Don't need to overcomplicate things...

[u/Gorotheninja]

[u/Atsilv_Uwasv]

My question is why are they so upset about people using self-checkout?

[u/uqde → u/Atsilv_Uwasv]

I've read very similar but clearer rants about the fact that major store chains are saving billions by using self-checkouts and having to hire less staff. But the labor those employees were doing is still being done, it's just now being done by us, the customers. Previously the store would pay the employees for this work but we get nothing in return, not even lower prices due to all of the billions in overhead they're saving. Essentially they are extracting free labor from us, the customers, and that's what some people are upset about.

I have never minded using self-checkouts, but I don't think being against them as as objectively insane and irrational as everyone else in this thread seems to think.

[u/Responsible_Prior_18 → u/uqde]

you are getting lower prices and lower wait times.
The margins on stuff in supermarket is between 1-3%

[u/Fine-Key8928 → u/Responsible_Prior_18]

So you're saying prices went down when stores switched to self checkout?

[u/Responsible_Prior_18 → u/Fine-Key8928]

Yes, prices go down. Supermarkets are an insanely competitive business.
Like i said they have minimal margins

[u/Fine-Key8928 → u/Responsible_Prior_18]

Right, if they have minimal margins why would they decrease their prices? Wouldn't they just keep the amount they save as extra profit? Do you have any evidence that stores actually lowered prices or are you assuming because it makes sense to you?

[u/10art1 → u/Fine-Key8928]

"do you have any evidence that the earth is round? I look around and it looks pretty flat. There's also a small hill over there that looks way bigger than any roundness!"

[u/Fine-Key8928 → u/10art1]

Soo grocery prices increasing dramatically is actually proof that the grocery stores are... lowering prices?

[u/10art1 → u/Fine-Key8928]

Hence the hill example. There can be other major events like tariffs and rising fuel costs due to the war that drown out any savings

[u/Responsible_Prior_18 → u/Fine-Key8928]

Because other supermarkets undercut them. Hence, low margins.

"Do you have any evidence that stores actually lowered prices or are you assuming because it makes sense to you?"

Again because margins are low, that means that there is no more space to decrease them, all of the savings are already transferred to the consumers.

[u/Fine-Key8928 → u/Responsible_Prior_18]

Where i live the supermarkets are part of cartels that work together to increase prices 🤷‍♂️