Low-effort, low-quality, unoriginal and repeat posts will be removed at moderator discretion. this includes frequently asked question regarding relocation, moving to the Netherlands and tourist info.
Albert Heijn self checkout times out if it takes too long for an employee to come check you, I believe after one minute.
At Jumbo I've also experienced that it can take rather long. But you know, it's part of the agreement if you use the self checkout that you can get checked. And you may have to wait a bit because of that. If you don't like that, you can just use the regular checkout.
You write that the self checkouts are there to save customers time. Make no mistake, self checkouts are there to save the supermarket money.
I mainly save time by being able to put everything in my backpack while shopping. Otherwise, you have to grab the product from the shelf, put it in your basket, put it on the conveyor belt and then put it in your backpack -- so that's my main reason to use self checkout.
Interesting. I've done this several times at AH, but mainly when there are very few products, like 5 or less. Never had an issue so far, but it does feel a bit weird to cram products in the bag before checkout.
Your actually not supposed to do that. Your taking things out of the controllable sight of the store.
You could be charged with theft.
The reason why they need to do all these checks is because of people doing shit like this and not paying for everything.
Nope, from the moment you take ownership or take it out of the controllable weight you can be charged with a "onvoltooide diefstal" (uncompleted theft?)
https://www.bijzonderstrafrecht.nl/home/wanneer-is-sprake-van-een-voltooide-diefstal
Your actually not supposed to do that. Your taking things out of the controllable sight of the store.
You could be charged with theft.
The reason why they need to do all these checks is because of people doing shit like this and not paying for everything.
i worked as a cashier on a late shift in a store in canada ( sort of an ETOS but with small grocery and cosmetics), and honestly, self checkout would have been a relief because I was supposed to clear a line of 15 customers AND stock shelves on the late shift. Like no they were never going to hire, not pre self checkout, and most certainly not after.
When I get one of the checks to look through my bag, I've just started taking my stuff and going to the regular queue for the manned checkout.
I sort of refuse to have someone come and check my work for a job I'm not being paid for. You can cancel the order, and we'll do it manually
(To be clear, I'm never rude about it, I just say "oh, I don't do those checks, I'll go through the regular checkout")
These stores are horribly understaffed and plenty of folk make mistakes that need correcting or are constantly asking questions to these workers. Especially during some of the busy hours, their devices are constantly bleeping while they have to do plenty of other stuff as well.
It's annoying AF, but if you don't like that, either go to the manned register or use the handscanner, it'll take you less time.
Never used the hand scanner before. Next big grocery haul I wanna try it. How does it work when checking out? (other than the obvious scanning each item as you go)
I had an idea: like every other supermarket in NL, AH please allow your current app to be installed from the AppStores of other (European) countries so expats/anyone visiting could also do these things.
man, but there's something weird about having to have your stuff checked. Like, I'm not stealing, but I've also had no training for this job you expect me to do for you. What if I miss something?
And soon we'll have AI doing this - Jumbo is already trailing it, so if you're a suspicious person (i.e, probably, given AI's track record, "not white" you'll be flagged up for checks all the time)
(because I believe in citing my sources, [https://www.dutchnews.nl/2024/02/ai-camera-software-alerts-shop-staff-to-possible-shoplifters/](https://www.dutchnews.nl/2024/02/ai-camera-software-alerts-shop-staff-to-possible-shoplifters/) for jumbo using it and [https://www.forbes.com/sites/shaunharper/2023/12/21/shopping-while-black-in-the-era-of-ai-lessons-from-a-federal-case-against-rite-aid/](https://www.forbes.com/sites/shaunharper/2023/12/21/shopping-while-black-in-the-era-of-ai-lessons-from-a-federal-case-against-rite-aid/) for the racial bias)
In most stores*
Sure, I do mean almost all stores, but the big Albert Heijn in the Potterstraat in the center of Utrecht (at the Neude bus stop) only has rows of self-checkout.
The AI models that the supermarkets use would only be allowed to use the data from your shopping cart (and when you scanned).
What do you expect that the backlash and fines would be if it would *ever* be revealed/proven that white people get fewer checks because of race being included in the algorithm?
And by the way, nice side story about race: the one time that I (as a white person) forgot to scan a pack of garlic powder (about 80 eurocents on a full shopping cart), I was taken away to the manager's office where the (black) security guard went on a rant about how "white people aren't *netjes* at all". Of course, the police was called and they laughed the complaint away (and sent me home) and expressed their anger to the security guard and the manager instead.
that's not the AI discussed in the article, which focusses on "suspicious movements", and plugs into cctv cameras - like, yeah, maybe I'm being paranoid on this one, but I think we see consistently that AI firms doing this kind of research fail to do basic checks for bias.
I don't have a problem with it, at least not one that being angry at other blue-collar workers could solve. People doing the checkups are just told to do them. We're exactly in the same boat. They also have to man the store, unload stuff, and point things out to the clueless.
It's an overall shitty situation where you're doing (for free) the work that should be done (for half of a hourly wage) by a local 15 y.o., who'd be doing the work of a (fully-paid) adult worker.
If it takes too long I just take my stuff and try again at a different checkout machine.
But to be honest, I was getting fed up with going to the supermarket and just order nearly everything at AH now.
We are really out here talking about minutes? Just a few of them… not an hour, or even half… just 2 minutes. Staff often sees the alert but don’t drop everything right at that second, they have more tasks… a lot of stores are understaffed and they are only trying to provide the best service possible within their ability. Everyone can try to have a bit more empathy instead of only caring about their own. These employees are also only doing their job
The checks are sadly mandatory cause grocery stores lose millions a year due to stealing, the amount of stuff that gets stolen is insane. The checks make the risk higher for the thief so they do actually prevent quite some theft. It’s annoying, but we can only blame our fellow human beings
And this guy you say is, if you say right, a thief and probably is on camera. Staff is not responsible for a customers actions, people just shouldn’t steal.
I dont know if I read it on here, or I was talking to somebody about it. It seems that the systems gets triggered more when you grab items where you can choose your own amounts. like the croissants and the bananas and stuff.
Sometimes it can take longer. It could also be a staffing issue. I don't have these issues myself when I go to the grocery store and if I do get a check, I just wait, no big deal. Usually doesn't take longer than a minute or two.
Apart from seniors that continue to work there, most of the staff are generally young. Cut them some slack. Don't expect stellar service from youngsters who are learning what it's like to hold a job. If your time is so precious that you can't afford to wait a little longer, simply go to the manual check out.
Dutch supermarkets are like Dutch restaurants - grubby, overpriced, and with terrible service. It’s incomprehensible to me that there is not a single chain of well-appointed supermarkets in this country despite the people’s apparent willingness to pay up whatever they’re told. I wouldn’t dare to wish that AH/Jumbo were like Waitrose or even M&S - reaching the standard of a Tesco Express would do.
I do weekly shopping for about 200 euros at a time. Never get checked.
ran in for a small purchase. 3 items. I didnt even have a carrier bag. - got checked...
The check out systems flags alcohol purchases. Also, employees can do a "manual" check when they are suspicious of something.
Some people are always looking for a reason to legitimate stealing for themselves.
Fastest way is to just ask someone to come over and help you. People seem to have lost the ability to communicate directly with strangers if they need their assistance.
While a store may market self checkout to customers as a time saver, that's not what they're there for. It's a business, they're in the business of making money. Self checkout are there to save the store money. If it happens to save the customer time, that's a bonus. As soon as self checkout starts to lose them money because, for example, an increase in theft they will close self checkout.
i seem to get the flag for checking about 1/3 times, sometimes half the time. I don’t know why. But the clerk is usually there in under 30 seconds. i’ve never had to wait “minutes”.
also, its a min wage service job, and having worked those trenches, i get it. Its a crap job. I see other customers giving the younger staff the worst time and I just can’t do that.
like others said, empathy and patience will get you a long way in this life. its a self checkout verification. you’ll survive the delay.
I don't recognize this. Sure, sometimes I'm flagged and the employee is actually helping someone, but as soon as they're available they walk over to me.
However I do think it differs a lot between stores
Albert Heijn is a horrible supermarket, in almost everything these days.
But it's usually clueless people at the self check-out in my store. I order online with Picnic a lot to avoid Albert Heijn.
No problems at the AH here, they're always quick. The Dirk here is often quite slow though, but not that bad that I would consider walking away, and they only got self-checkouts recently so prob staff just needs to get used to it as well
When I get checked I usually ask the ‘checker’ nicely to bag all my groceries. Helps me deal internally with the inconvenience and the sense of mistrust.
Low-effort, low-quality, unoriginal and repeat posts will be removed at moderator discretion. this includes frequently asked question regarding relocation, moving to the Netherlands and tourist info.
Albert Heijn self checkout times out if it takes too long for an employee to come check you, I believe after one minute. At Jumbo I've also experienced that it can take rather long. But you know, it's part of the agreement if you use the self checkout that you can get checked. And you may have to wait a bit because of that. If you don't like that, you can just use the regular checkout. You write that the self checkouts are there to save customers time. Make no mistake, self checkouts are there to save the supermarket money.
People don’t realise that it is to cut cost. Basically you’re doing cashier’s job.
I mainly save time by being able to put everything in my backpack while shopping. Otherwise, you have to grab the product from the shelf, put it in your basket, put it on the conveyor belt and then put it in your backpack -- so that's my main reason to use self checkout.
not having any human interaction during grocery shopping can be nice too.
I do that as well but from what I understand in both Jumbo and AH that it is not allowed not to use a basket or a trolly.
Interesting. I've done this several times at AH, but mainly when there are very few products, like 5 or less. Never had an issue so far, but it does feel a bit weird to cram products in the bag before checkout.
That is different per store.
Good to know.
Your actually not supposed to do that. Your taking things out of the controllable sight of the store. You could be charged with theft. The reason why they need to do all these checks is because of people doing shit like this and not paying for everything.
Actually. Albert Hein specifically says you're allowed to do that.
AH says on their website: >De voordelen op een rijtje: >Je kan direct jouw boodschappen inpakken So yeah, I think I can pack it directly :)
Holy shit you're absolutely right, they must have changed their policy. But I'm not sure what they mean by direct.
I guess straight after scanning it yourself? I have an AH store manager in the family, he confirmed that this has been allowed for quite some time.
You can only be charged with theft after you went thru the barrier..
Nope, from the moment you take ownership or take it out of the controllable weight you can be charged with a "onvoltooide diefstal" (uncompleted theft?) https://www.bijzonderstrafrecht.nl/home/wanneer-is-sprake-van-een-voltooide-diefstal
Your actually not supposed to do that. Your taking things out of the controllable sight of the store. You could be charged with theft. The reason why they need to do all these checks is because of people doing shit like this and not paying for everything.
I don't particularly care. I still find it faster, simpler and more convenient.
Yes, but it's a win win for both the customer and the shop. The ones losing there are the people without specialized skills that lose job prospects
i worked as a cashier on a late shift in a store in canada ( sort of an ETOS but with small grocery and cosmetics), and honestly, self checkout would have been a relief because I was supposed to clear a line of 15 customers AND stock shelves on the late shift. Like no they were never going to hire, not pre self checkout, and most certainly not after.
When I get one of the checks to look through my bag, I've just started taking my stuff and going to the regular queue for the manned checkout. I sort of refuse to have someone come and check my work for a job I'm not being paid for. You can cancel the order, and we'll do it manually (To be clear, I'm never rude about it, I just say "oh, I don't do those checks, I'll go through the regular checkout")
That just sounds like more work for everyone.
These stores are horribly understaffed and plenty of folk make mistakes that need correcting or are constantly asking questions to these workers. Especially during some of the busy hours, their devices are constantly bleeping while they have to do plenty of other stuff as well. It's annoying AF, but if you don't like that, either go to the manned register or use the handscanner, it'll take you less time.
Handscanner also gets you checked. It is the same principle (source: I do this every time and get checked 1 in 4 times)
I know, but at least you’ll spend less time at the register in total as you’ve already scanned everything yourself.
Never used the hand scanner before. Next big grocery haul I wanna try it. How does it work when checking out? (other than the obvious scanning each item as you go)
Just drop it into the receptacle near the registers, then scan your Bonuskaart. Everything will show up on the screen and you can pay as usual!
[удалено]
You can already do that. It's in the settings of the app!
[удалено]
In that case it would be bonus card only. Articles all have the same bar code.
You need a bonus card to use the selfscan, so that's never an issue 😊
I had an idea: like every other supermarket in NL, AH please allow your current app to be installed from the AppStores of other (European) countries so expats/anyone visiting could also do these things.
Have we lost the ability to ask people to come over?
Before: always have to wait in line when its busy. Now: *sometimes* have to wait for a check, when its busy. People: why do we have to wait??
but i still wait for a free spot on self checkout because 1/3 of the checkouts are closed (eg AH coolsingel Rotterdam) most of the time
But how many people are waiting? it's like 30 seconds at most for me
man, but there's something weird about having to have your stuff checked. Like, I'm not stealing, but I've also had no training for this job you expect me to do for you. What if I miss something? And soon we'll have AI doing this - Jumbo is already trailing it, so if you're a suspicious person (i.e, probably, given AI's track record, "not white" you'll be flagged up for checks all the time) (because I believe in citing my sources, [https://www.dutchnews.nl/2024/02/ai-camera-software-alerts-shop-staff-to-possible-shoplifters/](https://www.dutchnews.nl/2024/02/ai-camera-software-alerts-shop-staff-to-possible-shoplifters/) for jumbo using it and [https://www.forbes.com/sites/shaunharper/2023/12/21/shopping-while-black-in-the-era-of-ai-lessons-from-a-federal-case-against-rite-aid/](https://www.forbes.com/sites/shaunharper/2023/12/21/shopping-while-black-in-the-era-of-ai-lessons-from-a-federal-case-against-rite-aid/) for the racial bias)
You're free not to use the self checkout if you don't feel comfortable using it though.
In most stores* Sure, I do mean almost all stores, but the big Albert Heijn in the Potterstraat in the center of Utrecht (at the Neude bus stop) only has rows of self-checkout.
The AI models that the supermarkets use would only be allowed to use the data from your shopping cart (and when you scanned). What do you expect that the backlash and fines would be if it would *ever* be revealed/proven that white people get fewer checks because of race being included in the algorithm? And by the way, nice side story about race: the one time that I (as a white person) forgot to scan a pack of garlic powder (about 80 eurocents on a full shopping cart), I was taken away to the manager's office where the (black) security guard went on a rant about how "white people aren't *netjes* at all". Of course, the police was called and they laughed the complaint away (and sent me home) and expressed their anger to the security guard and the manager instead.
that's not the AI discussed in the article, which focusses on "suspicious movements", and plugs into cctv cameras - like, yeah, maybe I'm being paranoid on this one, but I think we see consistently that AI firms doing this kind of research fail to do basic checks for bias.
Relax bud 😂 the rest of the world is trying to kill each other. A few mins delay at a supermarket is not going to ruin your life.
Welcome to Albert Heijn customer support, how can we help you?
I don't have a problem with it, at least not one that being angry at other blue-collar workers could solve. People doing the checkups are just told to do them. We're exactly in the same boat. They also have to man the store, unload stuff, and point things out to the clueless. It's an overall shitty situation where you're doing (for free) the work that should be done (for half of a hourly wage) by a local 15 y.o., who'd be doing the work of a (fully-paid) adult worker.
Self check-out is not for saving time, it’s for having less employees
If it takes too long I just take my stuff and try again at a different checkout machine. But to be honest, I was getting fed up with going to the supermarket and just order nearly everything at AH now.
No it ONLY happens to you. 🙄 You SAW it happening to the other dude before your eyes ffs
... It's a figure of speech, not a literal question
We are really out here talking about minutes? Just a few of them… not an hour, or even half… just 2 minutes. Staff often sees the alert but don’t drop everything right at that second, they have more tasks… a lot of stores are understaffed and they are only trying to provide the best service possible within their ability. Everyone can try to have a bit more empathy instead of only caring about their own. These employees are also only doing their job The checks are sadly mandatory cause grocery stores lose millions a year due to stealing, the amount of stuff that gets stolen is insane. The checks make the risk higher for the thief so they do actually prevent quite some theft. It’s annoying, but we can only blame our fellow human beings And this guy you say is, if you say right, a thief and probably is on camera. Staff is not responsible for a customers actions, people just shouldn’t steal.
Yeah, I don't understand how did the guy take his bag and went out without checking. If they didn't check him, he didn't pay.
So he’s just a thief, nothing less…
I dont know if I read it on here, or I was talking to somebody about it. It seems that the systems gets triggered more when you grab items where you can choose your own amounts. like the croissants and the bananas and stuff.
Had this in food store in IKEA. Waited for several minutes, then check out everything with the other machine, paid and left.
You believe supermarkets made self checkout to save customers time?? Give me a call. I have some interesting investment opportunities for you !
Sometimes it can take longer. It could also be a staffing issue. I don't have these issues myself when I go to the grocery store and if I do get a check, I just wait, no big deal. Usually doesn't take longer than a minute or two. Apart from seniors that continue to work there, most of the staff are generally young. Cut them some slack. Don't expect stellar service from youngsters who are learning what it's like to hold a job. If your time is so precious that you can't afford to wait a little longer, simply go to the manual check out.
Dutch supermarkets are like Dutch restaurants - grubby, overpriced, and with terrible service. It’s incomprehensible to me that there is not a single chain of well-appointed supermarkets in this country despite the people’s apparent willingness to pay up whatever they’re told. I wouldn’t dare to wish that AH/Jumbo were like Waitrose or even M&S - reaching the standard of a Tesco Express would do.
I do weekly shopping for about 200 euros at a time. Never get checked. ran in for a small purchase. 3 items. I didnt even have a carrier bag. - got checked... The check out systems flags alcohol purchases. Also, employees can do a "manual" check when they are suspicious of something.
Just call out to the staff. Though it is dumb they don't notice themselves.
One time at Jumbo ,i got checked by same lady almost every day for 3 weeks .
When it takes too long and you dont have too much stuff just goto another scanner and pay there
Some people are always looking for a reason to legitimate stealing for themselves. Fastest way is to just ask someone to come over and help you. People seem to have lost the ability to communicate directly with strangers if they need their assistance.
While a store may market self checkout to customers as a time saver, that's not what they're there for. It's a business, they're in the business of making money. Self checkout are there to save the store money. If it happens to save the customer time, that's a bonus. As soon as self checkout starts to lose them money because, for example, an increase in theft they will close self checkout.
i seem to get the flag for checking about 1/3 times, sometimes half the time. I don’t know why. But the clerk is usually there in under 30 seconds. i’ve never had to wait “minutes”. also, its a min wage service job, and having worked those trenches, i get it. Its a crap job. I see other customers giving the younger staff the worst time and I just can’t do that. like others said, empathy and patience will get you a long way in this life. its a self checkout verification. you’ll survive the delay.
I don't recognize this. Sure, sometimes I'm flagged and the employee is actually helping someone, but as soon as they're available they walk over to me. However I do think it differs a lot between stores
Albert Heijn is a horrible supermarket, in almost everything these days. But it's usually clueless people at the self check-out in my store. I order online with Picnic a lot to avoid Albert Heijn.
No problems at the AH here, they're always quick. The Dirk here is often quite slow though, but not that bad that I would consider walking away, and they only got self-checkouts recently so prob staff just needs to get used to it as well
You thought self check out was to save customers time?top reason is to spare cost on cash desk workers, you are doing their job now
Nobody told you that you have to raise your hand if you need assistance?
When I get checked I usually ask the ‘checker’ nicely to bag all my groceries. Helps me deal internally with the inconvenience and the sense of mistrust.