ST. LOUIS PARK (WCCO) — Do-it-yourself is pretty popular for a lot of shoppers, but a growing number of supermarket chains are doing away with it by shutting down self-serve checkout lanes.

They say they can offer better customer service when clerks help shoppers directly.

Studies find shoppers who like self-serve are in the minority, but that’s not true at the Cub Foods store in St Louis Park.

Shoppers like Sam Faldo say it is convenient and fast.

“I usually only get one bag full and so it is easy for me to check out,” said Faldo.

NewsRadio 830 WCCO’s Susie Jones Reports

Download: checkout-wrap1-sj.mp3.

Some shoppers complain that there are delays because of people getting confused over coupon or payment choices. If that happens, Faldo said he has other options.

“I just go and use one of the lines where there is a clerk,” he said.

Cub Foods store manager Joel Walker says they are very useful and provide a service to customers who may not want the social contact of another person.

“But it is a continual training process. We have to constantly help people out,” said Walker.

Even with the learning curve, the “self serve” check outs are valuable, and Walker says he’d like to see more of them.