--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Self-Checkout Line – The place where…" description: "\"Self-Checkout Line – The place where customers of an establishment become unpaid employees of the establishment.\" — Richard Turner" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b84/richard-turner-41528_checkouts_self-checkout-line-the-place-where-custo_336530.png" --- # Self-Checkout Line – The place where customers of an… ![“Self-Checkout Line – The place where customers of an establishment become unpaid employees of the establishment.” quote by Richard Turner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b84/richard-turner-41528_checkouts_self-checkout-line-the-place-where-custo_336530.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b84/richard-turner-41528_checkouts_self-checkout-line-the-place-where-custo_336530.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b84/richard-turner-41528_checkouts_self-checkout-line-the-place-where-custo_336530.png) > “Self-Checkout Line – The place where customers of an establishment become unpaid employees of the establishment.” [Richard Turner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-turner/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote humorously critiques self‑checkout systems, suggesting they turn shoppers into unpaid labor for the store. **In simple terms:** Self‑checkout makes customers work for free. Key Takeaway Be aware of hidden labor costs. Themes consumerism labor exploitation technology service industry Mood critical observational Type satirical social commentary When to use this quote - grocery shopping - retail employment - technology adoption - customer experience design Key Concepts economics automation social critique Questions to Reflect On - Do you notice unpaid labor in daily life? - How can businesses balance efficiency and fairness? A Different Perspective Convenient technology can still exploit labor. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Checkout Line](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/checkout-line-1013141/) [Checkouts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/checkouts/) [Customer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/customer/) [Customers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/customers/) [Employee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/employee/) [Establishment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/establishment/) [Establishment Unpaid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/establishment-unpaid-3136402/) [Lines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lines/) [Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self/) [Self Checkout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-checkout-2610998/) [Unpaid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unpaid/) [Unpaid Employees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unpaid-employees-3136401/) ## Related quotes > [Self-checkout is negative because more and more retailers are losing the personal touch. People want to do business where people know their name and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debbie-allen/self-checkout-is-negative-because-more-and-more-retailers-are-losing/) [Debbie Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debbie-allen/) > [Our grocery store now has self-checkout, for your convenience. It's like getting punched in the throat, for your comfort.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-gould/our-grocery-store-now-has-self-checkout-for-your-convenience-it-s/) [Dana Gould](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-gould/) > [What is eternity? You're on the checkout line at a supermarket. There are seven people in front of you. They are all old. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emo-philips/what-is-eternity-you-re-on-the-checkout-line-at-a-supermarket-there/) [Emo Philips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emo-philips/) > [Self-Checkout lanes were invented by a guy who was sent out to buy tampons.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/self-checkout-lanes-were-invented-by-a-guy-who-was-sent-out-to-buy/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You'll be in the checkout line at the supermarket, and there will be one of our movies in between the Certs and 'The National…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-ben-garant/you-ll-be-in-the-checkout-line-at-the-supermarket-and-there-will-be/) [Robert Ben Garant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-ben-garant/) > [I know what it's like to have to put back food at the checkout line because you don't have enough money and those kinds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deb-haaland/i-know-what-it-s-like-to-have-to-put-back-food-at-the-checkout-line/) [Deb Haaland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deb-haaland/) > [Just hit the express checkout line with 17 items instead of 15, I'm not messing around this year!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-kennedy/just-hit-the-express-checkout-line-with-17-items-instead-of-15-i-m/) [Jason Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-kennedy/) > [A fun thing to do in the checkout line is to take one thing from the cart in front of you and see if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-beryl-zelinski/a-fun-thing-to-do-in-the-checkout-line-is-to-take-one-thing-from-the/) [Victoria Beryl Zelinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria-beryl-zelinski/) > [Real mothers don't just listen with humble embarrassment to the elderly lady who offers unsolicited advice in the checkout line when a child is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/real-mothers-don-t-just-listen-with-humble-embarrassment-to-the/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) > [The woman just ahead of you at the supermarket checkout has all the delectable groceries you didn't even know they carried.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mignon-mclaughlin/the-woman-just-ahead-of-you-at-the-supermarket-checkout-has-all-the/) [Mignon McLaughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mignon-mclaughlin/) > [Holocausts do not amaze me. Rapes and child slavery do not amaze me. And Franklin, I know you feel otherwise, but Kevin does not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lionel-shriver/holocausts-do-not-amaze-me-rapes-and-child-slavery-do-not-amaze-me/) [Lionel Shriver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lionel-shriver/) > [Went to the grocery store, got everything on my list and went up to the checkout. I put a bag of pet food for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-engvall/went-to-the-grocery-store-got-everything-on-my-list-and-went-up-to/) [Bill Engvall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-engvall/) > [Waiting rooms were made for books-of course! But so are theater lobbies before the show, long and boring checkout lines, and everyone's favorite, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/waiting-rooms-were-made-for-books-of-course-but-so-are-theater/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [As part of our ongoing series of reports on the environment, 'America Goes Green,' we take on the question that can make otherwise competent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-williams/as-part-of-our-ongoing-series-of-reports-on-the-environment-america/) [Brian Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-williams/) > [I remember being a kid and seeing the 'National Inquirer' at the grocery store checkout line. When somebody actually picked up a copy, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rashida-jones/i-remember-being-a-kid-and-seeing-the-national-inquirer-at-the/) [Rashida Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rashida-jones/) ## More by Richard Turner > [I'm a woofer, not a tweeter; a writer, not a telegrapher; an essayist, not an aphorist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-turner/i-m-a-woofer-not-a-tweeter-a-writer-not-a-telegrapher-an-essayist-not/) [Richard Turner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-turner/) > [I am at a loss to figure out how to rid my e-mail of those bottom-feeders of the electronic world, the generators of spam……](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-turner/i-am-at-a-loss-to-figure-out-how-to-rid-my-e-mail-of-those-bottom/) [Richard Turner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-turner/) > [Speed Limit – A sign that tells you at what speed the car that's rapidly fading from view in your rearview mirror is going;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-turner/speed-limit-a-sign-that-tells-you-at-what-speed-the-car-that-s/) [Richard Turner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-turner/) > [Grammar Checker – A software program that is not needed by those who know grammar and virtually useless for those who don’t.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-turner/grammar-checker-a-software-program-that-is-not-needed-by-those-who/) [Richard Turner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-turner/) > [“The sound of sporadic gunfire echoing through the narrow streets of Dublin sounded to ten-year-old Patrick Murphy like the rolling thunder from a summer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-turner/the-sound-of-sporadic-gunfire-echoing-through-the-narrow-streets-of/) [Richard Turner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-turner/) > [Mudslinging - In politics, anything bad the opponent says about our candidate; in contrast, when our candidate does this, it is called 'making a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-turner/mudslinging-in-politics-anything-bad-the-opponent-says-about-our/) [Richard Turner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-turner/) > [Warranty – A notice telling the buyer when the product that was just purchased will no longer function.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-turner/warranty-a-notice-telling-the-buyer-when-the-product-that-was-just/) [Richard Turner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-turner/) > [“In the blink of an eye, the ship dropped out of faster than light travel and came to an almost dead stop five hundred…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-turner/in-the-blink-of-an-eye-the-ship-dropped-out-of-faster-than-light/) [Richard Turner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-turner/) > [Anytime I see someone blocking the aisle in the supermarket while talking on a phone, I want to ram that person with my shopping…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-turner/anytime-i-see-someone-blocking-the-aisle-in-the-supermarket-while/) [Richard Turner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-turner/) [Explore all 10 Richard Turner quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-turner/) ## More Checkouts quotes > [I remember being a kid and seeing the 'National Inquirer' at the grocery store checkout line. When somebody actually picked up a copy, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rashida-jones/i-remember-being-a-kid-and-seeing-the-national-inquirer-at-the/) [Rashida Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rashida-jones/) > [As part of our ongoing series of reports on the environment, 'America Goes Green,' we take on the question that can make otherwise competent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-williams/as-part-of-our-ongoing-series-of-reports-on-the-environment-america/) [Brian Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-williams/) > [Waiting rooms were made for books-of course! But so are theater lobbies before the show, long and boring checkout lines, and everyone's favorite, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/waiting-rooms-were-made-for-books-of-course-but-so-are-theater/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [Went to the grocery store, got everything on my list and went up to the checkout. I put a bag of pet food for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-engvall/went-to-the-grocery-store-got-everything-on-my-list-and-went-up-to/) [Bill Engvall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-engvall/) > [Holocausts do not amaze me. Rapes and child slavery do not amaze me. And Franklin, I know you feel otherwise, but Kevin does not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lionel-shriver/holocausts-do-not-amaze-me-rapes-and-child-slavery-do-not-amaze-me/) [Lionel Shriver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lionel-shriver/) > [The woman just ahead of you at the supermarket checkout has all the delectable groceries you didn't even know they carried.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mignon-mclaughlin/the-woman-just-ahead-of-you-at-the-supermarket-checkout-has-all-the/) [Mignon McLaughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mignon-mclaughlin/) > [Real mothers don't just listen with humble embarrassment to the elderly lady who offers unsolicited advice in the checkout line when a child is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/real-mothers-don-t-just-listen-with-humble-embarrassment-to-the/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) > [Daily life is better when it involves interactions with real people who have a personal investment in their labour, like shopkeepers, than it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-baggini/daily-life-is-better-when-it-involves-interactions-with-real-people/) [Julian Baggini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-baggini/) > [I think, on a personal level, everybody, when you go through the checkout line after you get your groceries and they say, 'Paper or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-harrelson/i-think-on-a-personal-level-everybody-when-you-go-through-the/) [Woody Harrelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-harrelson/) > [“Fast checkouts for people with fewer than 10 items are also an attempt to satisfy the top-up shopper segment.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-thain/fast-checkouts-for-people-with-fewer-than-10-items-are-also-an/) [Greg Thain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-thain/) > [Don't believe everything you read. It's very difficult to be accepting of our own bodies. This topic deserves it's own book, but since I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/don-t-believe-everything-you-read-it-s-very-difficult-to-be-accepting/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [This is a record I ended up having to make to get on to the next stage of my life. What I did was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-haines/this-is-a-record-i-ended-up-having-to-make-to-get-on-to-the-next/) [Luke Haines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-haines/) > [Or I can choose to force myself to consider the likelihood that everyone else in the supermarket's checkout line is just as bored and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-foster-wallace/or-i-can-choose-to-force-myself-to-consider-the-likelihood-that/) [David Foster Wallace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-foster-wallace/) > [These days, when people are alone, or feel a moment of boredom, they tend to reach for a device. In a movie theater, at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherry-turkle/these-days-when-people-are-alone-or-feel-a-moment-of-boredom-they/) [Sherry Turkle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherry-turkle/) > [If you are demanding registration before checkout, you need to cease this practice immediately. It is costing you a fortune.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-tognazzini/if-you-are-demanding-registration-before-checkout-you-need-to-cease/) [Bruce Tognazzini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-tognazzini/) [Browse all 31 Checkouts quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/checkouts/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Self-Checkout Line – The place where customers of an establishment become unpaid employees of the establishment.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Richard Turner" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-turner/self-checkout-line-the-place-where-customers-of-an-establishment/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Checkouts" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-turner/self-checkout-line-the-place-where-customers-of-an-establishment/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b84/richard-turner-41528_checkouts_self-checkout-line-the-place-where-custo_336530.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b84/richard-turner-41528_checkouts_self-checkout-line-the-place-where-custo_336530.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b84/richard-turner-41528_checkouts_self-checkout-line-the-place-where-custo_336530.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Self-Checkout Line – The place where customers of an establishment become unpaid employees of the…” — Richard Turner", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Richard Turner", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-turner/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Self-Checkout Line – The place where...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-turner/self-checkout-line-the-place-where-customers-of-an-establishment/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-turner/self-checkout-line-the-place-where-customers-of-an-establishment/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```