What is the point of self-service checkouts in supermarkets?
DO you know what really gets on my nerves?
Self-service checkouts in supermarkets.
Why? What exactly is the point?
Whoever came up with the concept should be sacked - they are flawed on so many levels it’s unbelievable, and as far as I can make out they are a totally pointless addition.
Firstly, they do away with personal interaction, when surely it’s actually quite nice to speak to people and build up a rapport.
Social contact is something we should embrace and not try and do away with.
How many times have you heard the political opinions of a self-service till?
And I hate the way they assume you have a Storecard: “Please insert your Clubcard” it tells me.
But I don’t even have one! I bet this feature’s particularly useful for tourists who don’t speak very good English.
I mean can you imagine walking into a supermarket abroad and having to deal with the equivalent?
They are also littered with errors: “Unexpected item in the baggage area!” it so helpfully tells me - every single bloody time I use one.
Which is basically code for: “This person might be nicking something”. Then some halfwit shuffles up with a gormless look to type in a code so you can carry on - what’s the point?
Then If you go and buy something with an age restriction like alcohol you have to wait for someone to authorize it anyway- Again, what’s the point?
And let’s not forget that, most importantly, they are getting rid of jobs.
In an age where so many industries are being forced to downsize - supermarkets should be one of the only few who aren’t. But no, they are replacing human beings with shoddy computers.
Can anyone think of a single time they’ve used one and had a less stressful experience than if they’d been to the counter? Because I certainly can’t!