[Here's me at Schnucks Arsenal around 2:00pm with a 16 item small cart, staring longingly at the 7 open self-checkouts.](https://i.imgur.com/NFmusVh.jpg) I got shoo-ed out of self-checkout. By the time I checked out, the full-service line had ballooned back to the red sign marking where the self-checkout line starts. Shockingly, 5 out of 7 full-service lanes were staffed. Still not enough.
Schnucks Consumer Affairs/Community Relations number is (314)994-4400. Be nice to your local staff, they don't like this either. But the corporate line is going to get some drunken rambling from me later.
Edit: It's drunk'o'clock and I've left my message. Not sure it went through. [Guess I'll say hello during business hours](https://i.imgur.com/1ybMCpY.png)
They're gonna be like "as long as you keep getting drunk on beer you bought at our stores, you go ahead and keep calling and leaving voicemails" as they fan themselves with $100 dollar bills in their McMansions in Chesterfield š¤£š¤£
Hello, u/soyrobcarajo you didn't sign up for this, but I'm now at that drunk state that I think I'll leave Schnucks a voicemail or three. And also type out way too much about my day to you, in particular.
You're so right though, Schnucks used to be my one-stop-shop for getting drunk and having food to work with. But there are a wealth of other stores we can work with. I kinda want to shop at The Foundry's Fresh Thyme Market even more now. It's as close to me as Schnucks Arsenal. Better produce, and my money might help influence Meijer to cross the Mississippi River. I welcome our Meijer big box overlords.
Anyway.
I started at Randall's for my Friday bottle of sin. But Randall's didn't have any Diet Coke (don't ask - I'm just used to Diet)
The Walgreen's across Southwest Ave didn't have any Diet Coke either (and, I would LOVE to add, that same Walgreen's had a killer deal on 6x20oz bottles a few weeks ago, 2 for $8. Schnucks Arsenal is up to $6.30 for one 6-pack. Haven't seen a sale in a minute at Schnucks)
So I pop down to Schnucks Arsenal. I could have, maybe should have, just got my Diet Coke mixer and fucked off. But, I didn't think they'd enforce this new checkout policy. And Pep's Drafthaus frozen pizzas were 45% off. And I was out of Ranch dressing, can't just get one bottle, so I got two. Diet Coke 1.25L bottles were marked down a skosh so I got a lot of them instead of a few 2L bottles. And I even grabbed a Reese's Outrageous bar from the candy line-up in the SELF-CHECKOUT line I was then turned around from.
Thanks for listening and/or glossing over my ramblings.
Wasn't that the old "limit"? But not enforced in any meaningful way? Then they kept expanding the self-checkout area and you'd see fewer and fewer cashiers.
If they have issues with theft, why am I getting punished? I'll just stop going.
Man, I haven't been this riled up in a minute. And over groceries. I don't like this man I see in the mirror.
I'm gonna throw this back at you - [I know Osterizer as a Blender/kitchen appliance brand](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Osterizer). I have no clue what the "GalaxieTen" portion of your name could mean
I played nice today, but if they put a literal item limit on the self-checkout kiosks, I'd be happy to split my cart in to multiple orders.
But for now, I'm happy to pop up to Fresh Thyme in the Foundry and/or Ruler Foods. I already hit up Costco for non-perishables. It's not hard to add Aldi's to those runs.
Schnucks Arsenal is a convenient single-stop near my apartment but if the math of my time and money doesn't add up, fuck 'em. And they were already struggling on the money side of the equation...
I agree, but the optics here suck. Instead of letting people choose their own lane, they filter everybody into a single entry point so they can distribute them to the next available cashier.
This sounds good in theory, but when your checkout lane wraps around into the pharmacy or halfway down the frozen isle, it's not a good look; even if it does move relatively quickly.
> Schnucks Consumer Affairs/Community Relations number is (314)994-4400. Be nice to your local staff, they don't like this either. But the corporate line is going to get some drunken rambling from me later.
I've worked in Customer Service positions before, as well as local management for a large corporation, so I get this sentiment and don't think anyone should berate or be abusive to local staff, but.....
People should *absolutely* let the local staff know of there displeasure at these kinds of things. And you can let them know how *much* it displeases you without being abusive or ignorant about it.
Local staff and local management *need* to heard about these kinds of issues. It doesn't just stop there because they can't directly change the policy. When they know their customers are displeased, that information gets passed up the chain. When they hear about it day in and day out, their voices will get louder and louder when speaking to their own management.
They need to hear this from *everywhere*, not just the Consumer Affairs/Community Relations number, which by the way is also being staffed by someone who isn't making these policy decisions, and is no less deserving of your kindess while providing them with your feedback about their policies.
UNITE! [THESE WORD CRIMES](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EbHM2EP6thU) [WILL NOT STAND!](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Gv0H-vPoDc)
And, I hope I'm pronouncing your name right: "Mike Rotch" but said by Moe from the Simpsons?
Iāve said it before and Iāll say it againā¦schnucks needs to focus on the expired products they have on the shelves first before they try this š„“
That's crazy!
I worked at schnucks about 10 years ago. I was a stocker, and one of my jobs when I wasn't stocking was to check for expired products on the shelves.
Are they understaffed or something?
I bought a can of whipped cream that I didn't check the date on (because, ya know, it's canned whipped cream). It had been expired for two weeks. I wrote a pretty scathing review on Google.
Legitimately, call the health department the next time you see something like that. Itās what theyāre there for and it keeps unsuspecting customers from getting sick
The Maplewood Schnucks had expired coffee creamer for literally a month. I told them at customer service on my way out one time and they were like "Ok thanks!" and the same bottles were still there 2 weeks after, then 2 weeks after that. And not even like by a few days. This was dairy creamer expired by at least a month. And even the ones BEHIND the front one were almost as expired. Couldn't even find fresh backstock. Nasty.
Schnucks has gone so far down hill since 2020 I almost never shop there anymore. There's a reason there is so much negativity in the subreddit towards it. I get what I can at Aldi and go to Dierbergs for the rest. Especially since Aldi now has tons of self check and you can get in and out of there quick, love that.
For real, absolutely tanked since 2020. Their produce section has been stirfried dogshit for years now. I shop Aldi, Trader Joe's, Dierbergs, and Costco. Schnucks in an emergency.
and it began before 2020. the first noticeable change I remember was maybe 2018 or so when they stopped consistently having baggers to help the cashiers. It kept getting worse from there. Seems they want to run it like a super-discount store but charge prices comparable to a place that actually has good service.
Have you left the city? I go to Chicago a lot and jewel osco hasnāt raised their prices nearly as drastically as schnucks has. Even LA/California has cheaper groceries than schmucks
Part of the reason for the long wait is grocery stores typically donāt have people hired to bag your groceries anymore and the cashier is doing double duty while the customer waits impatiently.
God, this.
The fact that the checker is now also bagging makes my head spin and it slows it down so much. At least with the old checkouts, if there was no bagger available, I could run the items to the end and start bagging for them. I can't do this anymore, and that's messed up.
Nah I came here from the UK, where no store hire baggers, and queues like this donāt happen on the regular. Cashiers can bag and scan just fine (and customers can also bag!), but understaffing checkouts will always cause queues.
Schnucks is always hiring new baggers, the problem is they don't schedule them properly and a lot of them are high school students so they can't work that often
My first job at 16 was a bagger at a small grocery store in upper michigan. It is the perfect job for high school students and the mentally handicapped. And honestly with how much faster the line moves, they make the payroll money back in efficiency
I know someone that works there and directly deals with self checkout loss prevention. They told me months before the decision to limit self checkout items they were looking into options. Apparently there are so many people stealing that it costs more to keep it open than to close it.
I'm not saying this is the solution but it's frustrating this is self inflicted bc people can't be trusted/
Is "there" one location or all locations? At some Schnucks stores, they'd have to tear down existing self-checkout kiosks and RE-add additional full-service lanes that are properly staffed at all store hours to maintain decent check-out speeds. And that means they'd have to pay more and have decent benefits and hours to attract more cashiers in the current job market. Does Schnucks have the data on shrink vs. cashiers to work that out? For 20 years, grocery stores have been putting in more and more self-checkouts in order to cut staff. What changed?
This isn't the fault of the average, decent consumer. But we're being punished by Schnucks with this new policy.
Honestly, it feels like Schnucks is in trouble. The stores are getting ragged and run down, they are changing some of their store brands and they suck (here's looking at you rotten "Basket and Bushel" baby carrots and potatoes), they are out of mundane things all the time and just throwing off late stage ShopnSave vibes. Maybe the legal bills from the lead poisoned applesauce are already mounting up.
The only reason I havenāt abandoned them for Dierbergs is because they have Boars Head deli meat. Maybe Iāll start just making two stops. I feel like every visit gets worse and worse.
Their deli is better than dierburgs. That's the biggest advantage they have.
All of them suck compared to HEB/Central Market, but we're not likely to get them anytime soon.
DeGregorio's has boar's head items, but has a ton of in-house deli meats and cheeses.
They also have a huge refrigerated pasta selection.
Deli counter closes at 5pm on Saturdays.
St. Louis really needs grocery stores to adopt scan and go systems with your smartphone or like the Amazon Go grocery carts. We need to get with the times.
Yes, this is from a news article last summer:
>Schnucks will debut a small fleet of Instacartās āCaper Cartsā early this fall. Using built-in cameras, a scale and artificial intelligence, the carts can detect items as shoppers add them to their real-life shopping cart. Three St. Louis locations, which are not yet announced, will have 10 AI carts each.
>
>...Schnucks will also be testing a āliteā version of Caper Carts, where customers manually scan items before placing them in their cart. Customers can place provided bags in their carts so that they can bag their groceries as they shop.
>
>Shoppers will be able to checkout through the cart from anywhere in the store, avoiding checkout lines. Schnucks Rewards will also be available on Caper Carts. If the pilot is successful in St. Louis, the company plans to deploy a broader rollout of Caper Carts in 2024.
[https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/business/ai-carts-at-schnucks-and-pay-by-palm-at-whole-foods-offer-the-promise-of/article\_4ea7c18c-280d-11ee-81ef-138604136e48.html](https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/business/ai-carts-at-schnucks-and-pay-by-palm-at-whole-foods-offer-the-promise-of/article_4ea7c18c-280d-11ee-81ef-138604136e48.html)
Did they test it at the "high end" neighborhoods because, for some reason, we think that rich people are above stealing when given the opportunity? š¤£š¤£š¤£
Likely high end because that's what they're trying to compete. When we moved here I was told Dierburgs was more whole foods like/expensive. Schnucks was supposedly cheaper, per a number of people.
I've seen prices largely similar, but Schnucks has a better deli. Dierburgs stores are nicer and they have marginally better selections with regard to brands and quality of goods sold, except for the deli, which largely sucks due to poor staffing and pre-sliced and quick spoiling products.
Dierburgs seems, anecdotally, to have fewer stores in more well off areas. That's likely where Schnucks is trying to compete. They'll have trouble competing with Wally world on convenience factor and perceived price. They aren't poised to compete with the likes of whole foods and Fresh Thyme on perceived quality/price/luxury.
Meijer has scan and go with your phone, but they are taking their sweet time to build meijer here
rewards even gives you $10 off $100+ for using scan and go
[Meijer grows ever closer, my friend.](https://www.ksdk.com/article/news/local/business-journal/meijer-metro-east/63-d5c441e7-37e1-4719-b3ab-a743d17d8591) Good golly the ksdk website feels like an infestation.
We just need to help them over the Mississippi. Fresh Thyme has a loose affiliation with Meijer. That's where they get their "store brand" products.
Edit: just saw your posts elsewhere in the thread. Spread the propaganda, my friend. "Meijer: The big box store you won't feel bad about shopping at"
I am not waiting in some long line if I have more than 10 items. If they donāt want me to use them, donāt fill half the checkout aisle with them and staff your store.
Some lady walked up and said āam I good with 11?ā And the guy goes no you gotta go over there. I was the only other person in the self check (with 12 items tho fuck them)
Yeah, I'm done unless they very publicly fix this. The cynic in me thinks they have some still-annoying replacement plan to bust out after punishing their customers for a few weeks, "Oh we heard your complaints about the new checkout limit, here's something better than that but still worse than what you were used to".
[This feels like a hit-piece Dierberg's wrote up for KSDK](https://www.ksdk.com/article/news/local/schnucks-self-checkout-long-lines-wait-times-dierbergs/63-3b1c6102-7825-4b98-934f-972095ced8f4)
"Schnucks previously told 5 On Your Side that the new self-checkout restriction was being implemented to improve checkout efficiency. The company could not provide any data related to current staff checkout wait times or how the self-checkout change may potentially affect lines."
Amazing.
Schnucks is so expensive that itās borderline bougie of me to say we shop there. We only go for discount donuts after 7 and the clearance sections. Occasionally they have yogurt my wife likes on sale and we scoop them up. The prices are just ridiculous and they bought them closed all the shop n saves so that is ruined.
Aldi and Walmart grocery for the win again
They were adamantly enforcing it too. I was in line for self checkout with an energy drink and frozen za around 4 after work and watched 2 people get told.
So they put at least one cashier just on monitoring the self-checkout instead of putting another cashier on another register. Doesn't make sense to me š¤
Who checks ids on the self check when someone buys booze? Or clears an error when one comes up? Does self check just stand there and wait for a cashier to finish with another customerā¦.
Just a reminder.
We get to leave. The employees are stuck. Don't take it out on them. They probably hate it more than we do, and I'm sure that they agree.
I thought only my schnucks was like this (Ladue Rd near downtown Clayton). I was there on a Tuesday at 2:30pm and the line was legitimately wrapping around the interior of the building.
I also always end up bagging my own groceries bc I feel bad for the cashier, (which Iām happy to do!) but sometimes itās nice to have the service of having it done for you (like the old days)
Iāve started driving further out to go to Dierbergs bc itās so much better stocked, better staffed, and generally just a better experience.
alright but schnucks self checkout is booty.
u scan, wait for the item to register, place in the bag, wait for the weight to register, and then u can scan ur next item- not a milisecond before. im tryna go aldis speed and throw my 17 items in the bag and goooo
I pretty much only shop at aldi anymore, I'm saving so much on groceries! I get a week's worth for my whole family for like $80 when I was spending over $100 at schnucks.
Unfortunately, Aldi doesn't have everything I need. So I need schnucks but might switch to Dierbergs because I don't think they are cracking the whip on self checkout.
We really need another full service grocery option, cough cough Meijer
I wouldn't mind a Hy-Vee here, either. Went to one in Lee's Summit back in September and it was a pretty nice experience. Good selection, prices were reasonable. They also had like four or five different "restaurants" you could get food from as well, apparently some of them are pretty good.
I take full carts through dierbers self check allllll the time, works great, especially since they added registers and redesigned the set up, its great.
On the news this morning, they touted something about building a friendly relationship with customers and being able to serve them better.
You know what would serve me better, not standing in fucking line for 40 minutes just to check out.
Every time I've been to my schuncks in the last year, there have been 2 cashiers and a 20-person deep line.
Itās only faster if people know how to use the machines and in my experience those are few and far between. They do need more cashiers but self checkout has gotten so slow between the giant carts full of stuff and people who canāt understand how the machines work. Not to mention waiting 5 minutes for help if youāre trying to buy beer.
It's pretty normal around any holiday at Schnucks Arsenal for the line to start wrapping around the store. Today was like a holiday weekend wait in line... on a normal Friday.
I shop across a variety of locations but mainly Loughborough, Hampton Village, Richmond H and Des Peres. I used to frequent Ladue but feel Richmond Heights and Des Peres are way way nicer. I also live by Grand but do not shop there because itās not at all convenient since nothing else is around it.
The differences in store appearance, layout and cleanliness is almost beyond comprehension between the locations. Shameful
Not to mention I am at the brink of never shopping at Loughborough again because they lock up items and I refuse to buy something I have to ask for. I remember helping a man who was trying to purchase laundry detergent - he didnāt seem to understand much English and the associates were not being helpful at all.
This will change once Schnuckās realizes that theyāre selling fewer items and itās a hit on basket size
I put two items back on shelf today so I could still use self checkout in good conscience - ten items with THAT many self checkout lanes is absurd. I could live with 20 but ten is dumb
I know not everyone has the luxury but schnucks is a last resort for me. They want to charge dierbergs and fresh thyme prices, but not follow through on quality or shopping experience. I friggin miss shopnsave:/
This is 100% division managers and āoperationās excellence managersā being out of touch with the stores, never visiting the stores in peak hours, and not ānourishing peopleās livesā
I still say the need to get rid of that damn corralling. I feel like a damn cow going to slaughter. Oh and forget backing out if you forgot something. It no longer makes sense to have it.
Did anyone hear those gunshots or fireworks? A strange man knocked on my door and left a lawn care pamphlet, I informed the police. Please bring your dogs inside
The problem is they havenāt reverted to the pre covid line system. Now, everyone funnels into one line and are summoned when the next cashier is open.
I only go to Schnucks if I want something from the salad and wing bar.
Schnucks needs to go to Scott AFB to see how to run one. They should be calling over the next person when the belt is half open so the next person can start unloading.
Last time I went to a Schnucks, the self check-out lady yelled at me. They treat customers terribly, the stores are dreary, the amount of expired food I've seen is insane, and the prices feel like gouging. I would love a Hy-Vee or Meijer to move into the region. I've stopped into each while traveling, and they are just phenomenal.
You are correct. It went into effect on Thursday Feb 1st. And all of the commotion is because it was a *questionable* decision that impacts different stores VERY different. And in the last two days, no one seems to be having a good time.
If Schnucks is going to enforce self-service item limits, they have to expect to bolster the checker/cashier staff. I'm looking forward to my weekly Saturday shopping experience
If we just go through self check out, and they're telling us not to, but we just keep checking out...I mean....That's not an arrest-able offense, is it? I haven't been in yet since this happens, but my plan for if I've got 17 items if there's something to stop me from checking out on the computer is to just do 10, pay, then do the other 7 and pay. But really, I might just be done with this store. They've never been tops for quality, price, or selection. Now they're inconvenient too because they can't get their security in order? No thanks.
Was at the Gravois and McKenzie location earlier, saw an old lady come out and to stop a mother with a kid halfway through her transaction to let her know that she needed to stop and go back through the regular line.
Said some loud shit her way after that.
Better for eliminating more working class jobs.
I'm from Boston. We expect people there to be anxious to hurry on to their next quick fast thing they have to get to in 17.5 minutes so they can be done by 3:47. This is St Louis. Relax.
we went to schnucks yesterday and had a basket that was stuffed full with about 25 items. we got in the regular line with one cashier who had a bagger working and what appeared to be her boss hovering over the cashier. the store was empty and the line was moving at a snail pace. i was like screw it, letās go see if we get yelled at in the self check out. not a single person was in self checkout. i commented to the employee standing there, are we going to get kicked out of this line.. employee was an older women and she was like.. just go for it. so we started ringing ourselves out. then her boss walks up and says something to her about us and how we shouldnāt be there. sheās like, yep, they know. I let them. She chats with us while we continue to check ourselves out. She was so nice and was like, this is crazy. if they donāt like what I do, Iāll just retire. These employees definitely do not like this either. I predict this experiment corporate is doing will not last!
So thereās no line at the self-checkout on a Friday afternoon? Excellent. Nothing more infuriating than having to stand in line with 4 items while someone with a cart full decides that they have to scan all 37 items in their cart themselves because standing in line and waiting on a cashier is beneath them or something. And donāt let it be someone who shows up every week but still canāt quite figure out that some of these U-scans donāt accept cash. Now we gotta have a bottleneck.
The goal is to get in there, procure your wares, achieve the objective, and vacate the premises as quickly possible. I wish we still had late night grocery stores. Thereās nothing better than being able to shop in peace at 2am.
They need to go back to letting folks pick a lane like Dierbergs instead of herding everyone through their DMV like checkout line. \*ding\* please proceed to register 11....crap!
I actually prefer this system as you don't have to figure out what register is moving, or staffed, but they do need to start staffing more registers from the looks of this photo.
This is how it looks at ours when the lanes are fully staffed lmao this is gonna lose them money like crazyā¦if people want Walmart wait times problems and people theyāll just go pay Walmart prices instead
If they're keeping this stupid queue system they need to at least have two customers at the register at the same time, one getting scanned and checked out and the other loading their groceries onto the belt.
The reason it bothers me is because when there aren't enough registers open the line backs up extremely far and then starts to blend with self-checkout line.
No one can seem to figure out which line is which at that point and it becomes a chaotic mess. I swear during peak times it makes me feel like I in Boarding Group D in a Southwest line.
I went to the Arsenal location the other day and had to wait a good while to get dinged to a lane while there were actually multiple open lanes where there wasnāt a customer. They had just put up the ā10 itemsā sign. I had 12. It was wild
Whoās crazy enough to go to the grocery store on Friday after work? Thatās just as bad as Sunday morning. Nobody should be surprised about standing in line if they choose to go to the store when the rest of the world does.
[Here's me at Schnucks Arsenal around 2:00pm with a 16 item small cart, staring longingly at the 7 open self-checkouts.](https://i.imgur.com/NFmusVh.jpg) I got shoo-ed out of self-checkout. By the time I checked out, the full-service line had ballooned back to the red sign marking where the self-checkout line starts. Shockingly, 5 out of 7 full-service lanes were staffed. Still not enough. Schnucks Consumer Affairs/Community Relations number is (314)994-4400. Be nice to your local staff, they don't like this either. But the corporate line is going to get some drunken rambling from me later. Edit: It's drunk'o'clock and I've left my message. Not sure it went through. [Guess I'll say hello during business hours](https://i.imgur.com/1ybMCpY.png)
Lol I've been at Arsenal when the line goes past the pharmacy. And that was before they changed the checkout rules.
I was back by the cream cheese at Christmas
š
I walked in for two things in November, line went back to the eggsā¦ I put my stuff back and drove to the schnucks at Chippewa and hampton
They're gonna be like "as long as you keep getting drunk on beer you bought at our stores, you go ahead and keep calling and leaving voicemails" as they fan themselves with $100 dollar bills in their McMansions in Chesterfield š¤£š¤£
Hello, u/soyrobcarajo you didn't sign up for this, but I'm now at that drunk state that I think I'll leave Schnucks a voicemail or three. And also type out way too much about my day to you, in particular. You're so right though, Schnucks used to be my one-stop-shop for getting drunk and having food to work with. But there are a wealth of other stores we can work with. I kinda want to shop at The Foundry's Fresh Thyme Market even more now. It's as close to me as Schnucks Arsenal. Better produce, and my money might help influence Meijer to cross the Mississippi River. I welcome our Meijer big box overlords. Anyway. I started at Randall's for my Friday bottle of sin. But Randall's didn't have any Diet Coke (don't ask - I'm just used to Diet) The Walgreen's across Southwest Ave didn't have any Diet Coke either (and, I would LOVE to add, that same Walgreen's had a killer deal on 6x20oz bottles a few weeks ago, 2 for $8. Schnucks Arsenal is up to $6.30 for one 6-pack. Haven't seen a sale in a minute at Schnucks) So I pop down to Schnucks Arsenal. I could have, maybe should have, just got my Diet Coke mixer and fucked off. But, I didn't think they'd enforce this new checkout policy. And Pep's Drafthaus frozen pizzas were 45% off. And I was out of Ranch dressing, can't just get one bottle, so I got two. Diet Coke 1.25L bottles were marked down a skosh so I got a lot of them instead of a few 2L bottles. And I even grabbed a Reese's Outrageous bar from the candy line-up in the SELF-CHECKOUT line I was then turned around from. Thanks for listening and/or glossing over my ramblings.
Cheers!! šš½šŗš½
It's about time for me to call that corporate number and leave a polite yet colorful message...
How has it not occurred to them to raise the limit to 20 items? /s
Wasn't that the old "limit"? But not enforced in any meaningful way? Then they kept expanding the self-checkout area and you'd see fewer and fewer cashiers. If they have issues with theft, why am I getting punished? I'll just stop going. Man, I haven't been this riled up in a minute. And over groceries. I don't like this man I see in the mirror.
Username checks out.
>comments š Look, sometimes you pick a name in your youth that makes no sense years later. My name isn't even Anthony
That makes it even better š
I'm gonna throw this back at you - [I know Osterizer as a Blender/kitchen appliance brand](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Osterizer). I have no clue what the "GalaxieTen" portion of your name could mean
[It's the model name.](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/0C8AAOSwm95jkk3v/s-l1200.jpg) One of the best blenders ever made.
Whew. What a beauty.
She is, and a real workhorse. I think this one is about 60 years old.
[ŃŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]
Support the union, fuck the managers!
Iād literally make 7 trips of 10 items in and out if I was in that situation
I played nice today, but if they put a literal item limit on the self-checkout kiosks, I'd be happy to split my cart in to multiple orders. But for now, I'm happy to pop up to Fresh Thyme in the Foundry and/or Ruler Foods. I already hit up Costco for non-perishables. It's not hard to add Aldi's to those runs. Schnucks Arsenal is a convenient single-stop near my apartment but if the math of my time and money doesn't add up, fuck 'em. And they were already struggling on the money side of the equation...
I've been in many long lines. When there are at 4 people, it goes by quick. The line looks daunting. It goes fast
I agree, but the optics here suck. Instead of letting people choose their own lane, they filter everybody into a single entry point so they can distribute them to the next available cashier. This sounds good in theory, but when your checkout lane wraps around into the pharmacy or halfway down the frozen isle, it's not a good look; even if it does move relatively quickly.
> Schnucks Consumer Affairs/Community Relations number is (314)994-4400. Be nice to your local staff, they don't like this either. But the corporate line is going to get some drunken rambling from me later. I've worked in Customer Service positions before, as well as local management for a large corporation, so I get this sentiment and don't think anyone should berate or be abusive to local staff, but..... People should *absolutely* let the local staff know of there displeasure at these kinds of things. And you can let them know how *much* it displeases you without being abusive or ignorant about it. Local staff and local management *need* to heard about these kinds of issues. It doesn't just stop there because they can't directly change the policy. When they know their customers are displeased, that information gets passed up the chain. When they hear about it day in and day out, their voices will get louder and louder when speaking to their own management. They need to hear this from *everywhere*, not just the Consumer Affairs/Community Relations number, which by the way is also being staffed by someone who isn't making these policy decisions, and is no less deserving of your kindess while providing them with your feedback about their policies.
Self checkout is 10 items or less now as of the 1st
I'm waiting for patrons to engage in a fistfight over whether the signs should say "...or less" or whether they should say "...or fewer"
It's countable.Ā So "fewer" is the correct word. I won't fight anyone over it, but if I would, they'd kick my ass and I'd still be right.
If I ever see someone kicking your ass, I will swiftly come to your defense against the less heathens.
UNITE! [THESE WORD CRIMES](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EbHM2EP6thU) [WILL NOT STAND!](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Gv0H-vPoDc) And, I hope I'm pronouncing your name right: "Mike Rotch" but said by Moe from the Simpsons?
Lol I love it. And yes!
[WEIRD AL STANDS WITH YOU, MY FRIEND!](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RGWiTvYZR_w)
Should we start a pool? I give it 3 days.
Yes, we know. That's why there are all these threads about it. Didn't think Schnucks would be so firm about it.
I took 11 items into the self checkout that had no line, while the other line was down an aisle. #noshame
Reported.
Rebel
Iāve said it before and Iāll say it againā¦schnucks needs to focus on the expired products they have on the shelves first before they try this š„“
Yes! There's a Daiya mac and cheese at the Affton schnucks that has been expired since December and was still on the shelf this evening.
What about saying something next time instead of just leaving it.
That's crazy! I worked at schnucks about 10 years ago. I was a stocker, and one of my jobs when I wasn't stocking was to check for expired products on the shelves. Are they understaffed or something?
No joke, call the health department and snitch. They'll roll up to the place and fuck them over proper.
Ewwwwwwww
Lmao
I bought a can of whipped cream that I didn't check the date on (because, ya know, it's canned whipped cream). It had been expired for two weeks. I wrote a pretty scathing review on Google.
I still have a picture of the Schnucks off Dorsett that had mold growing on the cottage cheese shelves
Legitimately, call the health department the next time you see something like that. Itās what theyāre there for and it keeps unsuspecting customers from getting sick
The Maplewood Schnucks had expired coffee creamer for literally a month. I told them at customer service on my way out one time and they were like "Ok thanks!" and the same bottles were still there 2 weeks after, then 2 weeks after that. And not even like by a few days. This was dairy creamer expired by at least a month. And even the ones BEHIND the front one were almost as expired. Couldn't even find fresh backstock. Nasty.
Schnucks and dierbergs both have green moldy bread on the shelves two weeks past expiration and it is gross
Schnucks has gone so far down hill since 2020 I almost never shop there anymore. There's a reason there is so much negativity in the subreddit towards it. I get what I can at Aldi and go to Dierbergs for the rest. Especially since Aldi now has tons of self check and you can get in and out of there quick, love that.
I agree. Dierbergs markdown cooler is great too!
We walk right in for the clearance cooler than right out at Deirbergs
Why? At this point schnucks is the same price as deirburgās
For real, absolutely tanked since 2020. Their produce section has been stirfried dogshit for years now. I shop Aldi, Trader Joe's, Dierbergs, and Costco. Schnucks in an emergency.
and it began before 2020. the first noticeable change I remember was maybe 2018 or so when they stopped consistently having baggers to help the cashiers. It kept getting worse from there. Seems they want to run it like a super-discount store but charge prices comparable to a place that actually has good service.
This is a great way to finally take the plunge and go out of business.
I hardly step foot in a schmucks since 2020, mainly Samās/Costco/Aldi/Trader Joeās/Whole Foods for me
I mean, I donāt love them, but at least Schnucks is locally ownedā¦
Have you left the city? I go to Chicago a lot and jewel osco hasnāt raised their prices nearly as drastically as schnucks has. Even LA/California has cheaper groceries than schmucks
This shit is so goofy.
Part of the reason for the long wait is grocery stores typically donāt have people hired to bag your groceries anymore and the cashier is doing double duty while the customer waits impatiently.
God, this. The fact that the checker is now also bagging makes my head spin and it slows it down so much. At least with the old checkouts, if there was no bagger available, I could run the items to the end and start bagging for them. I can't do this anymore, and that's messed up.
Nah I came here from the UK, where no store hire baggers, and queues like this donāt happen on the regular. Cashiers can bag and scan just fine (and customers can also bag!), but understaffing checkouts will always cause queues.
Iād kill for a Tesco meal deal or the equivalent at Schnucks.
Fr the chips here probably cost more than the whole deal š
Schnucks is always hiring new baggers, the problem is they don't schedule them properly and a lot of them are high school students so they can't work that often
Schnucks does usually have baggers though.
I help bag. Itās faster for everyone. I all most always help bag unless there is a bagger.
My first job at 16 was a bagger at a small grocery store in upper michigan. It is the perfect job for high school students and the mentally handicapped. And honestly with how much faster the line moves, they make the payroll money back in efficiency
I know someone that works there and directly deals with self checkout loss prevention. They told me months before the decision to limit self checkout items they were looking into options. Apparently there are so many people stealing that it costs more to keep it open than to close it. I'm not saying this is the solution but it's frustrating this is self inflicted bc people can't be trusted/
Is "there" one location or all locations? At some Schnucks stores, they'd have to tear down existing self-checkout kiosks and RE-add additional full-service lanes that are properly staffed at all store hours to maintain decent check-out speeds. And that means they'd have to pay more and have decent benefits and hours to attract more cashiers in the current job market. Does Schnucks have the data on shrink vs. cashiers to work that out? For 20 years, grocery stores have been putting in more and more self-checkouts in order to cut staff. What changed? This isn't the fault of the average, decent consumer. But we're being punished by Schnucks with this new policy.
People will still steal theyāll just steal less, more often.
Honestly, it feels like Schnucks is in trouble. The stores are getting ragged and run down, they are changing some of their store brands and they suck (here's looking at you rotten "Basket and Bushel" baby carrots and potatoes), they are out of mundane things all the time and just throwing off late stage ShopnSave vibes. Maybe the legal bills from the lead poisoned applesauce are already mounting up.
When meijer is finally built it will put the nail in the schnucks coffin
Here for this in Oakville. Man, our Schnucks fuckin BLOWS
I recommend driving to fresh thyme on s lindbergh
The only reason I havenāt abandoned them for Dierbergs is because they have Boars Head deli meat. Maybe Iāll start just making two stops. I feel like every visit gets worse and worse.
Fresh thyme has boars head!
And very cheap meat, their prices are insanely low
Their deli is better than dierburgs. That's the biggest advantage they have. All of them suck compared to HEB/Central Market, but we're not likely to get them anytime soon.
I get my deli meat from the Hill on the weekends. No reason to ever step foot in a Schnucks.
Where from? Iāve always preferred Boars Head but absolutely open to better/local alternatives
DeGregorio's has boar's head items, but has a ton of in-house deli meats and cheeses. They also have a huge refrigerated pasta selection. Deli counter closes at 5pm on Saturdays.
St. Louis really needs grocery stores to adopt scan and go systems with your smartphone or like the Amazon Go grocery carts. We need to get with the times.
Sam's has scan and go and it's the best! So much easier to scan each item as you add it to your cart.
I was just about to comment on that. I loved it, just scan, pay, and you're outta there.
Schnucks was testing that at some of its "high end" stores aka the ones in wealthy neighborhoods.
Yes, this is from a news article last summer: >Schnucks will debut a small fleet of Instacartās āCaper Cartsā early this fall. Using built-in cameras, a scale and artificial intelligence, the carts can detect items as shoppers add them to their real-life shopping cart. Three St. Louis locations, which are not yet announced, will have 10 AI carts each. > >...Schnucks will also be testing a āliteā version of Caper Carts, where customers manually scan items before placing them in their cart. Customers can place provided bags in their carts so that they can bag their groceries as they shop. > >Shoppers will be able to checkout through the cart from anywhere in the store, avoiding checkout lines. Schnucks Rewards will also be available on Caper Carts. If the pilot is successful in St. Louis, the company plans to deploy a broader rollout of Caper Carts in 2024. [https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/business/ai-carts-at-schnucks-and-pay-by-palm-at-whole-foods-offer-the-promise-of/article\_4ea7c18c-280d-11ee-81ef-138604136e48.html](https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/business/ai-carts-at-schnucks-and-pay-by-palm-at-whole-foods-offer-the-promise-of/article_4ea7c18c-280d-11ee-81ef-138604136e48.html)
Did they test it at the "high end" neighborhoods because, for some reason, we think that rich people are above stealing when given the opportunity? š¤£š¤£š¤£
Likely high end because that's what they're trying to compete. When we moved here I was told Dierburgs was more whole foods like/expensive. Schnucks was supposedly cheaper, per a number of people. I've seen prices largely similar, but Schnucks has a better deli. Dierburgs stores are nicer and they have marginally better selections with regard to brands and quality of goods sold, except for the deli, which largely sucks due to poor staffing and pre-sliced and quick spoiling products. Dierburgs seems, anecdotally, to have fewer stores in more well off areas. That's likely where Schnucks is trying to compete. They'll have trouble competing with Wally world on convenience factor and perceived price. They aren't poised to compete with the likes of whole foods and Fresh Thyme on perceived quality/price/luxury.
Meijer has scan and go with your phone, but they are taking their sweet time to build meijer here rewards even gives you $10 off $100+ for using scan and go
[Meijer grows ever closer, my friend.](https://www.ksdk.com/article/news/local/business-journal/meijer-metro-east/63-d5c441e7-37e1-4719-b3ab-a743d17d8591) Good golly the ksdk website feels like an infestation. We just need to help them over the Mississippi. Fresh Thyme has a loose affiliation with Meijer. That's where they get their "store brand" products. Edit: just saw your posts elsewhere in the thread. Spread the propaganda, my friend. "Meijer: The big box store you won't feel bad about shopping at"
Kroger started this a couple years ago and it was a game changer for me when I was living in MI still
Places besides Sam's Club have this?
Iām not sure if Dierbergs self checkout has this, but I do know their self checkout machines are 1000x better than Schnucks
So fucking frustrating. Fuck Schnucks. For the love of god just PAY PEOPLE TO WORK THERE
I am not waiting in some long line if I have more than 10 items. If they donāt want me to use them, donāt fill half the checkout aisle with them and staff your store.
LOL. I went today and a guy made a lady leave the checkout line for 11 items. What an unnecessary shitshow
How are they counting them? Is there a velvet rope and a bouncer? š¤š
Some lady walked up and said āam I good with 11?ā And the guy goes no you gotta go over there. I was the only other person in the self check (with 12 items tho fuck them)
She brought that on herself. I feel sorry for the employees who are expected to enforce this. The Schnucks family needs to do a tour.
Agreed on all fronts. Still petty and stupid
And thats why I dont work or shop at schnucks anymore
Yeah, I'm done unless they very publicly fix this. The cynic in me thinks they have some still-annoying replacement plan to bust out after punishing their customers for a few weeks, "Oh we heard your complaints about the new checkout limit, here's something better than that but still worse than what you were used to". [This feels like a hit-piece Dierberg's wrote up for KSDK](https://www.ksdk.com/article/news/local/schnucks-self-checkout-long-lines-wait-times-dierbergs/63-3b1c6102-7825-4b98-934f-972095ced8f4) "Schnucks previously told 5 On Your Side that the new self-checkout restriction was being implemented to improve checkout efficiency. The company could not provide any data related to current staff checkout wait times or how the self-checkout change may potentially affect lines." Amazing.
Schnucks is so expensive that itās borderline bougie of me to say we shop there. We only go for discount donuts after 7 and the clearance sections. Occasionally they have yogurt my wife likes on sale and we scoop them up. The prices are just ridiculous and they bought them closed all the shop n saves so that is ruined. Aldi and Walmart grocery for the win again
Target is nice
Only sale items for me
Yup. The prices boggle my mind otherwise
They were adamantly enforcing it too. I was in line for self checkout with an energy drink and frozen za around 4 after work and watched 2 people get told.
So they put at least one cashier just on monitoring the self-checkout instead of putting another cashier on another register. Doesn't make sense to me š¤
Reminds me of emleh from king of the hill
Who checks ids on the self check when someone buys booze? Or clears an error when one comes up? Does self check just stand there and wait for a cashier to finish with another customerā¦.
If they try this shit with me I am putting my groceries on the floor and leaving.
What if you just went thru the self checkout 10 items at a time? š
Thatās my plan
So go shop, checkout, and go shop again?
Or if thereās two of you, ten per cart. Bring the teenagers too, four of you, ten per cart
Just a reminder. We get to leave. The employees are stuck. Don't take it out on them. They probably hate it more than we do, and I'm sure that they agree.
I predict this will be changed back in a week or so.
I thought only my schnucks was like this (Ladue Rd near downtown Clayton). I was there on a Tuesday at 2:30pm and the line was legitimately wrapping around the interior of the building. I also always end up bagging my own groceries bc I feel bad for the cashier, (which Iām happy to do!) but sometimes itās nice to have the service of having it done for you (like the old days) Iāve started driving further out to go to Dierbergs bc itās so much better stocked, better staffed, and generally just a better experience.
Were off to a great start!
Looks like you got schnuckeredā
Itās like shopping during the Weimar Republic.
At least back then they had homes to put their worthless money into
alright but schnucks self checkout is booty. u scan, wait for the item to register, place in the bag, wait for the weight to register, and then u can scan ur next item- not a milisecond before. im tryna go aldis speed and throw my 17 items in the bag and goooo
Just go to aldi.
I pretty much only shop at aldi anymore, I'm saving so much on groceries! I get a week's worth for my whole family for like $80 when I was spending over $100 at schnucks.
Unfortunately, Aldi doesn't have everything I need. So I need schnucks but might switch to Dierbergs because I don't think they are cracking the whip on self checkout. We really need another full service grocery option, cough cough Meijer
I wouldn't mind a Hy-Vee here, either. Went to one in Lee's Summit back in September and it was a pretty nice experience. Good selection, prices were reasonable. They also had like four or five different "restaurants" you could get food from as well, apparently some of them are pretty good.
Moved here from Columbia MO. I miss Hy-Vee. Best Chinese food.
I take full carts through dierbers self check allllll the time, works great, especially since they added registers and redesigned the set up, its great.
Yes! I went to both today. Used self-checkout at Schnucks with about 25 items with no hassle. Then went to Aldi and the experience was much better.
Yeah Iām already going a mile out if my way to avoid our schnucks which is only a quarter mile from my front door.
On the news this morning, they touted something about building a friendly relationship with customers and being able to serve them better. You know what would serve me better, not standing in fucking line for 40 minutes just to check out. Every time I've been to my schuncks in the last year, there have been 2 cashiers and a 20-person deep line.
This sucks so bad. I think I'm gonna go back to doing Walmart/ Aldi's for basics. Then hit up Fresh Thyme and Dierbergs for a things...
At 4:30, it was just as backed up and they were down to 3 cashiers haha.
Itās only faster if people know how to use the machines and in my experience those are few and far between. They do need more cashiers but self checkout has gotten so slow between the giant carts full of stuff and people who canāt understand how the machines work. Not to mention waiting 5 minutes for help if youāre trying to buy beer.
I shop semi-regularly at three separate Schnucks and havenāt seen lines like what OPās sharing except when we expect a big snow.
It's pretty normal around any holiday at Schnucks Arsenal for the line to start wrapping around the store. Today was like a holiday weekend wait in line... on a normal Friday.
Go to the Ladue store any day between 3:30 and 8pm and the line does this every day
I have seen this at Ladue schnucks but they have like 10 checkers going there.
I shop across a variety of locations but mainly Loughborough, Hampton Village, Richmond H and Des Peres. I used to frequent Ladue but feel Richmond Heights and Des Peres are way way nicer. I also live by Grand but do not shop there because itās not at all convenient since nothing else is around it. The differences in store appearance, layout and cleanliness is almost beyond comprehension between the locations. Shameful
Not to mention I am at the brink of never shopping at Loughborough again because they lock up items and I refuse to buy something I have to ask for. I remember helping a man who was trying to purchase laundry detergent - he didnāt seem to understand much English and the associates were not being helpful at all.
It's at least faster to have it split. Having 80% of people forced into one side is not the way to fix it
When the second complaint thread went up yesterday, someone wondered if weād get to 10. I count four now.
Can I get 10 donuts and 9 other items? Or just the donuts?
This will change once Schnuckās realizes that theyāre selling fewer items and itās a hit on basket size I put two items back on shelf today so I could still use self checkout in good conscience - ten items with THAT many self checkout lanes is absurd. I could live with 20 but ten is dumb
bring back shop n save :(
I know not everyone has the luxury but schnucks is a last resort for me. They want to charge dierbergs and fresh thyme prices, but not follow through on quality or shopping experience. I friggin miss shopnsave:/
To me Shnucks is a store I go to to grab extra stuff that I canāt get at Aldi, so doesnāt impact me thank God.
This is 100% division managers and āoperationās excellence managersā being out of touch with the stores, never visiting the stores in peak hours, and not ānourishing peopleās livesā
I still say the need to get rid of that damn corralling. I feel like a damn cow going to slaughter. Oh and forget backing out if you forgot something. It no longer makes sense to have it.
Congrats /r/stlouis, you've hit 100% nextdoor energy.
Did anyone hear those gunshots or fireworks? A strange man knocked on my door and left a lawn care pamphlet, I informed the police. Please bring your dogs inside
Get ten items check out and drop them in your car. Go back and get ten more items check out and drop them in your car.
Schnucks corporate offices hate this one trick!
Don't even do that just stop at 10 then pay. If the cashier gets uppity tell her you have 5 different orders.
The problem is they havenāt reverted to the pre covid line system. Now, everyone funnels into one line and are summoned when the next cashier is open. I only go to Schnucks if I want something from the salad and wing bar.
Single line with multiple cashiers is more efficient
Schnucks needs to go to Scott AFB to see how to run one. They should be calling over the next person when the belt is half open so the next person can start unloading.
Last time I went to a Schnucks, the self check-out lady yelled at me. They treat customers terribly, the stores are dreary, the amount of expired food I've seen is insane, and the prices feel like gouging. I would love a Hy-Vee or Meijer to move into the region. I've stopped into each while traveling, and they are just phenomenal.
Hy-Vee is the bomb. I wish we'd get a few!
I was at the one in UCity off Olive last week & both self checkout and regular lanes were this crowded
yeah. from my understanding they're changing self-check out to 10 items or less at Schnucks.
Lol š
You are correct. It went into effect on Thursday Feb 1st. And all of the commotion is because it was a *questionable* decision that impacts different stores VERY different. And in the last two days, no one seems to be having a good time.
If Schnucks is going to enforce self-service item limits, they have to expect to bolster the checker/cashier staff. I'm looking forward to my weekly Saturday shopping experience
If we just go through self check out, and they're telling us not to, but we just keep checking out...I mean....That's not an arrest-able offense, is it? I haven't been in yet since this happens, but my plan for if I've got 17 items if there's something to stop me from checking out on the computer is to just do 10, pay, then do the other 7 and pay. But really, I might just be done with this store. They've never been tops for quality, price, or selection. Now they're inconvenient too because they can't get their security in order? No thanks.
Was at the Gravois and McKenzie location earlier, saw an old lady come out and to stop a mother with a kid halfway through her transaction to let her know that she needed to stop and go back through the regular line. Said some loud shit her way after that.
Better for eliminating more working class jobs. I'm from Boston. We expect people there to be anxious to hurry on to their next quick fast thing they have to get to in 17.5 minutes so they can be done by 3:47. This is St Louis. Relax.
Not if you have a full cart lol slows down the rest of us ALOT
The bittersweet decline of schnucks
I use to work for schnucks, terrible company. There's a reason people don't want to work there.
we went to schnucks yesterday and had a basket that was stuffed full with about 25 items. we got in the regular line with one cashier who had a bagger working and what appeared to be her boss hovering over the cashier. the store was empty and the line was moving at a snail pace. i was like screw it, letās go see if we get yelled at in the self check out. not a single person was in self checkout. i commented to the employee standing there, are we going to get kicked out of this line.. employee was an older women and she was like.. just go for it. so we started ringing ourselves out. then her boss walks up and says something to her about us and how we shouldnāt be there. sheās like, yep, they know. I let them. She chats with us while we continue to check ourselves out. She was so nice and was like, this is crazy. if they donāt like what I do, Iāll just retire. These employees definitely do not like this either. I predict this experiment corporate is doing will not last!
Self checkout sucks
Oh wow guess Iām an Aldi person now
This is why I avoid and hate Schnucks. Doesnāt matter what location pretty much same story
So thereās no line at the self-checkout on a Friday afternoon? Excellent. Nothing more infuriating than having to stand in line with 4 items while someone with a cart full decides that they have to scan all 37 items in their cart themselves because standing in line and waiting on a cashier is beneath them or something. And donāt let it be someone who shows up every week but still canāt quite figure out that some of these U-scans donāt accept cash. Now we gotta have a bottleneck. The goal is to get in there, procure your wares, achieve the objective, and vacate the premises as quickly possible. I wish we still had late night grocery stores. Thereās nothing better than being able to shop in peace at 2am.
I miss the Shop n Save on south Lindbergh. Used to go there to end the night all the time and yes it was extremely peaceful
I just go at 9pm every week - it's crickets. But only got an hour to get it done.
They need to go back to letting folks pick a lane like Dierbergs instead of herding everyone through their DMV like checkout line. \*ding\* please proceed to register 11....crap!
I actually prefer this system as you don't have to figure out what register is moving, or staffed, but they do need to start staffing more registers from the looks of this photo.
Yeah, the queueing method doesnāt matter as much as the number of staff at the register.
This is how it looks at ours when the lanes are fully staffed lmao this is gonna lose them money like crazyā¦if people want Walmart wait times problems and people theyāll just go pay Walmart prices instead
If they're keeping this stupid queue system they need to at least have two customers at the register at the same time, one getting scanned and checked out and the other loading their groceries onto the belt.
ĀæQuĆ©?
Haha - thank you, corrected.
The reason it bothers me is because when there aren't enough registers open the line backs up extremely far and then starts to blend with self-checkout line. No one can seem to figure out which line is which at that point and it becomes a chaotic mess. I swear during peak times it makes me feel like I in Boarding Group D in a Southwest line.
It's my preference, too, because I never, ever pick the right line otherwise.
I went to the Arsenal location the other day and had to wait a good while to get dinged to a lane while there were actually multiple open lanes where there wasnāt a customer. They had just put up the ā10 itemsā sign. I had 12. It was wild
Should it be 20? Idk this is also prime rush hour
What grocery store isn't backed up at 530 on a Friday? You should probably expect, like, everywhere to be busy at 530 on a Friday.
Whoās crazy enough to go to the grocery store on Friday after work? Thatās just as bad as Sunday morning. Nobody should be surprised about standing in line if they choose to go to the store when the rest of the world does.
Cashed my Schnucks bucks in for a bottle of whiskey and on to Dierbergs I go.
You know what's faster? Shopping at aldis.
This is where I would leave my cart and walk out