C-Store Rolls Out Self-Checkout

A familiar part of stopping by the C-Store changed this fall. Sitting on top of the front counter is a new self-checkout kiosk, introduced by DSU Dining Services to handle transactions without a cashier.

The machine, branded Mashgin, uses an overhead camera system that visually registers products set on its tray. Payment goes through the attached terminal, which accepts cards, mobile pay, and student IDs.

Because the system just arrived, the experience at the counter has been mixed. Returning students and staff are used to handing items over to a cashier, so placing purchases spaced out across a tray does not come naturally yet. On busier afternoons, an employee often stands near the register to guide people through the prompts or clear items the camera misses. During other parts of the day, including later in the evening, the store simply operates unstaffed. 

That learning curve makes it hard to gauge if lines are actually moving faster. A quick scan and tap can wrap up a purchase in seconds, but hesitation over how to place items or a missed product can easily stall the queue just as long as a manual checkout would. 

So far, campus reaction is a mix of curiosity and adjustment. While the automated kiosk takes some getting used to, the more practical upgrade for most has been the schedule: the C-Store is now open every day from 7:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m., keeping the doors unlocked well past the hours people were accustomed to seeing.