How to Use Self‐Checkout at a Store

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Last Updated: October 28, 2024

Do cashiers take too long to scan your purchases? Are you embarrassed when the cashier scans your embarrassing items? Take the cashier out of the equation and do it yourself at a self checkout lane.

Steps

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Pull the cart up to the machine or place your basket in the designated area.
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Press the Start button on the touchscreen. Which start button you press will decide which language the machine operates in, so be sure to press the correct one.
- If you have a club card, press the "club card" button or scan it on the reader.
- Scanning an item will also start the self-checkout process.
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With the growing popularity of bringing your own bags, many self checkout machines ask you to add your bags to the bagging platform before scanning any items. This allows the machine to adjust for the weight of the bags.^{[1]
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Scan your purchases by lining up the bar-code (the series of black lines having varied thickness, on the label) with the red light of the scanner. An electronic beep sounds when the scan is successful. The scanner may be hand held, for products too heavy to lift and line up.^{[2]
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- For produce, place the item onto the scale. The scale is usually part of the scanner, so simply place them item on the scanner. Select the Produce button and enter the four-digit item number.
- If you scan regulated goods, such as medicine, alcoholic beverages, tobacco products, or adult games/movies, then you will have to wait for the self-checkout attendant to check your ID.
immediately after you scan it. Keep the item there until after you pay.
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Pay for your purchase when complete. Press the large PAY button and select your method of payment. Some self checkout machines do not accept cash so you will need to use a credit, debit or gift card. If using a check, ensure it'll be accepted without any problems prior to initiating this process. Also, ensure your bills will be accepted by the cash machine: not too crumpled or ripped, etc.^{[3]
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- Depending on the country, state, or province, you have to enter in the number of bags used. This is because you may need to pay for bags. In California, the bag fee is about $0.20.
Do not, under any circumstances, remove any item from the bagging platform before completing the above steps. The machine will detect this and cause delays.^{[4]
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Question

What if I have more than one bag?

Community Answer

It is okay to use more than one bag. There is no limit to how many bags you can have at self checkout.

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Can I pay with a money order?

Community Answer

No. If you were going to pay with a money order, you would have to do it with a cashier.

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At the Stop & Shop self-checkout machine, can I punch my credit card numbers through if my credit card is damaged?

Aasim

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You will likely need to ask for assistance. If you have a chip card, then insert it into the slot.

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Tips

The faster you move, the faster you leave. In the traditional way, you are at the cashier's mercy.

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You are saving the store money, and hopefully reducing prices, by using these lines as they require less staffing.

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Having items move over it all day can make the scanner glass dirty. If the glass is so dirty that the scanner is not reading your bar codes, there is usually a bottle of glass cleaner and a roll of paper towels at the attendant's post for cleaning it.

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Warnings

Attendants will still be around to prevent theft and assist with operation of the machines.

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Helpful 15 Not Helpful 2
Ensure that no one is sitting or leaning on the bagging platform as this will result in weighing errors which will cause delays.

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These lines can take longer than traditional ones, as people on it, even you, may not be so experienced yet.

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Do not try to save even more time by having a friend remove your purchases from the bagging platform before you have paid. The machine will detect this and dispatch an attendant who will come over and make you feel unintelligent.

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