Wednesday, September 3, 2008

Scanners

I was standing in line at the store with my three items when I was approached by an employee wearing the store uniform. I assumed she was a floor manger. She told me that the self check out lanes were open and tried to direct me there. I told her "No, thanks"

She tried to tell me that was it really simple to use and I could be out of the store quicker. So, I told her, "Not interested. I'd rather wait in line."

She gave me this confused look, but I stood my ground. Really, is it so hard to believe that I'd rather wait for a live cashier? Eventually, she moved on, looking for some other sucker to prey upon.

I'm not a big fan of the self checkout. I hate that annoying female automaton voice telling me to "Scan Item," or "Place the item in the bag", and so forth. It sounds so smug telling me what to do, and keeps repeating itself as if trying to tell me to hurry up! And then there's the dreaded "Unable to Scan Item. Please try again," only to have it repeat it over and over, holding up the line, and eventually requiring an employee to intervene. The worst has to be the accusatory "Unscanned item in bag!", alerting everyone in the store that the machine is accusing you of theft!

Give me a real cashier. I'd rather wait in line; those cashiers need their jobs! I'm doing my part to make sure they earn their minimum wage. And that damn floor manager better be glad for customers like me who prefer living, breathing cashiers. Otherwise, she'd have no one to supervise and be out of a job while the machines take over; and a teenager getting minimum wage would be in charge of all the machines that scream, "Unscanned item in bag!"

15 comments:

  1. good for you! I love ATMs, but I will not use self scanner machines. I also will not fill up my own coffee cup. That's why I mainly order espresso. I refuse to be handed an empty cup and directed to an urn.

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  2. She probably wanted to facilitate the whole waiting-in-line process. Perhaps she has never had trouble with the self checkouts before. Once she does, she'll understand the frustration.

    I'll go through those self checkouts occasionally, but yes sometimes it's just easier to have a real person who won't say, "Please scan coupon, now." or repeat, "Please take your items! Please take your items!"

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  3. Mr E . the self service checkouts are FANTASTIC , myself and Mr C used to get away without paying for so much stuff(not on purpose iether) by completely confusing the system and the teenager trying to sort them out. I love them , unless stupid parents think they are a childs toy and hold up the whole queue while there inept offspring run the stuff through the till.

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  4. Snooze, I hear ya! Customer service is going downhill; I figure if I'm going to be scanning my own groceries and bagging them myself, then the store should pay me for my work!

    Tara, that's so true. People forget how frustrating it is sometimes dealing with self checkouts. Sometimes, they still have lines at the self checkouts!

    I just don't like the hassle of dealing with it when it can't scan an item or coupon; the cashier deals with errors much faster. The last straw was when I'd double charged myself and didn't realize it til I got home! And I was like, that's it, I'm sticking to the cashiers!

    Beast, I'm glad the self checkouts are working in your favor. That is annoying when some people treat them like their own toys, holding up the line!

    It's just a pain in the a$$ for me to deal with the whole thing when it breaks down or can't even scan the barcode; then I waste more time waiting for the employee to resolve the problem, while everyone behind me sighs and taps their feet impatiently, grumbling about what an idiot I am and how I'm wasting their time--bastards!

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  5. MJ, I'm sure you've checked him out thoroughly yourself.

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  6. Mr E , if it wont accept the bar code on one item , scan something of a similar weight (Yes these things know the rough weight of an item) thats the same price or cheaper and put the non scanable item thru . or weigh the item as carrots or something cheap . To my mind if the supermarket cant be arsed to get there system sorted out properly , then it serves them right if they loose a bit of their obscene profits :-)

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  7. Customer services is going down hill fast. You don't get a smile or a please or thankyou's it disgusting and self service is the worst thing they could have invented in a store. In our local store you have a girl/boy standing at the end of these self serving tills and they could be sat on there ass serving me. Auuuuuuuhhhh got that off my chest. Feel much better now LOL

    How are you doing good looking?

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  8. Try Miss MJ's blog Patrick , fridays are always very errrm educational :-)

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  9. Teee-heeee Beastie!

    I would like it if they had the self service check out here. I tried at Tesco in London and it worked very well. Yet, I'd only do it if I was buying a few items.

    Today I had just paid for my groceries and was putting them in a bag and then the alarm went off. Blaring and flashing accusing me of theft. It turned out that one of the alarms in something hadn't been erased by the woman at the checkout so she had to do it again - while everyone was staring at me with that accusing look in their eyes.

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  10. Beast, thanks for the great tips! The next time I dare to venture into the self checkout lane, I'll be sure to try 'em :)

    Tatas, I'm doing fine, thank you. It's so good to hear from you! Hope you're feeling better, too. I totally agree with you! It sucks how customer service has gone downhill! Some employees are so unfriendly and unprofessional, that it's a wonder they're still working! I hate having to fiddle with those machines and then have to wait for someone to show up and fix the problem for me. It's aggravating, esp. when I think of the time I've wasted and that I should get paid (or a big discount) for charging and bagging my own groceries!

    Patrick x4, Welcome. I suppose I could do a posting and copy and paste what's been on the internet before, so just for you, the Dr Laura letter:

    Dear Dr. Laura,

    Thank you for doing so much to educate people regarding God's Law. I have learned a great deal from your show, and I try to share that knowledge with as many people as I can. When someone tries to defend the homosexual lifestyle, for example, I simply remind him that Leviticus 18:22 clearly states it to be an abomination. End of debate.

    I do need some advice from you, however, regarding some of the specific laws and how to best follow them.

    a) When I burn a bull on the altar as a sacrifice, I know it creates a pleasing odor for the Lord (Lev 1:9). The problem is my neighbors. They claim the odor is not pleasing to them. Should I smite them?

    b) I would like to sell my daughter into slavery, as sanctioned in Exodus 21:7. In this day and age, what do you think would be a fair price for her?

    c) I know that I am allowed no contact with a woman while she is in her period of menstrual uncleanliness (Lev 15:19-24). The problem is, how do I tell? I have tried asking, but most women take offense.

    d) Lev. 25:44 states that I may indeed possess slaves, both male and female, provided they are purchased from neighboring nations. A friend of mine claims that this applies to Mexicans, but not Canadians. Can you clarify? Why can't I own Canadians?

    e) I have a neighbor who insists on working on the Sabbath. Exodus 35:2 clearly states he should be put to death. Am I morally obligated to kill him myself?

    f) A friend of mine feels that even though eating shellfish is an Abomination (Lev 11:10), it is a lesser abomination than homosexuality. I don't agree. Can you settle this?

    g) Lev 21:20 states that I may not approach the altar of God if I have a defect in my sight. I have to admit that I wear reading glasses. Does my vision have to be 20/20, or is there some wiggle room here?

    h) Most of my male friends get their hair trimmed, including the hair around their temples, even though this is expressly forbidden by Lev 19:27. How should they die?

    i) I know from Lev 11:6-8 that touching the skin of a dead pig makes me unclean, but may I still play football if I wear gloves?

    j) My uncle has a farm. He violates Lev 19:19 by planting two different crops in the same field, as does his wife by wearing garments made of two different kinds of thread (cotton/polyester blend). He also tends to curse and blaspheme a lot. Is it really necessary that we go to all the trouble of getting the whole town together to stone them? (Lev 24:10-16) Couldn't we just burn them to death at a private family affair like we do with people who sleep with their in-laws? (Lev. 20:14)

    I know you have studied these things extensively, so I am confident you can help.

    Thank you again for reminding us that God's word is eternal and unchanging.

    Your devoted disciple and adoring fan.



    And I see you've posted the same message a few times. Let me offer a tip I've found useful in trying to avoid this error when blogging.

    Try using the PREVIEW button in the comments pop up, so that way, you can see if your post will show up. And you can make any necessary edits if you like, or click the PUBLISH YOUR COMMENT button when you're done with editing. That way, you can avoid repeated postings and save some time.

    I'd also like to add:

    Mathew 7:1-2 "Do not judge, or you will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you."

    Mathew 7:22-23 "Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?'

    Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'"

    Mathew 22:36-40 "Teacher, what is the greatest commandment in the Law?"

    Jesus replied:"'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind'. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself'. All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."


    Thank you visiting!

    Beast, those Fridays are something! Sometimes, they're Fish Fridays!

    CP, I hate it when that happens! I've had that done to me a few times, like right when I'm about to leave the store, the alarms go off! Then they realize that the cashier forgot to remove the alarm tag! Meanwhile, everyone is looking at me like I stole it!

    There should be compensation for having your reputation questioned because the store failed to follow it's process! I say, you should get a full refund and keep the stuff!

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  11. Wow you are such a Gentleman.
    Way to turn the other cheek and remind our brother that only he who is without sin can cast the first stone.
    I am humbled, and impressed by your unique interpretations of Leviticus..muchj better than my old King James version.


    I sure hope that Patrick takes the time to read your thoughtful reply, contemplate your gentle rebuke, and then he can go forth and multiply himself.

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  12. Just a girl, welcome! Scanners suck! Don't mind the passionate commentators; I was surprised too about the visit, but hey, I'd at least like to be a good host...

    Donnnnn, thanks! That Dr Laura letter is one of my fave finds on the web. It really hit upon some not-so-Golden-Rule things in the Old Testament that bothered me.

    People forget the Bible is an anthology put together by men seeking power and riches...and sought to eliminate their political enemies and the books that gave the enemies their authority and power.

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  13. Eros: After reading this yesterday I went to our local shop and was going to go to the self service but jumped to the ten Items or less counter instead. Where I was confronted by a woman that was going to the self service til and tried to push in front of me. She said "excuse me I think I was next" me being me said "I don't think so, there are separate lines for each til" she looked at the kids and huffed. Jess (daughters friend) looked at her and said excuse me but I'm with her.
    When leaving the store we noticed this woman parking in a disabled parking space and there wasn't anything wrong with her and no disabled disc in the car. I had to sit at the junction to get out and she couldn't as there was cars coming in. I left a happy lady while pissing someone else off. I kept my head high. I was right. LOL
    Have a great weekend my love.

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  14. Patrick x2, I'm so glad to see you've taken my advice and used the comments formatting and PREVIEW button to reduce repeated postings! Nice job.

    As for practicing homosexuals, I'm sure there will be someone who's willing to train you; and seeing as how you spell practicing, I'm assuming someone from the Commonwealth will be much closer to help break you in gently...

    Matthew 23:12 For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.

    John 14:6 Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."


    Have a safe weekend!

    Tatas, that's a great story! Ha! What goes around comes around! That sure was great that she got her just desserts for lying and trying to take advantage of people. You have a great weekend, too!

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