Tuesday, April 13, 2004
Self Check Out Counter Hell
You’ve seen them. You’ve used them at least once by now. Some of you probably really like them. I hate them. I hatessssss them.
Bill at Bloviating Inanities makes this observation:
...[W]hen you scan something “correctly”, a soothing female computer voice says, “Please place item in bagging area”...ut if you scan something “incorrectly”...a male voice chastises you: PLEASE REMOVE ITEM FROM BAGGING AREA IMMEDIATELY! That’s when the Lane Siren goes off and the… Sullen Teen Police Chick has to come over with the Super Secret… Computer Pacifier Code.
At any given time, seven Lane Sirens are going off and there are seven bewildered customers looking around...If you are at the back of the store and look over at the self checkout lanes, it always looks like the scene of a multiple car accident.
I’ve used a self checkout scanner thingie two times in my life and both times I couldn’t believe the amount of pressure I was put under. Not only do scenes like what Bill said play out, but you have a line of customers waiting and when something goes wrong or you DARE to take the time to read the instructions your very first time using one, boy do they EVER get snippy! Shifting weight from one leg to the other, sighing LOUDLY, and sometimes belting out, “COME ON!”
Forget it...it is too traumatizing. I’ll just take my stuff to a checker who has the mad skills and is highly trained in checking items. I obviously do not belong in self checkout land.
Oh and what’s with the Self Checkout Counter Teenage Pimply Faced Finally Have Some Fake Responsibility And Let It Go To My Head And Give You A Look That Says You Are The World’s Biggest Idiot And Don’t You Even Think of Putting That Beer In That Bag Until I’ve Checked Your ID Even Though It’s Painfully Obvious That I Have No Idea Where On The License To Look Since I’m Not Old Enough To Have A License Yet Police?
They need to calm down.
