Check yourself out
 

I'm a big proponent for making technology available to the people. That's primarily because I want to use it. Because I know I can. The problem lies within the times when people who have no idea how technology works actually try to do something with it.

Case in point: Self check-out lanes at the grocery store.

Before just now, I had actually only seen this in action once before, and that was almost as stupid as the scene I have just witnessed. My local grocery store has dove head-long into this new craze by converting 4 of their 10 lanes into self checkout. I suppose it doesn't make much of a difference considering I've never seen more than 5 lanes in operation at a time. Now, not only will the old senile rickety delivery-ordering check-writers slow you down if you try to go through the regular checkout lanes, all of the slackwitted just-give-me-a-minute-and-I'll-figure-this-out starbucks philosophers will slow you down if you try the new method.

I listened to my music through my earphones and just observed. Ahead of me was a couple of 20-something female roommates, who were waiting for an unpleasant looking kid to press the right combination of keys and swipe the plastic at precisely the right moment to allow his credit card to be charged for his order that I don't want to know how long it took to tally up. Before I diverted my attention away from him, he had swiped his card at least 3 times, shaking his head in frustration after each.

To my left was a line of two people, waiting for a couple of aging baby boomers to reconcile their lack of familiarity with modernity. The baby boomers were at the tail end of their order, but I felt confident that my line was going to go faster. After all, the two people in front of me were of my own generation and the boomers had a problem. Their screen was telling them to remove the item from the scanner. Without an item in her hand, the check-out jockey was totally confused. She paced back and forth, back and forth, back and forth between the pile of waiting-to-be-checked groceries and the scanner, wondering what was blocking her progress. She then hovered at the scanner and looked around with a thoroughly confused expression.

I couldn't take it anymore. "Your keys... take your keys off the scanner." You see, this common grazing mammal had her house keys resting on the scanner and never once thought that they might possibly interfere with the order. Once she lifted them up, things were ok.

It was the girls' turn in front of me so I continued to watch. After they had scanned their girly magazines and lip gloss, they tried to apply their savings club discount by scanning their club card. Apparently to them, scanning means mashing the bar code against the bottom scanning glass and sliding it back and forth vigorously while waiting for a beep. Seeing this, I writhed in physical pain. Yes pain. I had a sun burn on my shoulders and was wearing a backpack. This waiting wasn't helping. She continued to wave, flick and shake the card against the bottom scanner without success. I suppose that second, vertical scanner is just auxillary, right? Those scanners can read shit going lightning fast anyways, you know, at any orientation.

I was about to speak up, but they gave up and decided to just pay. I didn't keep quiet for long though. As their fingers hovered over the keypad for a minute in search of the BIG GREEN BUTTON that said OK, I HAD to point it out. I mean, anything that I could do to speed my own trip up was necessary.

I walked up to the kiosk, rang my items up and paid without problem.

It brought a few thoughts to my head. First, this makes shoplifting so much easier. Second, no matter how long those check out lines remain there, there will always be someone experiencing it for the first time. Third, there will always be people who need to experience it more than twice to fully understand it. Fourth, why can't people understand that technology may be advanced, but you still have to approach it like an autistic 4 year old. Take it slow.

If I have only a handful of items, I love the self-checkout lines. I've found that, at least in my area, the lines are much shorter in the self-checkout lanes, often time having at least one checkout completely open. I can complete the transaction faster than the express lane, and not have to deal with anyone else's ineptness. :D


If I have 20+ items, I'm too lazy to bother with self checkout 95% of the time. :p

I wholeheartedly agree that with every new innovational and easy-to-use new technology, there will be a time when it actually makes things more complicated than they were before due to unfamiliarity. No matter how exceptionally easy it may be to use it, our society gets so set in its habits that it becomes uncomfortable in any other way that deviates from that standard.

'Tis one very big pet peeve.

*Just a minute while I go look something up very much related to this*

They're so simple. Anyone who can read should be able to navigate the simple process with ease. Our local Home Depot has 4 such automatic checkers, and the only time I've seen an issue with one was an elderly gentleman who was promptly helped along (by me) and the line continued without interruption. It's been a boon to business for them, and while it's not as attractive as an 18 year old blond working a summer job, it's easily 10 times as efficient.

I will say though that those self-checkouts can cause problems. I worked at as a cashier for about 8 years so I know how to scan and bag and all that jazz. However, the scales or something at the self-checkouts get messed up sometimes because I'll scan and bag and then the screen will scream at me, "Remove last item and ring it up" like I was shoplifting it our something.

Then the lady has to come over and turn a key and push a couple buttons while I stand there feeling like an idiot.

So while I agree that some people truly are idiots and don't understand how the whole system works, don't be hard on everyone because they may just be the unlucky person at a fucked up register.

I love them, I can check out an entire cart load of groceries bagged in my own personal anal retentive manner in less than 5 minutes.

Halx is right, however, there are far too many people who just cant get it.

Brain cells are not required for life on planet earth... much to my chagrin.

I've never experienced those but if they're as smart as the cashiers at walmart, then I'd love it if they would all be like that. waiting 20-40min in line makes no fucking sense!

The whole reason you wait that long in line is for two reasons. 1) minimum wage or just above sucks butt nuggets. They only pay cashiers at walmart here $6.55. 2) if the managers can keep hours "under budget" they get a bonus. Thats the way it works here at least. I am sure there are godly walmarts out there that dont play by the rules above but the ones here DO.

Self checkouts are a god-send. Unfortunately the ones here are rarely operational because too many people steal. Why do a few ninnys have to ruin it for the rest of us?!

Yeah, the first one or two times I used this new "Do It Yourfuckinself" technology I'll admit I was one of those Mumblin Fumbler types, however I got used to it and will now seek them if I have only a few items to check out.

as far as shoplifting there is supposed to be someone monitoring these transactions at a central kiosk equipped with cameras.

I love self checkouts. It sure beats waiting in line.

I'd rather buy my groceries online.

I love self-checkouts, unless I'm behind the technologically inept. I sure do feel your pain, Halx.

I've found that it can work both ways, myself, depending on the system that the individual store has installed. Home Depot's scales used to be not nearly sensitive enough, so that unless you were buying cans of paint or something, there's no way they'd register that you had actually put an item in your bag. Now they pick up most items, although I tend to have problems if I try to buy something super-light, like some washers. Even then, though, if you do a bit of a slam-dunk into the bag, that's usually enough to get the scale to register.

Most of the grocery stores around here use some sort of scale system, but one chain (Super Fresh) uses what I can only guess is some sort of optical recognition system. Their self-checks are set up like a regular register, but in reverse. There's the scanner at the beginning, and then you put your stuff on a conveyor belt that dumps it off at the bagging area. Along the way, it passes under this little arch that (I'm guessing) makes sure that the item passing under it is around the same size as the thing that was scanned.

The big problem with this system happens when you've got a big order, and you're by yourself. Since the bagging area is around ten feet away from the scanner, you can't bag as you scan. This leads to the bagging area filling up pretty quickly, and tripping a scanner that tells the machine that the bagging area is full, which then stops the whole process until you go clear the bagging area. It works great if you've got someone there with you to bag as you go, but otherwise, you end up looking like an idiot by running back and forth to clear the mess (I usually just pile my stuff up so it isn't tripping the scanner any more.

Either way, it seems that the benefit to using the self-check drops exponentially the more people are in line. This is especially true if they've got a lot of produce, which is always required to be manually looked up for every item. I look at it the same way I look at deciding between the express lane and the regular. The express lane isn't going to be faster if there's five people in line with their small transactions versus one person with a larger transaction in the regular line.

Of course, if it's a grocery store you go to regularly, then you can also take into account how fast the varying checkers are. I go to the same Safeway every time I shop, so not only do I tend to know who's the fastest there, but I can also recognize new people and avoid their lanes.

Man, I need to get out more....

Hey, I resemble those remarks.

Seems I always end up with the funky scale or nearly weightless items. Oh, and exception items. Just takes one **BEEP** and everything comes to a halt until an attendant can make it over. Then it's something inane like:

"Would you like an extended warranty with that?"
"Would you like us to deliver that?"
"Could we do a worse job of removing automation from the automated checkout process?"

Of course, these happen one at a time and the attendant leaves in-between.

On certain scale-based systems (I think Home Depot's are like this), there's a button that pops up on the touchscreen that you can push to skip the "bagging" process for that item.

Of course, if they're going to give the user the option, why bother with the scale in the first place?

If I only have one or two items, I head for the self-checkout. We've had them at the Fred Meyers around here for a number of years--7 or so now--and I would say most people who use them are quite adept at it, having had them for as long as we have. If I have a whole cart of items, I will head for the cashier. I find that then they do it faster than I do.

I really like having the choice of self-checkout and the cashier. It makes it more convenient, and helps me get in and out of the store faster.

Holy shit! Don't have a cow people. Some us may fumble around a bit with "new technology" but it doesn't mean we're stupid, or can't read. Honestly, lighten up. People these days just don't have patience for anything and feel they must criticize everyone and everything, so sad.

I can read, I am not stupid, but I still struggle with the new credit card machines at cash registers where you swipe yourself, then sign on the machine pad thingy. I'm sorry if this such a big deal to you and now you will have to wait an extra 30 seconds.

I think the self checkout machines are lame. So, I don't use it. Hooray for choice.

I don't use them...they aren't any faster than any other line; the local store's self-check has a 20 item limit anyway. And I bring bags with me and bag my own groceries. If I have any rage-building peeves, it's the old fogies who still think it's 1957 and wait for the checker to bag their things as they stand there doing nothing, then wait until the total comes up before searching for their checkbook.....or, for laughs, attempt to use the card-swipe. Point is, clueless knows no bounds, nor does technologically disadvantaged.

I can use the machines fine, but I hate them. They are cold mechanical dead things. And we already have enough cold mechanical dead things around to convenience us. I think it is very creepy. Even though I have a computer and use it frequently, the best activity is to search online library catalogues and then borrow the REAL BOOK after. I dishwashing machines scare me and I grudgingly tolerate laundry machines. I much prefer dealing with live humans and doing most things manually. Sometimes manual housework like sweeping the floor instead of vacuum is relaxing. I just hope no one will invent a robot nurse.

I despise them with a vengance, to the extent i will more happily wait in a long ass line. They do not work for me, and i have lost all patience with them.

i feel that a lot of the new technology has just made us lose contact with real people. it's kinda sad.

consider how often you have to interact with strangers during the course of your day...ummm....i'm thinking...once..maybe twice..and even that is avoidable.

What fun is that?

Also, i've read a lot of stories where the self checkout line has cost the company a lot of money from the lack of impulse item purchases..serves them right.

i feel like i'm getting so old lately...

Luddites...

I love the self check out. There is never a line. I don't have to make idle chit chat. I scan it, bag it, pay and I'm out.

Bring on the cold faceless technology.

I use them when it's faster. It's super simple (for me anyways) and if there aren't any techno-phobes clogging the lanes, it is much easier. But I do prefer to use a live cashier whenever the lines aren't too long.

Oh, and a helpful hint for the consumers out there. If you want to revolt against the outrage of technology, just stand on the scale. It'll force them to have to reset the machine and puts it out of order for a while. And yes, this actually happened at my work the second day it was open to the public.

We have something even better than just self-checkout at our grocery - Shopping Buddy. It's a scanner you attach to your shopping cart, and each time you pick an item, you scan and bag it right there (bring your own canvas bags). When you get to the front of the store, all you have to do is pay (unless you are randomly selected for a verification rescan).

The scanner also has a "where the hell is this item?" find feature, reminds you of what items from that aisle that you have purchased in the past, and points out additional savings for that aisle.

I use it when I'm feeling antisocial, and also wear my headphones into the store.

like this!

Just what I was thinking....

Wow... I can see that being a bit better. At least it is easier to just put everything in my backpack instead of asking the cashier to do it for me. But I still have doubts. Would it charge you for something you bought at another store? I remember a library book in my bag would always set off alarms in stores even though I borrowed it normally.

No, it has a laser scanning wand, and you have to press the trigger on it to get the laser to light up. And, it shuts off as soon as it registers the item, so it's pretty hard to get it to doublecount.

Halx, your op was the most mean-spirited I've seen. Pretending other people are inferiors because they're not adept with technology is shortsighted. Believing them to be inferior is wrong.

I love self checkout.

Except I'm torn between two thoughts....

First i think they are just great because it gets me out of the store faster.

But on the other hand, by me checking myself out, i'm literally doing someone elses job. The store is making money by me checking myself out because they don't have to pay some kid to do it for me. So shouldn't I save a few bucks on my groceries for doing the work for them? Or is getting out of there faster the reward in itself? If it's the latter, eventually that's going to change when ALL checkouts are self check. When gas stations used to give you the choice to pump yourself or full serve, it was cheaper to self pump. Now most gas stations are self pump only.

OCM, ya think? It's a rant. As a rational and decent human being, I can safely make angry accusations in my brain and in my writing for the entertainment of others, while never actually treating people with disdain. It's akin to a racist joke, which I find very funny despite not being a hating racist. If you can't let it loose, you might as well be dead.

damn...that's a funny line


btw, if you think the self check-out is bad, you should have seen the self-service gas pumps when they took over in the mid 80s....

I worked at a gas station for 2 years during that era, and on a daily basis I had to wonder how some people managed to get dressed by themselves...

...or breathe.

I'm going to paraphrase one of my favorite movie quotes from 40 year old virgin: people are putting the technology on a pedestal. If they just walked up, without doubt, and followed the instructions, they'd be fine. The problem is doubt and fear. Recently, I had to teach my dear old grandma about how to use Dish Network's remote control and simple OS. She's a wonderful woman who wouldn't hurt a fly, but she's also stubborn and afraid of change. What should have taken 15 minutes too weeks. She still doesn't use the menu. She allowed the technology to intimidate her before she even tried it, which was detrimental to her learning that technology. She's a smart woman. She was working with pioneers in medical technology 40 years ago.

I've never had the opportunity to use a self check-out :( I used to be a cashier at a grocery store though, and some people find it difficult enough having someone else check their groceries out, mind you having to do it themselves! I did love finding a passive agressive way to make some of em feel stupid though, helped to pass the time *evil Mr.Burns hands*

Theft actually isn't as bad as one would think. There have been a few studies about self checkout lines.

Wow, I thought this thread was going to be about some elaborate mirror contraption...

I love self checkout lines. Sadly my grocery store doesn't have any. :(

The only thing that annoys me is for example at Home Depot when you have small or light items if it's not calibrated right it won't recognize them in the cart and you have to wait for a service attendant.

I'm really surprised you don't see more of them but then again you could lose out on the customer service/interaction that some businesses pride themselves in

I don't think it had anything to do with their not being adept, it had to do with common sense. Leaving your keys on the sensor wasn't "not knowing about technology" it was about not using common sense. And I'm sorry, but when we notice someone using poor sense, we think things, feel annoyed. It doesn't mean we're mean-spirited, It just means we're human.

I use the self checkouts if I'm in a rush and there are lines, but otherwise I go to a real person. Those machines aren't there for your convenience, they're there because once they've been there for a certain amount of time, they have been paid for by the salaries that aren't paid because those people were replaced by a machine. The people who work as cashiers tend to be the people who need the most money, and by letting a machine replace them we deprive them of that money. I don't have a problem with people choosing the machine over the person who isn't qualified to work a more professional jobs, but I doubt that most people think about it that way.
When I was working at Radio Shack, I knew for a fact that 90% of theft was by employees, and I wasn't innocent by any stretch of the imagination. It's just accepted.

Having grown up in California, I grew up used to groceries that bag your items and offer to take them to the car.

Here in NYC, they don't bag them, or bag so slowly that most people tend to bag their own. Not me. I wait for them to bag since I am paying a premium for the groceries as it is.

I don't mind the self check out for when I have a few items. It can be much faster, but if I'm going for a whole cartful. I want service.