Checking Out

Many stores have put in self-check-out lanes. They say it's to make things faster and easier for the customers, but I suspect it's just another money-saving move. If they can get you to do it for yourself, they don't have to pay someone to do it, right? It is faster...if you can figure out the machine--like the credit card readers, they're all a little different so you have to remember a lot of quirks. ...if the machine is working properly. ...if the employee who is there to help when it isn't working properly is actually there, not helping all the other confused patrons or surreptitiously on their phone. ...if said employee knows how to fix the problem. In other words, it so often isn't faster than a competent clerk in an express lane. A friend of mine has had two annoying problems where he usually shops. Once he tried to buy some alcohol-free wine and was surprised to learn that where he lives, that drink has to be cleared just like regular wine. He learned this when an alarm went off at his register, startling him and the other customers. The next time, he was checking out a small order, but it had big items. He filled the two available bags and ran out of room, so he transferred those two bags to his shopping cart. This time, not only did the alarm go off, but store employees came running at him. At this point, the other customers were eyeing him warily. I've learned to play the game, because with fewer cashiers, self-checkout is faster. (Does this count as a self-fulfilling prophecy?) I remember to always grab a small cart because there isn't much room to maneuver. I've learned what the touch squares mean, even if it's not what is printed on them. A few weeks ago when I entered my usual grocery store, I noticed that nearly all of the check-out lanes had their lights on. Great! I thought. No lines and I won't have to do it all myself. As I continued my shopping, I was dismayed to find that only two of the lanes had actual cashiers at them. All the others had been converted to self check-out lanes. If I have a larger order, I use those lanes because they at least give me some elbow room. Then the day came when each of the two cashiers had four carts lined up, and each of the self-checkout lanes had two customers with overflowing carts. From the customers point of view, by which I mean my point of view, it was no better than the "old" days. I had to wait in a slow line and then do all the work myself. Ah, convenience.