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I confess to using the self checkout stand at Walmart quite a bit, especially in the summer, but that's only because I usually have that asshole dog Jack with me and I don't want to leave him in the truck any longer than I absolutely have to no matter how early it is.
Even if I see a line with only a couple people in it, I can guarantee that somebody in front of me is going to have a problem with their card or whatever, and I'm going to be standing there for what seems like forever while they try to get the machine to read their card chip, then they'll swipe it 3-4 times to no avail, the clerk will try to manually enter their number, and just about the time my groaning starts to become audible, the clerk will finally escort them over to customer service to let them deal with it.
Then the next customer will be a 90 year old woman who's total comes to $37.43 and instead of paying with a card or just handing the clerk 38 bucks or a pair of twenties, she hands the clerk 37 dollars in paper money and insists on spending 10 minutes rummaging through that fucking suitcase she calls a purse looking for 43 cents in coin.
Last week, for the first time, I saw self-checkout at a gas station/convenience store. How are Joe's five million newly arrived 'friends' ever going to find a job?
ReplyDeleteThat Stop-n-Rob thinks it has a problem with "teens" shoplifting now...
DeleteJust don't expect me, as a customer doing the work they can't fill, to comply the next time they have a mandate for employee vax.
ReplyDeleteSteve S6
"somebody in front of me is going to have a problem with their card or whatever"
ReplyDeleteor the assholes at the grocery with 50 items that suddenly discover, when almost all of their items have been scanned, that they forgot something and rush back to the aisles to get it. Had that happen to me twice in last couple weeks.
Those people should crack their heads after slipping on a banana peel. Better yet, get run over in the parking lot by someone doing 40MPH in parking lot aisles like they're out on the street.
Nemo
I decided that I would intentionally slow down and not worry about the length of the line. I start up a conversation with anyone who will put up with it. I have met come really interesting people this way. Many lament that the "The world went and got itself in a big damn hurry." Only solution is to slow down. I am still careful to try not to slow anyone else down. Oh, well, my quirky way of dealin' with the world.
ReplyDeleteExcellent attitude.
DeleteIt's a big me-me-me-me-me world these days and nobody will have any consideration for those behind them, whether it's a lonely granny jawwing with the cashier, or someone pecking at their phone and not even seeing the traffic signal is green.
ReplyDeleteI use self checkout all I can because I prefer to avoid human interaction. Plus I can bag things correctly and not have crushed produce or bakery items on the bottom. A fair %-age of the people doing self checkout are incapable, need help, and should be in line at a real cashier waiting for granny to move on.
My local supermarket manager told me 1/4 of his employees (mostly the younger ones) call in sick on a regular basis. He said they know they won't be fired because at least they're willing to come in sometimes on their terms and he can't hire people who don't want to work at all to replace them. It's economic evolution. The monkeys are running the zoo.
ReplyDelete"fucking suitcase she calls a purse"
ReplyDelete9 year old me looks in my Nana's suitcase aka purse for candy and finds a stethoscope, NYPD detective's gold shield, assorted prescription drugs, wad of cash and a nickel plated break open .22 I knew enough not to touch because my old man taught me better. If you think them old ladies trying to find exact change is bad, get behind one when they drag out the checkbook.
- WDS
WLlyworld near me is 100% self-check. I just take my own sweet time.
ReplyDeleteLocal Wallyworld closed all but 4 of the 126 checkout lanes and converted them to self checkout a couple years ago. I try to avoid that place as much as possible, but sometimes I have to go. When I saw they were now mostly self checkout, I commented to a woman near me, "looks like it's buy one get one free now". She was some form of employee, not wearing the vest but with a name tag i saw when she turned in my direction. She said "you can't do that". I replied "your right". Pushed the buggy away and walked out the door. Ain't been back since to that one. Won't go to Home Depot/Lowes for the same reason, all self checkout. I'll pay the little bit extra and go to my local Ace Hardware.
ReplyDeleteIf they want me to do their job for them, I want a 5% discount on what I'm buying. Otherwise I'm outta there.
And one demographic seems completely unable to check out of a store in a normal line without causing an issue. Generally it is a claim that the price is wrong, or similar, but the card thing is pretty common too. Indeed, I am far faster than any of the human checkers and often would just assume do it myself.
ReplyDeleteI'm calling that within the next ten years, we won't have stores as we know it. No aisles, all shopping done online or at a digital kiosk. The order will be brought to you in whole. Sort of like old time grocers. It will cut overhead and liability. Reduce labor, reduce theft.
ReplyDeleteI give the cashier the 43 cents. Ok, yes it is somewhat like charity but the real reason is to move them along so I can move along.
ReplyDeleteWhat grinds my gears is the person who decide only after everything is totaled up that now is the time to try to find their wallet. I really don't like people being so unprepared, especially since they had plenty time while standing in line.
However, since I am usually not in a hurry, I'll strike up a conversation. I too have some interesting people on that way.
Yes! I was thinking of posting the same thing about boobs (nearly always women) who only seem to snap out of a coma AFTER the total is rung up, and THEN go fumbling for their handbag. By contrast, I've got the visa card primed and ready to go before the first item is scanned and have been known to jump the gun by "sticking it in too early".
DeleteAs a lifelong Noo Yawker, I've found it exceedingly difficult since relocating to the south to deal with people who make idle chatter with strangers on a grocery store line. I generally just smile and nod, as I hate the disappointed look in their eyes when they hear my accent.
Well, I normally use self checkout as it is quicker and more effecient unless I anticipate a problem with my card, want to pay cash with wrinkled bills and sticky change or have another need for a live cashier that will probably take a few minutes.
ReplyDeleteDaryl
I avoid the Self Checkout lanes as often as possible. I do not work for the company and I will not be a slave (unpaid or compensated). An amazing number of people will stand in line and wait instead of using the self check-out. I love when the poor piss who is front end manager comes around trying to get us to use the self-check lanes just to get asked if they can run a register and they might want to open another lane. They usually stomp off irritated.
ReplyDeleteI don't use self checkout, I'm not given a discount for checking myself out or bagging my purchases..
ReplyDeleteJD
Often don't have a choice here. If its a small order, i just put the stuff back in the shopping basket for the trip to the car/ home. Those baskets are really handy in the shop. Oops!
DeleteOnce or twice has then give me a free bag, but bags are verboten around here now, at least at the big box places .
I love the self check-outs because the old and stupid people refuse to use them! I used to work retail and I absolutely despise most people. Nobody has a "sense of urgency". Nobody gives a shit about blocking lanes or how they are inconveniencing other people. It's the same way with interstate traffic. You always have that asshole old lady or 18-wheeler driving 40 in the 70MPH lane trying to go up a mountain. Never mind the 15 fucking signs that he already passed saying "get the fuck over if you are heavy or slow"!!
ReplyDelete