Took every bit of self-restraint...

[Aske]

...not to kill 2 complete dumb*fudge*s at the grocery store

so we have a bunch of those 'self checkout' things...  the 2 lines with human cashiers were about 10 deep.... the  (only one turned on) self checkout line had 1 cart ahead of me.  the guy working it was straight out of the university of fail.  kept rubbing the item directly on the glass over and over,  calling for an employee everytime as nothing would scan.  I finally said out in a loud voice something to the effect of "amazingly, based on the design of that device, the laws of physics and optics dictate the scanner works better at a distance of about 2-6 inches",  politely not adding and profanity about him or his mother and her decision not to abort him.   about 1 minute later (guy still had about 12 itmes left to scan)  a cart pulls in behind me, the bottom rams into both of my achilles. asshat pushing it 'didn't even realize' he did it.  i scoot up a bit, turning to give a mean glance, but letting it go.  10 seconds later, bam, again.  i turn around and out comes (at about 90% of maximum volume so everyone around will observe "i dare you to hit that cart into my legs again, *bunghole*"    after recoiling back a bit and cowering down some, he replied "i'm sorry, i didn't realize it sticks out farther at the bottom than the top"   against my better judgement, i let it go at that.     

[Uisce Beatha]

edit: NSFWE&T

[spacey]

That's the reason I generally try to avoid going anywhere the general public is allowed.

[E-A-G-L-E!]

Ah, the benefits of purchasing through the supplier instead of heading off to the grocery store.

[gleek]

Those self-checkout things are worthless and slow as hell unless you have just a few items in a hand basket. They give you hardly any room to stage your scanned and bagged groceries.

What they should have done is designed these self-checkout stations like a full register aisle but with the conveyor belt BEHIND the scanner (i.e. opposite of the standard set-up in a regular aisle). Then all the scanned items on the conveyor belt can slide down to a security scale to be weighed all at once. I'd have to question the effectiveness of the security scale, but that's another issue entirely. However, the scale could be used as a control mechanism for the conveyor belt to prevent the next *bunghole* from scanning his *feces* before you've bagged and removed all your own crap from the scale.

[MFAWG]

Absolutely, 100 pct refuse to use the self checkout, ever.

Think about it: What they're saying is we don't even give enough of a *feces* about our customers to interact with them at the moment of truth, the most basic transaction in all of business, if we can possibly avoid it.

For a while, I wouldn't go into any store that has them, but that become unworkable.

[Spanky]

Those self-checkout things are worthless and slow as hell unless you have just a few items in a hand basket. They give you hardly any room to stage your scanned and bagged groceries.

What they should have done is designed these self-checkout stations like a full register aisle but with the conveyor belt BEHIND the scanner (i.e. opposite of the standard set-up in a regular aisle). Then all the scanned items on the conveyor belt can slide down to a security scale to be weighed all at once. I'd have to question the effectiveness of the security scale, but that's another issue entirely. However, the scale could be used as a control mechanism for the conveyor belt to prevent the next *bunghole* from scanning his *feces* before you've bagged and removed all your own crap from the scale.

One of the Walmart grocery stores is just like this. A very smart move.

[Uisce Beatha]

I live for self-checkout.  I rarely do the full shop so I generally have just a few items.  Short of navigating for produce (which really sucks and sends me to a manned checked) it's a breeze and gets me out the door much faster. 

I honestly don't think they're intended for those with full carts.

Certainly don't take it they don't want to interact with me.  Is it not really meant to be a cost- or time-savings measure?  I have very little desire to make small with a 20-/60-something cashier anyway.

[stroh]

That's the reason I generally try to avoid going anywhere the general public is allowed.

Truth is, they're actually more scared you, than you are of them.  Seriously.

[E-A-G-L-E!]

That's the reason I generally try to avoid going anywhere the general public is allowed.

Truth is, they're actually more scared you, than you are of them.  Seriously.

I've heard the same thing about coyotes.  Seriously.

[Uisce Beatha]

That's the reason I generally try to avoid going anywhere the general public is allowed.

Truth is, they're actually more scared you, than you are of them.  Seriously.

I've heard the same thing about coyotes.  Seriously.

But Spacey is a coyote.  Dead eyes and all.  When he speaks, I shiver.

[Fuzzy]

my $0.02. They've put them in at the local Home Depot.

Nice!

But i agree with a full cart it would get to be a pain in the ass.

[spacey]

That's the reason I generally try to avoid going anywhere the general public is allowed.

Truth is, they're actually more scared you, than you are of them.  Seriously.

I've heard the same thing about coyotes.  Seriously.

But Spacey is a coyote.  Dead eyes and all.  When he speaks, I shiver.

Is it like a sneeze only better?

[BFBoy]

Last time I used one of these, all three of the regular lines were packed. I had a twelve pack of beer, and it took forever for the manager to come over to ok my purchase at the self serve. Three associates were standing around BSing while I waited. 
Haven't used a self serve since.
PS. I haven't been back to THAT store, either.