Self-serve checkouts have been a modern marvel for shoppers.

These counters promise speed and convenience yet often deliver a mix of confusion and comedy.

It's a place where unspoken rules in supermarkets unfold, and now and then, someone captures a relatable moment to share with everyone online.

That's what happened with a video from a New Zealand-based shopper that has sparked a debate about shopping etiquette.

The video featured a couple navigating the self-serve checkout—a scene easily set in any Woolies or Coles across Australia.

Ella Monnery, who once graced the TV screens on The Voice Australia, was at the helm of the scanner.

Ella Monnery (left) has been scanning items from their grocery shopping in New Zealand. Image Credit: TikTok/Ella Monnery

While scanning items, her partner, Kings, attempted to assist her by offering items from their basket.

However, Ms Monnery has a system she has been following, and she keeps putting items her boyfriend offers back.

The pair shared a laugh, and the situation escalated to playful silliness when she suggested that the most helpful thing he could do was to hand over his card for payment.

With 4.4 million views across social media, Ms Monnery's video clearly struck a chord.

Ms Monnery explained that grocery shopping was a regular activity for them.

She has also expressed her preference for packing the bags.

However, when the camera started rolling, Kings wanted to chip in.

'It's him obviously trying to be useful in the situation, but I feel like we all have our strategic way of how we like to pack our shopping,' she shared in an interview.

'I didn't tell him what I was doing; I didn't tell him how to help me. But, it's quite funny as a lot of comments of women being like, "Stand out the way, and let me do it," and men being so rattled in the comments asking, "What are we supposed to do?"' Monnery shared.

Shortly after posting the video, the comments section became a battleground for packing philosophies.

Women empathised with Ms Monnery's desire to pack alone.

Meanwhile, men were left wondering what their role should be if not to assist.

The video even sparked a debate about the dynamics of self-serve checkouts.

Some comments suggested that Ms Monnery was being unfair to Kings, who was trying to be helpful.

Some comments also asked Ms Monnery why she would not accept the items Kings offered to her.

On the other hand, some shoppers also called for better communication between partners at the checkout.

'Communicate your packing method! Communicate what you could use help with! Communicate anything at all instead of complaining!' one user exclaimed.

Watch Ms Monnery's short video here:

Source: @elllamonnery/Tiktok​

Ms Monnery found the initial reaction amusing.

However, as the video reached audiences in the United States and the United Kingdom, she felt the intention was lost.

The humour that resonated in New Zealand and Australia was misunderstood, which led to negative comments that she had to delete.

Ms Monnery's video opened up a conversation about the roles people play in society, the expectations they have, and the way people navigate tasks as simple as grocery shopping.

Key Takeaways

• A video showing a couple at a self-serve checkout in a supermarket went rounds online and garnered mixed reactions from social media users.
• The woman in the video showed her preference to pack groceries in a certain way, shunning her partner's attempts to help.
• Commenters on social media were divided, as some found the interaction 'relatable'. In contrast, others criticised the woman for not accepting help from her partner.
• The video intended to capture a lighthearted moment, but it led to viewers misunderstanding certain things prevalent in Australian and New Zealand supermarkets.

Have you experienced a similar predicament at the self-serve checkout? Do you have a system that your partner can't seem to grasp, or are you the one left holding the basket, unsure of your role? Share your thoughts about this story in the comments section below!

 

[Soxylox]

My late husband would help to push the trolleys then would move to the end of the checkout and wait for me to fill the trolleys. Then while I was working on the second trolley, he take the first one out and put the groceries in the car. Usually we would have at least 3 trolleys because we only shopped once a month due to where we lived. It always worked for us. I never have and never will use the self serve checkouts even if I only have a couple of items. To me it's taking jobs away from the workers.

 

[Macarj]

I can definitely relate to this shopping trip….
Sorry, but leave the men at home, shopping for groceries is certainly not their forte!!!

Well in our house I am the cook so I leave my wife at home

 

[Colette 3799]

I was talking to the Manager in a Coles store recently and she was explaining to me that self serve checkouts. despite what people like yourself believe, haven't put people out of work.
She said many of those workers now fill the jobs of click and collect workers and they are in fact, always looking for more staff and pointed me to the sign on the noticeboard of positions vacant.
I have taken notice since and seen these Positions Vacant in other supermarkets as well.
It appears rather than people being put out of work, that many people don't actually want to work.
In the country town where I live our local supermarket has great difficulty in getting staff, despite people saying there is no work in country towns.
Seems that the younger generation are too picky about what they will or won't do, despite many of them having no actual qualifications.
Many supermarkets now employ more seniors I have noticed. Also Bunnings.

Maybe that’s the case over jobs but I don’t work there and I refuse to use the self checkouts. Like was said in an earlier post, give me a discount and I might give them a go.

 

[Jo Piper3]

My husband has come shopping with me maybe 3 or 4 times in 44 years so I'm very lucky (also very lucky to be able to afford to shop at all ).

 

[mylittletibbies]

Ladies would have something to complain about if the men did not try to offer some help. If a man just stood there with his arms folded watching the lady put the groceries through the self-checkout. I can imagine the negative comments from that. The man tries to help, and he still gets negative "BS".

I was quite happy if my husband just watched, no complaints from me.

 

[mylittletibbies]

Maybe that’s the case over jobs but I don’t work there and I refuse to use the self checkouts. Like was said in an earlier post, give me a discount and I might give them a go.

I agree with you there, I don't use them either.

 

[PattiB]

I was talking to the Manager in a Coles store recently and she was explaining to me that self serve checkouts. despite what people like yourself believe, haven't put people out of work.
She said many of those workers now fill the jobs of click and collect workers and they are in fact, always looking for more staff and pointed me to the sign on the noticeboard of positions vacant.
I have taken notice since and seen these Positions Vacant in other supermarkets as well.
It appears rather than people being put out of work, that many people don't actually want to work.
In the country town where I live our local supermarket has great difficulty in getting staff, despite people saying there is no work in country towns.
Seems that the younger generation are too picky about what they will or won't do, despite many of them having no actual qualifications.
Many supermarkets now employ more seniors I have noticed. Also Bunnings.

This is exactly what a couple of friends who work at Woolworths told me a while back, though most people prefer to believe that self serve checkouts cost jobs. Gives them something to whinge about.

 

[PattiB]

@Veggiepatch loves it. Grocery shopping is not my favourite type of shopping.

Same here, I’m not fond of grocery shopping but my husband is quite happy to go. Works well for us.

 

[Sherril54]

There is no issue here, my husband and I never shop together, that stopped about 25 yrs ago when we had a argument at a butcher`s shop. He was so impatient and wanted me to hurry up. I love shopping and like to have a good look around, it`s called retail therapy so it`s a win win .

 

[Kevin. A.]

My late husband would help to push the trolleys then would move to the end of the checkout and wait for me to fill the trolleys. Then while I was working on the second trolley, he take the first one out and put the groceries in the car. Usually we would have at least 3 trolleys because we only shopped once a month due to where we lived. It always worked for us. I never have and never will use the self serve checkouts even if I only have a couple of items. To me it's taking jobs away from the workers.

I agree with you totally with the self-serve checkouts. I will never use them again even if I have one item. A customer service lady came over to my wife and I one day when we are standing in line at the checkout. The lady suggested that we use the self-serve checkout. I said we have only ever had trouble each time we have used them in the past. The lady said she would put the items through the self-serve for us. I said I would not because I see the self-serve checkouts were taking jobs away from young people. The lady turned away and has never approached us since.

 

[mylittletibbies]

I agree with you totally with the self-serve checkouts. I will never use them again even if I have one item. A customer service lady came over to my wife and I one day when we are standing in line at the checkout. The lady suggested that we use the self-serve checkout. I said we have only ever had trouble each time we have used them in the past. The lady said she would put the items through the self-serve for us. I said I would not because I see the self-serve checkouts were taking jobs away from young people. The lady turned away and has never approached us since.

Obviously you haven't seen any of the signs in Coles and Woolies stores of positions vacant.

I don't use self serve either, not because it losses jobs,but because I expect service where I shop.

People who used to work on checkouts now do click snd collect and many supermarkets are understaffed for the simple reason they can't get enough staff.

 

[Kevin. A.]

Obviously you haven't seen any of the signs in Coles and Woolies stores of positions vacant.

I don't use self serve either, not because it losses jobs,but because I expect service where I shop.

People who used to work on checkouts now do click snd collect and many supermarkets are understaffed for the simple reason they can't get enough staff.

Well imagine how many more jobs would be on offer if the supermarkets/ retailers did not have SelfServe checkouts. You do not receive any discount for doing the job of checkout staff and you are scrutinized every time you use the SelfServe checkouts. As I have said every time, I have ever used the SelfServe checkouts in the past, we have had to get the staff to assist because the SelfServe Checkout. Supermarket Checkouts have been the steppingstone for many young people getting their first job. SelfServe checkouts do not employ extra staff. They may employ a few technicians in order to keep these machines functioning, but they do not employ extra staff even through click and collect. These positions would have needed to be filled anyway. However, to say Checkout staff have been utilized as click and collect staff, this assertion is a false assumption, because these staff would need to be employed anyway as well as a full contingency of checkout staff.

 

[mylittletibbies]

Well imagine how many more jobs would be on offer if the supermarkets/ retailers did not have SelfServe checkouts. You do not receive any discount for doing the job of checkout staff and you are scrutinized every time you use the SelfServe checkouts. As I have said every time, I have ever used the SelfServe checkouts in the past, we have had to get the staff to assist because the SelfServe Checkout. Supermarket Checkouts have been the steppingstone for many young people getting their first job. SelfServe checkouts do not employ extra staff. They may employ a few technicians in order to keep these machines functioning, but they do not employ extra staff even through click and collect. These positions would have needed to be filled anyway. However, to say Checkout staff have been utilized as click and collect staff, this assertion is a false assumption, because these staff would need to be employed anyway as well as a full contingency of checkout staff.

What on earth would be the use of them providing more jobs when they already can't get people to fill the jobs on offer.
This is not an assumption on my part, I was told this by a Manager and another member also mentioned being told this by people who worked in these supermarkets.
Maybe you also haven't noticed that today's teenagers don't seem to be interested in stepping stone jobs, they expect to start at the top or many prefer to just sit on the dole and get money for doing nothing. It beats me why the government don't come up with a better system, rather than forking money out to people for doing nothing when businesses can't get enough workers.

To the people who keep saying that they should get 10% discount for doing self serve. Just how much do they think checkout chick's earn??
The average shopper spends between $150 and $200 on their shop and it takes about 10 minutes to do the job
There aren't too many checkout chick's
earning between $90 and $120 an hour.
Such a stupid statement.

 

[Kevin. A.]

What on earth would be the use of them providing more jobs when they already can't get people to fill the jobs on offer.
This is not an assumption on my part, I was told this by a Manager and another member also mentioned being told this by people who worked in these supermarkets.
Maybe you also haven't noticed that today's teenagers don't seem to be interested in stepping stone jobs, they expect to start at the top or many prefer to just sit on the dole and get money for doing nothing. It beats me why the government don't come up with a better system, rather than forking money out to people for doing nothing when businesses can't get enough workers.

To the people who keep saying that they should get 10% discount for doing self serve. Just how much do they think checkout chick's earn??
The average shopper spends between $150 and $200 on their shop and it takes about 10 minutes to do the job
There aren't too many checkout chick's
earning between $90 and $120 an hour.
Such a stupid statement.

Yes, I agree the government should be doing more to get young people and other unemployed individuals off their backsides and out working rather than sitting at home playing on computers or iPad's instead of looking for work. As for cashiers they are being paid one of the lowest pay rates possible. If you look at the prices of some products in both Coles and Woolworths and compare them with shops like Aldi, there is over One Dollar ($1) difference in price (higher in Coles, Woolworths) on some items between these stores (Coles, Woolworths V's Aldi). This is all pure profit, so I do not see why we are being asked to use SelfServe checkouts and not get any form of discount because we are doing the work of the checkout operators. However, as I have said we have more trouble with the SelfServe checkouts, and I refuse to use them for several reasons.
1: SelfServe Checkouts are nothing more than trouble because we have had to get assistance each time we have used them.
2: As far as my Wife and I are concerned, SelfServe checkouts do impact the number of job opportunities available for people. Especially those looking for their first jobs. If Checkout operator positions are not available, then this means less job opportunities. You cannot tell me that by reducing the number of Checkout operators and then at the same time increasing the number of Click and collect positions is actually increasing the number of jobs available. The retailers are keeping the number of positions available the same or close to the same number and they are just juggling the positions/job titles around.

Perhaps stores like Coles and Woolworths need to incentives these positions a little more. I am sure the many job agencies would be eager to get recruitments to fill these positions. The job agencies contact Clink if the person refuses to apply or show up for a position, and they can have their payments reduced for a few months as a penalty. Unless the person has a valid excuse for not turning up for the interview or work. There is work around if people wish to work. I have worked many seasonal jobs for many years picking tomato, capsicum and watermelon just to get work.

 

[mylittletibbies]

Yes, I agree the government should be doing more to get young people and other unemployed individuals off their backsides and out working rather than sitting at home playing on computers or iPad's instead of looking for work. As for cashiers they are being paid one of the lowest pay rates possible. If you look at the prices of some products in both Coles and Woolworths and compare them with shops like Aldi, there is over One Dollar ($1) difference in price (higher in Coles, Woolworths) on some items between these stores (Coles, Woolworths V's Aldi). This is all pure profit, so I do not see why we are being asked to use SelfServe checkouts and not get any form of discount because we are doing the work of the checkout operators. However, as I have said we have more trouble with the SelfServe checkouts, and I refuse to use them for several reasons.
1: SelfServe Checkouts are nothing more than trouble because we have had to get assistance each time we have used them.
2: As far as my Wife and I are concerned, SelfServe checkouts do impact the number of job opportunities available for people. Especially those looking for their first jobs. If Checkout operator positions are not available, then this means less job opportunities. You cannot tell me that by reducing the number of Checkout operators and then at the same time increasing the number of Click and collect positions is actually increasing the number of jobs available. The retailers are keeping the number of positions available the same or close to the same number and they are just juggling the positions/job titles around.

Perhaps stores like Coles and Woolworths need to incentives these positions a little more. I am sure the many job agencies would be eager to get recruitments to fill these positions. The job agencies contact Clink if the person refuses to apply or show up for a position, and they can have their payments reduced for a few months as a penalty. Unless the person has a valid excuse for not turning up for the interview or work. There is work around if people wish to work. I have worked many seasonal jobs for many years picking tomato, capsicum and watermelon just to get work.

Picked tomatoes myself (many years ago now). It was a twelve week stint and was how my husband and I got the deposit for our first home. Even back in those days there weren't too many people wanting to do those jobs. We were the only ones to stick it out longer than a few days.
I had never heard of the dole, it was considered shame to not be working.
I have a niece works at Centrelink, it seems that they give up on a lot of these permanently unemployed people as they take jobs and then slack off, turn up late, etc so they get dismissed, and then are straight back on the dole. She said they prefer to offer the jobs to those who genuinely want them. If they don't take the job they get their payments stopped for 12 weeks but if they get dismissed they go back on payments straight away. They know how to work the system.

I personally think when they leave school. anybody who doesn't have a job, girls and boys, should have to do two years national service. It might give them some direction in life. Other countries do this.
We are to busy raising, and have raised, a welfare society. I also think single mums pension shouldn't be paid to young girls who haven't even grown up themselves yet, let alone know how to raise a child.
There is no excuse for unwanted pregnancies these days and taxpayers shouldn't be having to foot the bill for young girls who decide this is a lifestyle.
It's no wonder there are so many delinquent young kids running around the streets, while mum is still gallivanting around herself.
Meanwhile they keep the pensioner's, the ones who worked and paid their taxes living below the poverty line.

 

[Kevin. A.]

Picked tomatoes myself (many years ago now). It was a twelve week stint and was how my husband and I got the deposit for our first home. Even back in those days there weren't too many people wanting to do those jobs. We were the only ones to stick it out longer than a few days.
I had never heard of the dole, it was considered shame to not be working.
I have a niece works at Centrelink, it seems that they give up on a lot of these permanently unemployed people as they take jobs and then slack off, turn up late, etc so they get dismissed, and then are straight back on the dole. She said they prefer to offer the jobs to those who genuinely want them. If they don't take the job they get their payments stopped for 12 weeks but if they get dismissed they go back on payments straight away. They know how to work the system.

I personally think when they leave school. anybody who doesn't have a job, girls and boys, should have to do two years national service. It might give them some direction in life. Other countries do this.
We are to busy raising, and have raised, a welfare society. I also think single mums pension shouldn't be paid to young girls who haven't even grown up themselves yet, let alone know how to raise a child.
There is no excuse for unwanted pregnancies these days and taxpayers shouldn't be having to foot the bill for young girls who decide this is a lifestyle.
It's no wonder there are so many delinquent young kids running around the streets, while mum is still gallivanting around herself.
Meanwhile they keep the pensioner's, the ones who worked and paid their taxes living below the poverty line.

Well said, I could not agree more Cheers.