In my previous post I mentioned that I’m not a fan of self-checkout, in grocery stores, or anywhere. Companies don’t offer self-checkout because it’s more efficient. It’s not. They don’t offer it because it is better for the customer. It isn’t. It’s a pain in the butt. The only purpose of installing a self-checkout is saving money by being able to fire checkers, and replace their labor with yours – the customer.
My fiance and I were driving back after picking up a malti-poo puppy from a breeder’s agent in San Ramon. We took a wrong turn and ended up driving by Safeway on Bollinger Canyon Road. At that point he doggie wasn’t feeling well and barfed all over my passenger, so I ran in to grab a roll of paper towels.
As with all stores featuring self-checkout, this was understaffed. Huge line in the express lane, and complicated rain-check transaction in the only other open check-stand. So, because of the urgency of the barf situation, after waiting in both lines, I bailed to the self-checkout. One item, on sale for $.79. I followed all of the prompts and entered all of the transaction information. After my ATM transaction was completed, however, the recorded voice kept demanding that I select a transaction-type. When I pushed on the screen nothing happened. So I just left. No one seemed to care. The “customer service” person was too busy in a personal conversation with her friend to notice.
