Grocery shopping: self-checkout hints

Self-tutoring about lifestyle: the tutor mentions some ideas to make using self-checkout easier.

As I mention in yesterday’s post, self-checkout can certainly be advantageous. How can one make it even easier?

0. Don’t forget to scan your rewards, membership, or whatever card(s) that give you advantage at the store. Some deals might only be available if you scan that card.

1. If you can help it, don’t bring in a big order at once. This can be especially important if you’re solo. Since you need to put the groceries somewhere after you scan them, it can be challenging to use self-checkout with a big order. See more about this in the points below.

2. If you need to buy a lot of groceries in a week, shop several different occasions in order to keep each order manageable. Veteran shoppers know this trick anyway, since deals can change day to day at some stores, or else the stock can change.

3. Keep an empty section in the cart where you can put groceries after you scan them. I don’t put all my groceries in bags; numerous items I just scan, then put back in the cart, in a different place. This works, if, for instance, all your unscanned groceries are at the front of the cart, while the scanned items you place in the back.

4. Use bagged items or large ones to compartmentalize the cart. A couple of jugs of milk, for instance, can be used to divide up the cart.

5. If someone’s with you, each of you can have a cart, but keep one empty. Then, at self-checkout, you can place the scanned groceries in the empty cart.

6. Check each item you buy for its code. It’s true, not all items have a code on them; such can be the case with produce on special. However, it’s best to know beforehand what does have a code versus what doesn’t.

7. As you scan the groceries, make sure you’re getting the price you expect. This is a great advantage of self-checkout.

8. When you’re ready to leave, make sure you take everything with you. It can sometimes be easy to leave groceries on the platform after you scan them.

9. Don’t feel rushed. Even if it’s busy, you’ve just as much right to be there as a person waiting.

10. If in doubt, ask for help. There usually seems to be a clerk ready to help people at the self-checkout.

These are some techniques I use. I hope they help:)

Jack of Oracle Tutoring by Jack and Diane, Campbell River, BC.