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'{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2014}} {{Cleanup|date=November 2014|reason=Poor grammar and nonsensical sentences}} [[File:Self checkout using NCR Fastlane machines.jpg|thumb|right|[[NCR Corporation|NCR]] Self-service checkouts & fastlane at a [[Sainsbury's]] store]] [[File:IKEA College Park self checkout.jpg|thumb|right|[[NCR Corporation|NCR]] Selfserv checkout at an [[IKEA]] store]] '''Self-checkout''' (also known as '''Self-service checkout''', or a '''Semi Attended Customer Activated Terminal''' ('''SACAT''')) machines provide a mechanism for customers to process their own purchases from a [[retail]]er. They are an alternative to the traditional [[cashier]]-staffed [[point of sale|checkout]]. In practice, the customer assumes the job of the cashier by scanning and applying payment for the items themselves. As of the end of 2008, there were 92,600 self-checkout units worldwide. The number is estimated to reach 430,000 units by 2014.<ref>{{cite web|title=Retail Banking Research|url=http://eposretailsystem.com/retail-banking-research/|publisher=RBR|accessdate=22 May 2014}}</ref> == Description== In self-checkout systems, the [[customer]] is required to scan the [[barcode]]s themselves, input the types of items such as fruit and vegetable (usually with a [[touchscreen]] display); weigh them, if applicable; and place all scanned items into a "bagging area". The weight observed in the bagging area is verified against previously stored information to ensure that the correct item is bagged, allowing the customer to proceed only if the observed and expected weights match.<ref name="age2008">{{cite news|url=http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/a-new-way-to-shop-151-check-it-out-for-yourself/2008/04/21/1208742852723.html?page=fullpage|title=A new way to shop&nbsp;— check it out for yourself|accessdate=2 September 2008|author=Daniella Miletic|date=22 April 2008|publisher=The Age|location=Melbourne}}</ref> Payment by various methods may be accepted by the machines: card via [[EFTPOS]], [[debit card|debit]]/[[credit card]]s, electronic [[food stamps|food assistance]] cards, [[cash]] via [[coin]] slot and [[bill validator|bank note scanner]], and in-store gift cards where applicable. Most [[coupons]] also have barcodes and can be scanned the same way that items are scanned, although some require entry by a member of staff. == Advantages == The benefit to the retailer in providing self-checkout machines is in reduced labour costs: one attendant can often run four to six checkout lanes with the work of the cashier now being assumed by the customer. Customers who do not want to interact with the cashier or be a part of the queue where the current customer and cashier are conversing can now use the self checkout to avoid those situations == Disadvantages == === Shoplifting === Self-checkout is vulnerable to some [[shoplifting]] techniques. In some cases the machine will pick up the attempt to steal or else cause the shopper to alter behavior (e.g., put an item not on the scales but somewhere else where it should not be put and will be noticed by the system supervisor). For example, in 2007, a man was charged with replacing the tag of a plasma TV with a $4.88 DVD, and trying to purchase it through self-checkout.<ref>{{cite web|last=Meg|first=Maco|title=Guy Switches Price Tag On Walmart Plasma TV, Tries To Buy It For KES423|url=http://consumerist.com/2007/06/29/guy-switches-price-tag-on-walmart-plasma-tv-tries-to-buy-it-for-488/|work=tips@consumerist.com|publisher=Consumerist|accessdate=3 April 2014|date=29 June 2007}}</ref> However studies suggest that a large proportion of shoppers are tempted to shoplift due to the relative ease of fooling self checkouts. For example, a person who (without intent to steal) does not scan an item, may remember this was easy and fail to scan other items deliberately.<ref name=cran>{{cite web|last=Carter|first=Clare|title=Self-scan fail: Supermarkets lose billions as thieving customers help themselves|url=http://www.canberratimes.com.au/money/saving/selfscan-fail-supermarkets-lose-billions-as-thieving-customers-help-themselves-20140130-31o3p.html|work=canberratimes.com.au|publisher=Fairfax Media|accessdate=3 April 2014|date=31 January 2014}}</ref> A 2012 survey with 4952 respondents in the UK found that a third of shoppers had stolen this way, with around a quarter of the remainder stating they were deterred by the risk of detection. Non-barcode items such as produce, and store staff overriding (or ignoring) checkout alerts were singled out as vulnerabilities, and poverty was not seen as a major factor.<ref>[http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2135284/How-cheating-checkouts-turning-nation-self-service-shoplifters.html How cheating at checkouts is turning us into a nation of self-service shoplifters] - Daily Mail online, 26 April 2012</ref> Overall as at 2012, the founder of one store video surveillance system estimated that "Theft — intentional or not — is up to five times higher with self checkout than when cashiers are working", although the behaviours of shoplifting are becoming well known, and stores better at detecting them.<ref name=ref1>{{cite news|title=Self-checkout lanes boost convenience, theft risk|url=http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/money/industries/retail/story/2012-04-06/self-scanning-checkout/54117384/1|publisher=USA Today|accessdate=3 April 2014|date=8 April 2012}}</ref> A 2014 survey in of 2634 respondents confirmed the same general findings, but commented that the cost of additional theft was evidently seen as "tolerable" compared to the cost of other processes, such as manned checkouts, and harm due to poorer customer service arising from the slowness of manned versus automated checkouts.<ref name="cran"/> ==== Checkout not the main problem ==== However despite this studies the shoplifting is a problem for retailers with or without using self check-out. While general self-service(not only self checkout stores) was from start vulnerable to this, the existence of automated checkouts is not the main reason. It depends generally on people, and when usually most people pay for they products, the other may try to don't do it, even knowing that they are under CCTV eye.<ref>http://www.forbes.com/sites/larissafaw/2012/12/24/why-do-people-steal-meat-from-grocery-stores/</ref> === Customer interaction === Self checkout is also criticised for reducing the possibilities for customers and store staff to interact,{{cn|date=February 2014}} and customer service in general.<ref name="ref1"/> On the other side the self checkout gives the possibility to serve customers in other languages. E.g. one of the chains have a system in Wales, where their stores can serve customers in [[Welsh language|Welsh]].<ref>http://www.thejournal.ie/tesco-looking-into-bilingual-self-service-checkouts-1378599-Mar2014/</ref> While finding a large enough number of well speaking Welsh staff, can be a difficult thing because of decline in number of people speaking.<ref>https://www.opendemocracy.net/ourkingdom/evan-harris/home-truths-decline-of-welsh-language</ref> == Alternative system == [[File:Giant Food Scan It.jpg|thumb|right|"Scan It" kiosk at [[Giant-Landover|Giant Food]] store.]] An alternative system consists of a portable barcode scanner that is used by the customer to scan and bag items while shopping. When the customer has finished shopping, the scanner is brought to a checkout [[kiosk]], where the information from the barcode scanner is downloaded to the kiosk, usually in conjunction with a [[loyalty program|customer loyalty card]]. The customer pays and receives a receipt at the checkout kiosk. The integrity of the system is maintained through the use of random audits or [[RFID]]. == Hybrid systems == [[File:HybridCheckout Combined Cashier and Self-Service Counter.jpg|thumb|right|HybridCheckout supporting parallel scanning]] Suppliers like [[NCR Corporation|NCR]], [[Wincor-Nixdorf]] and others have manufactured hybrid checkout systems that allows the checkout counter to be switched between either a cashier operated mode or a customer self-service mode.<ref>{{cite web|last=Barwick|first=Hamish|title=Coles trials hybrid self-checkout system in Victoria|url=http://www.computerworld.com.au/article/444998/coles_trials_hybrid_self-checkout_system_victoria/|work=computerworld.com.au|publisher=IDG Communication|accessdate=3 April 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Wincor Nixdorf to present 'Always Open' checkout solution at NRF Big Show|url=http://www.kioskmarketplace.com/article/205861/Wincor-Nixdorf-to-present-Always-Open-checkout-solution-at-NRF-Big-Show|work=kioskmarketplace.com|publisher=Networld Media Group|accessdate=3 April 2014}}</ref> HybridCheckout from PeoplePos has taken the hybrid concept further by allowing the cashier and customer to do parallel and simultaneous scanning. This is achieved by adding a customer scanning area next to the cashier scanning area. The HybridCheckout solution allows for an increased throughput and a combination of cashier operated scanning and customer self-service.<ref>{{cite web|title=HybridCheckout|url=http://www.hybridcheckout.com/|work=hybridcheckout.com|publisher=PeoplePos Ltd|accessdate=3 April 2014}}</ref> == Open systems == In 2010, the ''[[open-source]]-self-check'' project was announced. By using hardware and open source software, this library self-checkout system costs less than one-tenth of the commercial version.<ref>{{cite web|title=open-source-self-check|url=https://code.google.com/p/open-source-self-check/|work=google.com|publisher=Google Project Hosting|accessdate=3 April 2014}}</ref><ref>[http://www.libraryjournal.com/lj/community/managinglibraries/853685-273/self-check_kiosk_from_scratch_iowa.html.csp Self-Check Kiosk from Scratch: Iowa Librarian's Coding Skills Prove Valuable]</ref> A [[Java (software platform)|Java]] based Open Source self check client for libraries, which has been used at the [[University of Oxford]],<ref>[http://www.webcitation.org/6CPrMxQcJ Oxford Developments at GAUG 2002] Archived from the [http://www.lib.ox.ac.uk/gaug2002/presentations/oxford-developments/rtsi.ppt original] on 24 November 2012</ref> is also available under a GPL v3 license.<ref>{{cite web|title=Ceridwen Self Issue Client|url=http://www.ceridwen.com/selfissue/client/|work=ceridwen.com|publisher=Ceridwen Limited|accessdate=3 April 2014}}</ref> == Criticisms == [[BBC News]] reported in December 2009 on the rise of self-service tills and how error messages like 'unexpected item in the bagging area' are becoming part of the new shopping experience and even given rise to [[t-shirts]] bearing the slogan.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/8399963.stm|work=BBC News|first=Denise|last=Winterman|title=The problem with self-service checkouts|date=9 December 2009|accessdate=9 June 2013}}</ref> An appeal court in [[California]] confirmed in September 2013 a bill banning sales of alcoholic beverages in self-service checkouts. The law requires alcohol only to be sold in face-to-face transactions with store clerks.<ref>{{cite news|last=Egelko|first=Bob|title=Alcohol can't be sold at self-checkout lines|url=http://www.sfgate.com/business/article/Alcohol-can-t-be-sold-at-self-checkout-lines-4831117.php|work=sfgate.com|publisher=SFGate|accessdate=3 April 2014|date=20 September 2013}}</ref> == See also == {{commons category|Self checkout}} * [[Automated retailing]] * [[Smartstores]] * [[Cash register]] * [[Point of sale]] * [[Radio-frequency identification]] * [[Shadow work]] * [[Automation]] == References == {{reflist}} == Further reading == * {{cite news|url=http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-1374183/Unexpected-item-bagging-area-human.html?ito=feeds-newsxml|title=Unexpected item in the bagging area: a human!|publisher=dailymail.co.uk|date=7 April 2011|accessdate=12 April 2011|location=London|first=Tessa|last=Cunningham}} [[Category:Retailing]] [[Category:Payment systems]] [[ja:キャッシュレジスター#特殊なレジ]]'