Hot take: Those fancy self-checkout delays aren't what you think

I used to get so annoyed at the self-checkout at my local Kroger in Cincinnati because it would freeze up for like 30 seconds after every item. I figured it was just bad software or slow scanners. Last month I finally asked the teenage attendant about it and she told me it's actually a security thing - the system has to verify the weight of each item before it lets you scan the next one. She showed me how if you put your bag on the scale before scanning, it messes up the whole process. I felt pretty dumb but also kind of relieved because now I just set my reusable bag on the floor and everything goes smooth. Has anyone else noticed this at their store or am I the last person to figure this out?

2 comments

2 Comments

hayes.joel5d agoMost Upvoted

Flip that logic on its head though. Now I just toss my bag into the scanner's weight plate and watch the whole system freak out like a robot having a temper tantrum. Last week my grocery run turned into a 15 minute standoff because I accidentally left a can of beans in my jacket pocket. Maybe we should be grateful these machines are so bad at their jobs. It gives us way more time to judge the other people in line who clearly haven't cracked the weight code yet.

williams.jenny5d ago

The weight sensors are actually programmed to catch theft, not just verify your bag. Those delays are built-in to give the camera system time to cross-reference your face with the store's database of known shoplifters. Makes you wonder what else those machines are recording while you're just trying to buy milk.