(Obviously I cant sleep if I am up at this time typing about grocery stores).
I just got back from our
HEB (l texas and mexico grocery chain). I dig HEB; great prices, good quality on store brands, discounts on gas at the store gas station ( $0.25 off for buying a certain brand of TP) and tuition reimbursement for student employes.
Anyway,they just redid and expanded the store by my house, tore it down and doubled the size (its also 24 hours), and they added USCAN checkouts. I FUC**NG LOVE IT. First time I used it tonight. You go to the station, scan your own stuff, select produce by photo on the video touch screen (if any), bag it as you go, select payment form on the screen, (check, credit card, cash), insert cash into the bill acceptor (like a vending machine) and out comes your change and reciept. You are done and out the door. You never have to deal with a checker EVER. So you dont have to bitch about how slow they are going. if its not going fast enough, its your fault. If I am in a particularly bad mood, I enjoy the fact that my ENTIRE shopping experience can be done without ANY human interaction. TOO COOL. (Of course they have regular check outs too, and for you cheaters out there they have an auditor who randomly stops customers and compares their purchases with items in their bags.)
Aint technology GRAND?