tomatoes!

[jillynoodle]

oh i totally would want to try one of these!!!