Saving at Self-Serve

Just Swipe and Go!
From coast to coast, self-serve systems are the latest hi-tech helper for shoppers on the go.

Some places where you can find self-serve systems are in:
Supermarkets
Stadiums
Airports
Major retail stores
Fast food restaurants

Customers scan their own items, and bag their own items, paying right at the machine. This eliminates the long lines and the cashier. "It's really about speed shopping. It's not just express shopping anymore. It's about getting in and out as quickly as possible," says Marshal Cohen, Chief Industry Analyst for the NPD Group. NPD Group is a consumer information company.

Sounds good, right? So, what's the problem?
Consumers could be missing out on personal interaction with the cashier.
"While consumers are checking out on their own, there's a lot of things that are not being communicated," says Cohen.

And these things could save you MONEY! "There might be unmarked specials, there might be coupons available. A consumer could miss out on 'buy that second item and get it for half price'... or that multiple purchase program that a lot of retailers try to use to stimulate extra dollar sales can get lost with self-service checkout," says Cohen.

Cohen also says, "There's no opportunity for add-on selling. There's no opportunity for having any kind of communication about the experience... There's no opportunity to be able to find if that consumer really got all that was needed for their purchases for the day."

SO Stay Alert!
"We all think that consumers read every sign in the store and if they did they'd never get out of the store," says Cohen.

If you want the bargains but choose to use self-scan, experts say keep your eyes open wide as you cruise the aisles at the store. "Read all the signs," says Cohen

According to Cohen, here are some things to keep in mind when using self-scan at the store:
Self-scan is good when you have very few items. Almost like the express lane at a supermarket.
Many of the items that have to go through the scanners don't always necessarily register. "If you are checking out in a home center and you have lumber, it doesn't work, you can't put the big piece of lumber on the scale."
If you are checking out produce at grocery store, be prepared, "You have to know which peach type you took to be able to actually specifically mark it and get it scanned."
A lot of items don't have a UPC code, and therefore can not scan on the self-service system.

Did You Know?
About one-fifth of the 36,265 supermarkets had self-service machines at the end if 2001, according to the Food Marketing Institute.

Bright Idea! Consumer experts say down the road, you could be seeing some improvement with self-serve machines and get more information on the product you're buying as well as some saving tips.

Read more smart consumer tips and strategies
from Fox11 Eyewitness News Online

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