> I'd believe it if there were somehow a fine for using a human checkout. But there isn't.

Because there are easier, less abrasive ways of disincentivizing this behavior, namely by making fewer human checkouts available.

There's a 24-hour Kroger near where I used to live that would routinely shut down the last human cashier around 10PM, which was about an hour too early.

This resulted in a nightly backup at the two self-check lines they'd leave open, sometimes taking 20+ minutes to check out.

Even as someone who prefers to self-checkout: It was a mess.

This is by design.

Target often runs large metro stores with TWO cashiers. I once went into the Target on 14th St in Manhattan and saw just a single human. Most customers are already conditioned to go through the self checkout.

How are 20+ min waiting to do it yourself desirable for the store? Especially if done on a routine?

If people still buy the goods then you're willing to absorb the inconvenience.

I am all for these setups because I can check out faster in many cases and I can bag it as I want it bagged. saving money or not its the convenience which sold me

> I can bag it as I want it bagged

This exactly, in the US the norm is for cashiers (or baggers) to put just 2 or 3 items in a single plastic bag, and if you bring your own reusable bag they usually have no idea how to deal with that, unless you get a pro-level cashier who will then pack things in nicely.

I prefer to self bag, mostly that I don't need some teenager just throwing the fresh chicken or detergent in with the loose vegetables.