I'm lost in the supermarket

[venta]

I have just put an entire trolleysworth of shopping through a self-service checkout in Tesco, without once putting that which was unexpected in the bagging area. I was not beeped at, remonstrated with, warned or menaced by the machine. It did not summon members of staff at arbitrary moments. I even persuaded it to let me purchase the vacuum pack of smoked mackerel whose barcode didn't scan.

I am made of 24-carat, armour-plated righteous WIN.

Comments

[hirez.livejournal.com]

I guess it's always useful to have an alternate skill-set to fall back upon.[1]

The problem I have with those things is that it isn't clear if getting the punters to do it themselves is allowing those currently operating the tills to perform more productive and personally satisfying work elsewhere in the shop, or if it's allowing them the opportunity for a good queue down the dole office.


[1] See also being your own insurance broker, being your own travel agent, etc.

[venta.livejournal.com]

Yes. I'm not clear why these tills exist. I was kind of excited when they arrived because they looked fun to play with (they weren't) but fear that they are really just a means of reducing staff.

Due to beeping, bagging areas, etc I normally avoid them if I'm buying more than a pint of milk but at 10.15 last night[*] Tesco had exactly two humans, both with huge queueues.

[*] I realise some people have more exciting things to do on Friday nights than go shopping.