[Finance] Supermarket self service checkouts

arewethereyet? · Feb 5, 2019

It’s a question I always ask myself when I walk away but does anyone know why none of them dispense 10p pieces in the Change? It’s only ever 20p, 5p, 2p and 1p coins.
I know it’s an odd thread but I need an explanation please.

Me and my Monkey · Feb 5, 2019

Probably because I've just dumped all my 5p, 2p, 1p coins in them and it's trying to sick them out again. It's a perpetual battle.

Titanic · Feb 5, 2019

I neither know, nor care.

That being said, I will probably notice if it happens to me (although unlikely as I would usually pay with a card).

Great thread though.

bhafc99 · Feb 5, 2019

It's just pure incomtenpencey.

AmexRuislip · Feb 5, 2019

arewethereyet? said:
It’s a question I always ask myself when I walk away but does anyone know why none of them dispense 10p pieces in the Change? It’s only ever 20p, 5p, 2p and 1p coins.
I know it’s an odd thread but I need an explanation please.

Because shrapnel is a pain in the ass to keep hold of, that's why they give it out in change.
As for 10p pieces, it's a mystery to me.

ManOfSussex · Feb 5, 2019

They don't give out any coins as change that customers put into them. As most machines only have 5 coin slots to be loaded tod dispense as change, as they're based on US coinage, the most efficient types of coins for the purposes of change have to be put in those 5 slots. Therefore they're only loaded with denominations of coins that best cover all eventualities of payment for efficiency of use. 10p and 50p coins aren't efficient as others.

Brovion · Feb 5, 2019

Me and my Monkey said:
Probably because I've just dumped all my 5p, 2p, 1p coins in them and it's trying to sick them out again. It's a perpetual battle.

Ha! Me too! I used to put my change in an old bottle and periodically take it to the bank. Now I just wait until I've got £2-£3 in shrapnel and buy a sandwich or something. Saves all that tedious bagging and weighing.

Easy 10 · Feb 5, 2019

Brovion said:
Ha! Me too! I used to put my change in an old bottle and periodically take it to the bank. Now I just wait until I've got £2-£3 in shrapnel and buy a sandwich or something. Saves all that tedious bagging and weighing.

I did this the other day. £140 worth of silver shrapnel, counted out into bags of £5 and £10 which I took to pay into Lloyds. There must've been about 15 bags, but to my seething RAGE (ok, mild irritation) they won't take any more than 10 bags a time in any one day. So 2 separate trips then, ffs.

Why must life be a constant struggle ?

Simster · Feb 5, 2019

Answer here:

http://chalkdustmagazine.com/blog/self-service-machines-give-awful-change/

In short, the change comes from separate tubes that are filled by the supermarket. The design of these change-giving tubes are based on the ones for the American market where there are fewer coin types, so these machines have fewer coin tubes than types of UK coin.

BlockDpete · Feb 5, 2019

Easy 10 said:
I did this the other day. £140 worth of silver shrapnel, counted out into bags of £5 and £10 which I took to pay into Lloyds. There must've been about 15 bags, but to my seething RAGE (ok, mild irritation) they won't take any more than 10 bags a time in any one day. So 2 separate trips then, ffs.

Why must life be a constant struggle ?

Maybe it is. But isn't it also one of life's triumphs that you have actually counted the coins correctly when the counter staff weigh the bag and confirm it is the correct weight

??

Easy 10 · Feb 5, 2019

BlockDpete said:
Maybe it is. But isn't it also one of life's triumphs that you have actually counted the coins correctly when the counter staff weigh the bag and confirm it is the correct weight ??

That is certainly a 'punch the air' moment, I must admit. A bit like that moment when you finally finish a thousand-piece jigsaw puzzle.

Buzzing.

el punal · Feb 5, 2019

bhafc99 said:
It's just pure incomtenpencey.

It’s people like you! Euro always going to make a drachma out of of a crisis, mark my words. To be franc I’m surprised you and your kronas didn’t take a punt at having a quick lire at the attractive sales assistant when you were at the cheque out, but then again you’ve got no cents. Oh well, I suppose you could go and put your loose change in the zloty machine and win enough for a dinar or maybe a rouble murray takeaway. Pound to a penny you’ll lose the lot.

I shall now retire to my darkened room. :drink:

Brightonfan1983 · Feb 5, 2019

ManOfSussex said:
They don't give out any coins as change that customers put into them. As most machines only have 5 coin slots to be loaded tod dispense as change, as they're based on US coinage, the most efficient types of coins for the purposes of change have to be put in those 5 slots. Therefore they're only loaded with denominations of coins that best cover all eventualities of payment for efficiency of use. 10p and 50p coins aren't efficient as others.

Weirdly interesting, that.

banjo · Feb 5, 2019

Barber out.

Stat Brother · Feb 5, 2019

Greatest invention EVER.

There's an old Doris in my local Tesco's Expressgos who calls everyone:-

My lovely
Darling
Babe

etc etc etc.

I dream of the day when the store is completely automated.

Bob'n'weave · Feb 5, 2019

I avoid them like the plague. A case of tech being used to make someone else's life easier, not mine.

Bakero · Feb 5, 2019

Bob'n'weave said:
I avoid them like the plague. A case of tech being used to make someone else's life easier, not mine.

Not if there´s a queue at the manned tills and you just want to buy a thing or two. I avoid them for a big shop and I hate how they push you to use them at WH Smith at the airport.

Easy 10 · Feb 5, 2019

I rarely use the self-service checkouts, unless I'm only mincing in for a paper for something and there's a queue at the kiosk/till.

Self-scan though, now THATS where its at for the big shop. Pack as you go along, rarely any queues to wait in, removes the tedious faff of having every item run through by a bored spotty teenager before re-packing it all into bags at the end - its already done, dusted and ready for the boot after a single zap and a quick jab of the pin number. Happy days.

Official Old Man · Feb 5, 2019

Incredible. The answer to a question I didn't know existed but now I'm glad I know.
Never use self serve myself. Thought it funny recently in poundland (one assistant on till and 5 selfserves) and a long queue of 'older' customers waiting to be served whilst youngsters just jumped the queue for selfserve.
Only time I use it is Ikea where it's a lot quicker, except that the four tills need someone to run them plus security checking your receipt on exit.

Miserable Les · Feb 5, 2019

Stat Brother said:
There's an old Doris in my local Tesco's Expressgos who calls everyone:-

My lovely
Darling
Babe

etc etc etc.

I dream of the day when the store is completely automated.

You'll miss her when she's gone more than you'll ever be able to admit to yourself.

This is a very interesting thread in general though.

I don't really like the self service thing, but today on the way home I bought a tin of Branston baked beans and a pint of semi-skimmed milk using one, paying via the magic of contactless and engaging the 'skip bagging' function.

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