In the depths of the heart of Switzerland, I have been now taught how to scan my Migros products and self check-out by cheerful Migros employees. It was a success. I was quicker and the items were less man-handled than usual. Do I need to worry about Migros letting some of those cashiers go?

Out of principle I refuse to use self checkouts, as for sure they put people out of jobs. Just look how few staff you need in banks now that everyone uses ATMs, and a pump attendant is no longer necessary now we all fill our own cars.

I work full time, so my free time is precious, but I like to do what I can for others where its possible. We have seen on this site how difficult people are now finding it to get jobs.

During the past week they have taken out about half of the checkouts at our local Migros and replaced them with the self scan devices. My first thought when I saw it all was that they would need far fewer cashiers.
Based on my observations of the older people that the lady was demonstrating to my fear now is that the queues will be very long at the 'normal' checkouts and there will be next to nobody at the self scan ones.
I have to admit that I rather like my interactions with the checkout operators here but I can see that self scan if done correctly could be much quicker.

The self-scan checkouts work well, they even have an English language option, which is great. They're popular in the UK as well - obviously, it's a way to reduce staff costs. But rebelling against using those ... well, you shouldn't be in a supermarket in the first place imo, instead buying fromlocal retailers. One you're in the cost-cutting system you might as well take it to the max

I've not tried the Coop version (where you scan your own stuff as you go around the shop, then go to a cashier as usual for a quick check) as when I tried to collect one of the scanning machines, even trying to release it scanning my Coop Supercard, I just got an error. No English option and I assume you have to register first or something? Overly complex.

If they put these in Aldi, then they'd be no staff left.

The Coop one is great but you do have to register first at the kiosk. I use it every time I shop, it adds up your shopping as you go so you know how much you are spending. Give it to cashier at end then pay. No more faffing around unloading and reloading your trolley.

I used it once, when the other checkouts were full of people waiting....

was fun to do, but I like to speak with the cashier (even more when it's a nice woman )

I regularly use the Coop version at Sihlcity, Zurich and its very easy rather; no need to go to cashier, there are always 1-2 sales persons to assist in case of a problem, no need to register or any such thing like mandatory coopcard or so. Just English is not an option yet but its basic german or a few logical steps that can take you through.


In general, about self check thru and impact on staff; I second your opinion and to add, there would have been so many people who would be developing the software and hardware of those machines for making our lives simple - so new jobs and business for those machine vendors .

You're talking about the self-scan checkouts rather than the Coop things I've seen, which is where you walk around with your own barcode reader and scan stuff as you shop, then paying the total registered on the handheld barcode device when you leave. However, you need to do this at a cashdesk. And you need to register, for some weird reason, before you can use the system even if you use a Supercard.

It's called Passabene at Coop. Just be aware that there are random controls so every now & again you have to empty your trolley of it's goods and they check you have scanned everything properly.

I suppose you approve of the chimney sweep coming to sweep gas flues - and what about the typewriter salesman, carbon paper factories, TV repair man, etc etc??

If you used the self checkout, could you easily steal things?

I have the Coop self-scan (Passebene) app on my iPhone. There sadly doesn't seem much advantage to this as the Coop scanners work better...

I have a little one that sits in the child seat in thr trolley and loves to press buttons. in Migros to increase the quantity of an item you just need to press + once and it's done. But to decrease you need to press minus, and than a confirmation. Consequence - at the end of my shop I have to go through and check all the quantities...
Plus sometimes she unloads items back on the shelves - and I only find out when I get home which items I've paid for but left in Migros. Fortunatley she doesn't also load items in the trolley - I'm not sure they would be so sympathetic to my explanation if controlled.
So parents beware!!

Had our first experience of these when we were on holiday in the States back in 2007 and went into the local Walmart. We tried the self service ones twice, but won't do so again.

Ikea have had them here for several years, but we will never use them. And seeing the queues of people at the proper checkouts while the self service ones are empty tells me that a lot of other people don't like them either. I'd rather queue for half an hour than use those things.

It's the same when we go back on holiday to the UK; Tesco and Boots staff try and get customers to use self service, but people are standing in line waiting at the proper checkout because they don't want to use self service tills. The staff at Boots are always asking people if they'd like to use them and they all say no.

I tried it once out of curiosity, but avoid the self check-out whenever possible.

I just don't see the point. Why should I voluntarily do the cashier's work? I don't get any benefits. Possibly some cashiers will lose their jobs or won't be replaced.

I lose.
Society loses.
Only Migros (already operating with the highest gross margin of any major supermarket chain in Europe) benefits by milking even more money out of its customers and employees.

No, thanks.

I think you're thinking of the wrong thing. Self-checkout, as seen at Ikea and Walmart, where you scan and bag your purchases at a self-checkout station is a tremendous waste of time and a pain in the ass. The things at Coop and Migros, on the other hand, are hand held scanners, and you scan and bag your stuff as you shop and then just pay and leave, which is very efficient and faster than the conventional way, imho.

Never seen them at Coop, but Migros does have self check-out stations, e.g. at Zurich Limmatplatz.

I know, those are horrible, only some stores have the handheld scanners. I'm just pointing out that there's a substantial difference between the two and it seems people are referring to the interchangeably.

Ah, didn't know Migros had a similar system to Coop. I've never used the Passebene one because I don't shop in Coop anymore. I don't get much stuff in Migros either so I doubt I'll be using their system in future.