The Super Simple Way To Make Grocery Self-Checkout Way Faster

Speedy shoppers rejoice at the sight of a self-checkout lane. This is the perfect spot for those with just a few items in hand, or for experts that just know how to get in and out of the store quickly. It's even good for those days when you just don't feel up to interacting (hey, we've all been there).

While the first self-checkout graced the halls of Piggly Wiggly in 1986 to lower labor costs, it has brought around the added bonus of letting shoppers control the rate at which they get out the doors. This is what has made the self-checkout, for many people, all about speed. If you don't follow certain rules to keep things moving quickly, you might be slowing the entire operation down — whether you mean to or not (and which might be one of the reasons why Trader Joe's doesn't have a self-checkout). To avoid catching shoppers' anxiety at the sight of a self-checkout, we have some super simple ways to make your grocery self-checkout experience way faster.

While the self-checkout experience is a pretty straightforward concept, it's not uncommon to see shoppers holding up otherwise-speedy lines. The machines themselves can make things difficult, yelling at you to remove items from the bagging area, or flagging a nearby employee if you scan the barcode wrong. To avoid these obstacles, we're here to teach you some basic self-checkout rules you should always keep in mind.

Number one: only join the self-checkout line if you expect a speedy checkout from the get-go. This means if you have alcohol or produce in your cart, choose another lane. Flipping through produce descriptions or flagging down an attendant to check your ID inevitably slows down the entire process — especially if you don't have much experience with self-checkout to begin with. If you do have to take your produce through self-checkout, take note of the produce code while you're in the produce section to save time later.

Another rule of thumb with self-checkout is to never approach if you have a full cart. If you have over a dozen items to check out, it's best to get some help from a cashier. Don't take on the burden alone. Full carts frequently hold up lines and lead to more stress as you try to configure all your items to fit on the belt at once. Now if you don't have a full cart, and want things to go lighting speed, here's a sure-fire way to speed up that self-checkout process.

If you're looking to be a superstar at self-checkout, we have the perfect hack in mind for you. The key to success is having a game plan in mind while you're shopping rather than when you're ready to check out. The key in question? Start organizing your shopping cart. Trust us, it's not just for aesthetic purposes or to avoid crushing fragile egg cartoons (although that's an added bonus). 

Whenever you pick up a new item while shopping, lie it in your cart with the barcode facing up. This helps you be way more efficient when it's time to check out since you're not having to frantically hunt down the bar code. The best part of this method is you don't even need to take anything out of your cart — just grab the retractable scanner and fire away. Of course for some products like produce, exclusions apply (yes, you still have to weigh it). But overall this is a great step toward a speedier self-checkout experience for all.