I don't know how many store's have these self checkout lanes, while it may be some what of a cost savings for the store, it doesn't really seem to speed up my checkout time.
The only store that I go to regularly that uses them is my local Lowe's Home Improvement Center, just outside of Westchase at the corner of Race Track Road and Hillsborough. They have a section set up where there are four self checkout stands together and "usually" a clerk to assist customers who may have trouble making their purchase. Invariably I find myself needing assistance or if there is no one else using the stands, having the attendant complete my purchase with their hand scanner for a quicker checkout time.
Tonight I stopped by because I needed one (1) PVC cap to plug a section of my sprinkler system while I reconfigure some of the sprinkler heads. The piece cost a grand total of 59¢ and it took me longer at the checkout than to park, walk into the store, go to the PVC section in plumbing, find the part and the reverse my travel after "finally" checking out.
After approaching the self checkout machine I pushed "start" on machine #1 and a mechanical computer generated voice immediately began blaring "unidentified item in the bagging area" and kept asking me to remove it. Since the part was still in my hand I wasn't sure what to do, so I moved to machine #2 as the clerk was busy assisting an individual with a large cart of tubing and other items.
Pushed "start" on this machine and the scanner wouldn't "read" the bar code on the piece I was attempting to purchase. While standing there looking stupid and helpless; the clerk finished with the other customer, reset machine #1, logged on to machine #2 with her special codes and then used her hand held scanner to "read" the bar code. All was well, for a moment; then the machine wouldn't accept dollar bill # 1 or #2, but finally decided that dollar bill #3 wasn't counterfeit and spit out my change.
Don't know about others, but I can't exactly say that was a pleasant customer experience!
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