I have a Master's degree in Self-Checkout (which, by the way falls somewhere under that ubiquitous Business Degree
)
I love some self-checkout -- you get in, and out, and on your way with no muss-no fuss -- at least most of the time. I, of course follow all the rules though...for those of you that are novices, please observe the following rules:
1 - DON'T start the process (ie, touching the screen and stuff) until you are ready to scan -- this means, have your annoying little savings card out and ready.
2 - Be familiar with your items -- don't spend 1/2 hour searching the box for the bar code. If its produce, know what the heck you bought so you don't ask the impatient lady behind you (who happens to be me a lot of the time) -- what is this? I think its parsley, but I don't remember!
3 - Scan it and bag it. Don't stand around waiting for the screen to process it so you can look at it and say "Man, that's perty cool"
4 - If you do have a problem, and the supervisor isn't there, just start punching buttons -- these things have fabulous alarm noises!
5 - Observe the rules of 20 items or less. Don't come in there with your shopping cart more packed than Willie the homeless man on 9th street. That little weigh station thingy will only hold so much.
Of course the supervisors can sometimes be real jerks. Once I had my hand resting on the scale thing -- and I didn't even have anything to weigh -- geez -- you would have thought that I was trying to scan somebody's baby or something! (By the way....babies do not scan well -- I prefer to try to scan stuff I bought from other stores, but keep in my purse for just such instances!)