The other day I used the self service checkout at my local supermarket to purchase five items. After pressing the “finish and pay” option on the touch screen, I chose to pay by debit card and swiped my card. After asking if the purchase amount was correct, the computer screen asked if I wanted any cash back. I selected $20 cash back and my total was deducted from my debit card. The only problem was that the machine failed to give me the $20 cash. A female clerk, who was supervising the six self service checkout registers, noticed the machine beeping and came right over. I said, “The machine never gave me any money.” She pointed to the screen and nodded, indicating she knew. She tried to get the machine to release the $20, but had no success. She then retreated to her own register to get my cash.
Remembering a problem I had with another self service machine in the same store earlier in the week, when this same clerk had to give me my change because the machine wouldn’t, I said, “These self service machines are hardly worth the effort, are they?”
The clerk gave me a strange look and said something in a foreign language.
It truly is a brave new world.
Monday, January 24, 2011
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