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Comment by thebooktocome | Hacker News Reader

The big box store retailers have been trying for years to get computerized checkout systems to work. They're clunky, slow, and while they require perhaps a quarter the amount of staff to run, the ones in my local big box store seem to break down frequently.

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Sounds like a potential startup. :) If you could build a better one (which shouldn't be that hard if they're so bad, right?) you could dominate!

I like it when they have both, since sometimes I want a checker and bagger, especially if I have a bunch of stuff. Other times I just want to get in and out and the machine is consistently faster than checker + line.

Of course, the real issue is that lines are good for businesses. They keep the customer in the store longer, with more opportunity to spontaneously buy all that shiny stuff near or at the checkout stands... WalMart has like 10 self-checkout machines but every time I've been there they've had most or all of them turned off. I don't think it's because all of them had errors.

There's serious barriers to entry, probably a legal maze to navigate, and then convincing the big box stores that their current system sucks. Worse is better, right?

No legal issues, though you would want some insurance. Even if there are, if you get something that works then the big boys like Wallmart will fix things up for you.

Not to mention the fact that most times, it's easier to go through the line with a check-out person running the register. Not only do they do the work, but the self check-out lines at grocery stores often aren't set up for buying a lot of items.

If you have more than five things, it's typically easier just to let the check-out person do it for you.

So what? Just because I it will most likely happen doesn't mean anyone knows, when it will happen.

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