Before Safeways disappeared they introduced a self checking system that allowed shoppers to scan the goods as they placed them in the trolley and the checkouts took the money that was indicated on the scanners. To discourage dishonesty self service shoppers were randomly picked for a full scan at the checkouts.
That actually worked pretty well. I and my girlfriend at the time (who was really old enough to know better) used to occasionally, er, forget to scan the odd item, such as a chicken or perhaps a bottle of wine. If we were selected for random scanning, we'd tell the staff that we couldn't get it to scan and we always got away with it.
As for the current breed of self checkouts, I can't stand the things. For a start, I don't go to shops so I have to do the work of the checkout staff. I mean, how long will it be before I have to do half an hour's shelf stacking before I can do my shopping? Supermarkets hoover enough money out of the local economy even without getting rid of their checkout staff. And that voice they use ... "
Welcome to Sainsbury's.
Thank you for using Sainsbury's self checkout.
Have you swiped your nectar card? Unexpected item in the baggging area. Have you wiped your bottom properly?" Aaargh. And the worst thing is, you can hear it all over the shop, and there are normally four of the things being used, so it sounds like Patricia Hewitt might sound if one of her more patronising speeches had been sampled and made into an especially irritating song. No wonder I try and avoid supermarkets wherever I can.
