Self Check Outs

Does anyone recognize this? Its a new trend that is popping up everywhere. The self check out.... Another way for the all mighty big box stores to save a buck, I mean why pay rude half witted employees to do the job of a machine that will simply beep at you when it does not get the bar code? Allow me to share my experience.

First of all I will have you know that I hate the self check out. I have never had an occasion where I could use it without requiring assistance. I dont believe that it has anything to do with my ability as a customer, but rather the machines stupidity. I was on my way home the other night and I had 1 item to purchase, looking at the long line ups of people I looked at the empty self check out stations and thought well its only one item so maybe I will go against my personal policy to not use them. So I did exactly as instructed by the machine I touched the screen and scaned it and "placed the item in the bag" so then the machine started saying "please place item in the bag". I dont know what made me think that this would make a difference but I took it out and replaced it in the bag only for the machine to repeat this message followed by please wait for cashier assistance. So there is the cashier standing at her lone post infront of all these mechanical pains in the ass. I stand staring at her burning holes in her shirt with my eyes. What does she do continues to look down at her computer screen. Now unless she is hearing and visually impaired Im sure that both she and I can hear the machine and see that Im not getting the quick check out promised to me by the latest in technology.

First she walks by me to another machine that has gone off after mine. Then when she returns to her post I finally say excuse me but I dont know whats wrong with this thing. She walks over looking annoyed that I have interputed her busy day of staring at her computer screen. Now here folks is the pivitol moment that leads me to believe that customer service is dead. She does not speak a word to me does not even look at me simply punches something into her hand held computer and walks away. No have a nice day, nothing. So Im at a loss as to what is worse poor customer service or the annoyance of the machines that cant scan a can of soup without requiring assistance. All I know is the day that I go to a public washroom and there is a mechanical wiping divice Im moving to the closet hick town I can find!