Self-serving

Last week at the grocery store out of sheer frustration and impatience I decided to try the self-serve checkout. (Perhaps it should have been an indication that there was no line-up for those checkouts!)

I figured that with the better part of a decade spent working at a grocery store this should be no problem. The thing sucked.

It asked me how many bags I thought I would need. I had three things -- so no bags required (just doing my part for the environment). After scanning the first item it told me to put it in the bag -- wait didn't I just tell the damn machine that I didn't want any bags? -- the machine also wouldn't let me proceed until I had placed the item on the bag carousel (apparently it's weight sensitive). My next item was flowers -- well they didn't have enough weight that would allow me to proceed so the evil grocery store lady had to still come over and scan the last item for me anyway -- not exactly efficient.

Then it struck me that why do I want to scan and bag my own groceries? Why does anyone want to......don't we already do enough for ourselves. We seem to be moving further and further away from any real social interaction.

I think next time I'll wait in line. Then it means that someone gets to continue their job as a checkout chick!