Self-checkout and price check machines
Some supermarkets in my neighbourhood introduced these self-checkout machines that you can scan, pay and package your purchased items yourself. It's fun to do a self-checkout once in a while because you can play the role of a cashier and feel what it is like. But then it is actually very inconvenient: you don't know what to do when the scanned price comes out incorrectly; you have to wait for a cashier to come and ID you if you're purchasing liquer and to validate your parking slips, etc. I find that it's just a scheme for the supermarket chain to save money on hiring more cashier, while the customers do not really gain any convenience, nor the real cashiers get higher hourly wages. I start to like the days when you just go up to the counter and order what you want instead of going from aisle to aisle trying to find them (although I never live in those days). The soceicty is slowly favouring the capitalists more and more in every small aspects of our lives, while the general public blindly accept these changes as technological advancements. And guess what? A famouse department store chain recently introduced the self-"Price Scan Stations". Things are just getting worse and worse.
1 Comments:
There's also self-check service at Dominion near my place. I actually find it quite convenient.
These machines have their limitations. Its main purpose is to replace the "1-8 item express" checkout. So instead of 1 express checkout with cashier, it has 4 little self-serve station at the same space.
It will never replace cashier because a customer with a cart full of grocery will not want to checkout themselves.
I use the self-checkout quite often when I only have a few items to buy. There's usually no line-up. I don't need to wait after an old lady with cart full of grocery when I only want to buy eggs. I scan my items, pay by debit card, and leave.
But yeah, if I had to wait at self-serve counter, I might as well wait at cashier counter and let the cashier check-out for me.
Personally I hate going to Wal-mart because it's soo big and I always have trouble finding my stuffs. But for most other stores, I actually enjoy walking around and check out other things on the isle.
But yeah, if you hate isle shopping, I'd suggest catalog shopping :)
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