did you know  that every supermarket that uses auto checkouts, has to have every item in the store wieghed so when you scan it and place it on the 'scales' it compares the barcode with the weight of the item, having made the calculation of what is already  on the 'scale' and will know if it's not  the correct itme.

The power of jacksonb everyone

They're ok for one or two bits but, like Demantoid and others have said, I prefer the staffed checkouts.
Just over a year ago I had my debit card scammed off me at a cashpoint. By the time I had got it stopped (about 5 minutes) they had gone to the Tesco's up the road, taken out 300 quid I didn't have and then gone into the store and spent another 200 at one of the self service checkouts.
The bank told me that those checkouts are the number one choice for scroats with stolen cards. Gawd knows why when everything you try to put through requires some assistant to check it!

when my card got cloned, all the purchases were online

I don't mind them, apart from when there is a bit of a queue and someone decides to let their toddler scan and bag everything.

I don't find the self service checkouts anywhere near as irritating as the cashiers who insist on talking to you whilst they're scanning your food, make comments about what you've bought, or who insist on packing your food for you, even when you've told them that you don't want them to.  Equally as bad are people who wait until all their food has been scanned and they've been told the total, THEN realise that they might be expected to pay, and start rummaging around for their purse or wallet.  Is it too difficult to get your card ready to pay when you're waiting in the queue? 

Does it shout at you, if you are buying tampons too early?

When mine got cloned (in a restaurant) all the purchases were from Currys and Dixons in Essex

Can't be helped - he probably fell off a diving board in Guernsey you know.

I've quite enjoyed the novelty of them, and have thought l could do this if l have too. But the flip side of that is how blooming dare they, staff have been obviously cut and the prices have shot up. So more often than not l will insist in being served, rather than serving them. I did ask initially if l used them would l get a discount, but then felt l was directing this at the poor old shopworkers, who have no say in the matter and are often overworked as a result of the cuts.

I've never used one.I always have so much shopping I always wait in line for the checkout.I do one big shop every week,but pick up stuff for an old lady as well.The girls at Asda are always friendly.When I've had occasion to go to Lidle,what miserable staff they have.

Oooh yes they are good for embarrassing items. I used one to buy a pregnancy test