Ageism in the Self-checkout Lane

[Sherman A1]

It's time to raise awareness about how technology frustrations and lack of human interaction can be detrimental to older adults

There's a new form of ageism taking root and it appears to be an unintended consequence of both technology and a shrinking labor market. I refer to it as Self-checkout Ageism and it can be witnessed at major grocery store chains, coffee shops, and retailers.

I recently met a friend for breakfast and was surprised to see a note at the counter that said due to staffing shortages, the only option was to order at one of the kiosks. So, I proceeded to scroll through what felt like a dozen screens to order a small black coffee. Then I had to pay, which took several swipes with two different debit cards. It left me feeling a little uneasy as I had no receipt to prove whether I just bought one coffee or a weeks' worth of them.

As I took a seat and waited for my friend, that's when the challenges facing older adults reared its ugly head. I noticed a gentleman walk up to the counter and stand there for a couple minutes before seeing the "no staff" sign. He appeared confused as he moved over to the kiosk and tiny tablet sitting on the counter. Then he realized he didn't have his reading glasses, and started yo-yoing his head back and forth, squinting and then opening his eyes wide to try and navigate the menu. It wasn't long before he gave up and left.

https://www.nextavenue.org/ageism-in-the-self-checkout-lane/?

[ificandream]

1. I'm what you'd call an "older adult" ...

.. and I'm not sure there's really ageism at work there. He didn't have his glasses. Younger people wear glasses as well. Are they suffering from ageism? I don't think so. There are situations where you might say that. This, I don't think, was one. Speaking as an "older adult."

[Sanity Claws]

2. It would hurt someone with limited vision, regardless of age.

This is a place of public accommodation and should be accessible for all.
You might want to write the owner of the business and bring this to the owner's attention, if it is a local shop. If it is part of a large operation, like a chain of supermarkets or coffee shops, I'd throw in something about this lack of accessibility is a form of disability discrimination.

[luvs2sing]

3. Hubster and I are older adults..

and we are pretty tech savvy. During the early days of the pandemic, when grocery stores had special senior hours early in the morning, we noticed there were never any staffed checkout lines open, and a lot of folks our age and older were having a great deal of difficulty with self checkout, especially if they had a lot of groceries. I approached a manager after seeing one dear woman break down crying and leave the store because she couldn’t figure out how to work self checkout and there was no one there to help her. He just shrugged and said he couldn’t have anyone on the checkout line till after 8am. It’s definitely harder for older adults. Not all of us are tech savvy.

[Sherman A1]

4. In the case you describe the manager

was a horse's behind. If a customer was having a problem doing the work of a store employee (checking out) then he should have been on top of it and helped himself if he had no staffing available. I feel sorry for the lady you describe and hope she was able at some point to get her groceries.

The manager in question needs to find another line of work, he obviously isn't cut out for the one he has.

[bottomofthehill]

6. I am with you brother.

Hit 50 and the eyes went to shit. They seem to get worse every year since. Yes, younger people may have vision issues, but the reality check is, it gets worse as you get older.

[SheltieLover]

10. Absolutely!

[homegirl]

29. I never, never

use the self checkout line. If they passed the amount being saved in labor costs, say 6-10% from my bill I might, in a pinch consider it!

When I want to take advantage of shopping early I wait until 7:30 a.m.., then the cash register is operational by the time I am ready to check out.

Remember, if young people who need jobs are replaced by self check out we will be supporting them on welfare, Section 8 and Food stamps!

[jimfields33]

5. We should embrace progress. This situation actually will help Seniors learn new things

Which is extremely important to brain health. I see many seniors struggle the first few times and are so proud when they accomplish it. Learning is never ending and never should be.

[Chainfire]

7. I suspect that what the man in the story learned was that it is easier to stay at home

and make his own damn coffee.

[jimfields33]

9. Maybe but I hope not. I hope he went back and learned a new skill.

[Chainfire]

13. Since I retired, I don't want any new "skills" forced upon me. If I want to learn

something new, and I do from time to time, I pursue the education. Most of the time I stay home and make my own damn coffee. So, in effect, the self checkout store just loses one old customer and I don't pay four bucks for bad coffee. In this situation, there is a winner and a loser so I am happy with the outcome.

[Midnight Writer]

21. I do admit I get a kick out those YouTube videos where they ask college kids to use a rotary phone.

Last edited Wed Feb 16, 2022, 10:39 PM - Edit history (1)

Or ask people to drive a stick.

[Sherman A1]

14. That would have been my solution to the issue

had it been me. I would have simply walked out and never returned.

[delisen]

26. Gee maybe we just pass a law keeping some people out of the public space?

Yes I am being sarcastic. I really don’t like the new authoritarianism.

[Midnight Writer]

12. But how do we learn? There ought to be educational classes somewhere to show us the basics.

I don't know how to use a smartphone, I have just very rudimentary computer skills, I even had a problem for some time scanning my own credit card.

Yes, I know I am ignorant and technology has passed me by, but how do I learn?

Throwing us in the deep end and letting us flounder is not productive.

I had an experience on this site the other day when I said I did not know how to post a Youtube video.

The response?

"You just paste the URL. Easy-Peezy!"

I have no idea what a URL is, how to paste one, or what to paste it to. And when I look it up online, every example assumes I know basics that I am not familiar with.

I know I am not the only senior with this problem. How do we keep up?

[Chainfire]

17. I just don't worry about it.

I have never sent a text message, although I have opened a couple. The only people that matter to me know that if they want to communicate with me, it will be by talking on the phone or email, or God forbid, they can come visit. I do use email, and I check it every week or so, whether I need to or not...I rarely carry a phone with me any more and I have not suffered from it. I can find out what is happening in the world when I walk away from my workshop. Young people do not know that man can survive without a live screen in their face every 30 seconds. I am not sure that I want them to learn that secret; the knowledge gives me a tactical edge.

[imaginary girl]

18. Check your local library

I know it's more difficult with Covid, but many libraries have free or low cost tech classes. Others have staff available to help when you use tech at the library. Hope you can find something to help!

[Chainfire]

19. For some of us, the "local library" is a 40 mile drive.

And the reason that it is a "drive" is because there is no public transportation. Nor is there high speed internet, police protection, very unreliable fire protection (volunteers) or an emergency room around the corner. I am not complaining, I can afford live where I want to live, so I do.

The idea that people need to, or have to live on the edge of ever changing technical knowledge is just not so. Of course, the tech world wants you to think that you have to have a new thousand dollar phone every two years, constant new aps and ever increasing communication bills, but I am just not participating. Maybe I am a damn Communist!

[hippywife]

20. Check your public library

or local seniors organizations for free or inexpensive beginner computer classes. You can often audit college courses free, as well.

(This tip was brought to you by someone in their early 60s.)

[vanlassie]

8. Ageism permeates the consumer industry.

Every time I see tiny fonts, in places where nice visible fonts COULD have been used…. I assume the product 1. Was designed by some snot-nosed whipper snapper, and 2. Was NOT tested with older people, or in this case, people who need glasses in the shower to tell which is the shampoo. What I especially love is trying to see a serial number on the back of a modem or tv. Numbers that are essential to be able to SEE but which are smaller than ANY other on the entire label.

[KT2000]

16. Yes!

Especially on over the counter medications, the font has gotten so small it is unbelievable they are able to print it. I have reading glasses and use a magnifying glass to read whether or not the stuff is going to kill me.

[Chainfire]

11. I am old. I am becoming resistant to change.

About a dozen years ago I had my vision "fixed" with cataract surgery. It in fact only swapped me from being near sighted to being far sighted. Since I don't need glasses for anything but reading now, I often find myself without a pair when I need them. It really pisses me off when people think that I am stupid when I can't see a screen to punch in my pin number. And it completely galls my ass when the clerk or the customer behinds me starts the eye rolling and huffing...

I will not do business with stores that are going all self checkout. If we got breaks on the price for checking ourselves out it might appeal, but all I see is that self checkout lines are good for is eliminating jobs, reducing customer service and increasing corporate profits. I am also afraid of something not checking right, and someone subsequently accusing me of shoplifting. If someone put their hands on me accusing me of stealing, I am afraid that I would be 25 again and the secret Viking, that lives in me, would find his way out, and then I would go to jail for cause...

[KT2000]

15. tech frustrations

As every "advancement" is made in the use of technology, it always comes with the assumption that everyone is up-to-date and well-versed in using it - even if it has been out for a single day. It is also assumed by the companies that use the technology for customers, everything is correct on their end. The frustration is for the consumer only.

I signed up for Safeway coupons and found that I could not use them at the store and there was no explanation. I finally found out that the signup registered me with California when I live in Washington. (It appears California prices are less than Washington's) I continually get messages from a credit card company that wants me to pay online. Too bad - I cannot access my account and it won't let me set up a new one. In trying to set up an account with the broadband company, again it would not complete but showed a message in red that made no sense. As I talked with customer support to fix the problem, she said the message did not make sense. End of discussion. In discussing this with others, these are not unusual occurrences.

We are in a period of transition to technology and robots and a bit of humility and patience will go a long way.

[LizBeth]

22. I just posted a FB about how very hard it is for us older people all the way around

without human interaction. The stress of it. A new job that has nothing to do with tech, but EVERYTHING is thru the computer and something as simply as getting a healthcare plan has become a three-month nightmare.

[LizBeth]

23. I honestly think a lot of it is just young people thinking this is a norm and equally

go thru the frustrations and think it is the way it is while us older people are calling bullshit.

[rownesheck]

24. I'm 45

and have now realized this is no longer my planet. It's geared for younger people and this is how they want it. The same will happen to them when they get older. I just roll with it, or figure out something else. No big deal.

Personally, I love self checkout. I've struggled through working in retail my entire life so, obviously, I hate people. The fewer interactions I have with people, the better. Bring on the robots!

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

25. I have never been in a place without younger people working who

cheerfully help us oldsters with the technology.

The rare times I go into a MacDonalds (usually for a milkshake) I don't use the kiosk. I politely go to a register and place my order. Or, more likely, I go through the drive-through.

I intensely dislike self-checkout in grocery stores, for various reasons, mainly because it takes me vastly longer than it does a cashier. Plus, I believe in helping keep jobs, keep people employed.

[Lydiarose]

27. Osher Institute and other free courses for seniors

The Osher Institute offers free courses to seniors at many prestigious colleges and universities. Many other organizations such as libraries offer free courses to seniors. I was the oldest teacher at my school and taught myself all the latest computer technology. I loved the challenge and found it fun. Many young teachers would show up at my classroom when the dismissal bell rang, laptop in hand, seeking advice. I always helped them. In fact, I enjoyed teaching them more than my own (often uninterested and uncooperative) students. They were always grateful and appreciative.

[trof]

28. I'm just curious...why do you use a debit card?

I mean instead of a credit card where you have much more protection against fraud or scam?

[IcyPeas]

30. A new Whole Foods just opened near me that has that new technology where you just walk out

I don't know how it works (haven't googled it yet 😉 ). But if that is the future, and it works, it may be a good thing.

As far as the self checkouts go some of them could be made simpler. If you are the anxious type these can be very intimidating, such as the woman who got frustrated and walked out. Especially when there are people behind you in line... being older plus having anxiety can be difficult.