Of course it's stealing.
Whether you think it is a morally acceptable form of stealing is a different matter, but it's definitely stealing.
( scarpe We Stole Bikes, Sun 18 Sep 2011, 13:36, 1 reply)

I'd say not stealing, rather obtaining goods through deception.
The fact they build the system to allow it to be done so easily suggests they build the shrinkage into the figures when deciding to implement it.
FWIW, Personally I just don't use the automated checkouts but I can't condemn someone for doing something they're expected to by a bunch of amoral pricks.
(Me, I'm not... in any way intoxicated, Sun 18 Sep 2011, 15:38, closed)

It's not designed to be done so easily.
Why on earth would they want you to steal stuff from them??

Just because it's almost impossible to tell a bottle of water from a bottle of coke by weight doesn't mean they designed it so people can commit fraud/steal stuff!
(anonymousreality tickled your fancy on, Sun 18 Sep 2011, 16:38, closed)

Just because you can do something doesn't mean you should
You raise a good point about Tesco being full of amoral pricks though. Every time I go through the checkout I'm full of disgust and loathing for the capitalist millionaire who's scanning my items through the checkout.
( AWPS, Sun 18 Sep 2011, 17:08, closed)

And all those arselickers who get money by working.

( The Mock TurtIe ™ --- Thinks you are a cunt, on, Sun 18 Sep 2011, 18:46, closed)

Not sure I understand you.
Why would the person behind the checkout give a fuck whether you deceived the automated checkout or not?
I'm talking about the amoral pricks in management who decided that customers are worthless scum who don't deserve a person serving them, and that employees are a pointless drain of shareholder money.
The only people who benefit from automated checkouts are shareholders, and they probably don't get as much as they should once they've payed bonuses to the people whose idea automated checkouts was.
(Me, I'm not... in any way intoxicated, Sun 18 Sep 2011, 18:58, closed)

I agree
...but I just shop elsewhere
(IHateSprouts is baking a huge pie shaped like an enormous pie, Sun 18 Sep 2011, 19:19, closed)

I care
because I was brought up to believe stealing is wrong. I am a checkout person.

I also work on self-scan, and would stop someone putting through a bottle of Coke as cheapy water because, well, see above. I believe stealing is wrong, and (on a related note), if I was caught letting people steal through self scan, I would get it in the neck.
( Bats, Sun 18 Sep 2011, 20:28, closed)

Well, I'm sure the shareholders will give you a medal.
After all, it's not like they're trying to replace you with machines or anything...
(Me, I'm not... in any way intoxicated, Sun 18 Sep 2011, 20:56, closed)

I'm not saying I like self scan
but it's nice to be able to trust people so I don't have to watch them like a hawk in case they nick stuff.

Just makes my already mind-numbing shifts that bit easier, is all.
( Bats, Sun 18 Sep 2011, 20:57, closed)

I like self scan
because I don't like human interaction.
(Vigilante Man weeps because you're stupid., Sun 18 Sep 2011, 22:01, closed)

^ this
If people didn't want self-scan tills they wouldn't use them!

(I also don't like human interaction, to the point of crippling anxiety, sometimes).
(anonymousreality tickled your fancy on, Sun 18 Sep 2011, 23:43, closed)

I disagree
At the little tesco I sometimes use the staff are too busy chatting to serve
you so the only option is to use the self check out.
I don't steal 'owt tho.
(dyllon nice beaver., Mon 19 Sep 2011, 8:39, closed)

People use them because they put less staff on the tills.
So if you don't use self-scan it takes longer. In my (no ex-)local Tesco the staff were told to encourage the use of the self-scan also.
Which is my point -- they are replacing people with self-scan and trying to force customers to do the work of a checkout assistant. So they're both contributing to unemployment and having customers do unpaid work.
I'm not exactly Mr Sociable myself, but I'd much rather the men and women in the local Tesco store kept their jobs and be served by a person who can do things like serve alcohol and pick things up from behind the counter.
(Me, I'm not... in any way intoxicated, Mon 19 Sep 2011, 20:58, closed)