I don't like the self service checkout. I usually run into a problem with more than one item. I prefer the cashier. It's nice to have the human interaction. It's good to say 'Hello' and 'Thank You' to another hardworking human being providing an excellent service.
Plus, if I've got five to ten items, the cashier usually rings it up faster than I ever could at the self service checkout. And it's nice to have someone bag your groceries and offer to carry them to your car, even if you prefer to do that yourself.
But since I had only one item to buy, and I was much closer to the single self service checkout than the cashiers on the far end of the store, I opted to use the self service checkout, especially since there was only one person standing there. Meanwhile, the cashier lines were long with shoppers pushing full carts.
At the self service checkout, I stood a respectable distance behind the lady wearing mirrored sunglasses and a trendy summer outfit and a large hat. All designer labels, all expensive, all for show. I waited for her to finish her single purchase. And waited. And waited. Two other shoppers with a few items had formed a line behind me. Still, that lady wasn't making a move. After five minutes, I asked the lady if she needed help.
She huffed, "That fellow over there told me that I could pay for my item here. But he hasn't come here yet!"
I looked to see where she was pointing at. A young fellow was busy serving customers at the bakery counter. I didn't understand why she needed him, unless she couldn't figure out how to use the self checkout.
So I told her, "If you'd like, I can help you scan your item."
To which she indignantly replied, "Scan what? There's nothing to scan!"
I paused, then said, "If you'd like, I can show you where to scan."
She was still for a moment. Then she handed me her item. I took the handheld scanner and scanned the barcode under the item. Then I directed her to use the card reader to pay for her item using her credit card. She grumbled the whole time as she paid for her item. Then she got even more flustered when I showed her where the bags were to bag her item.
She bagged her item and harped, "I can't believe that we have to ring up and bag our own purchases! What kind of service is that?"
To which I replied, "It's the self service kind, ma'am. This is the self service checkout."
Her head snapped up quick and she asked disbelievingly, "This is the self service checkout?!"
I pointed to the large lighted sign just above our heads that stated: Self Service Checkout.
The lady sputtered, "Well, how are we suppose to see that when it's so dark in here! It's hard to see anything in this darkness!"
I replied, "I totally agree, ma'am. I also have trouble seeing indoors with my sunglasses on."
She exclaimed, "Is that why it's so dark in here?" She touched her shades, then her faced turned red, and she stomped off as I scanned my item and the two shoppers behind me were guffawing.
