Grocery Store Gripe

I hate to start out the new year griping, but I just had to get this off my chest because I'm so very annoyed.

My gripe is with the self scanning lane at the grocery store. Every time I think I'm going to run in and run out, I usually get held up in the self-scanning line. You see, it is my understanding that those lanes are there to expedite checkout for those that only have a few items. And it's a great idea in principle, but it rarely works in practice. Why? Because people who have no business in the self scanning lane are ALWAYS in the self scanning lane in front of me.

I love senior citizens. I do. I hold doors open for them, I wait patiently when they stop me to hold conversation with my daughter (you wouldn't believe how often this happens), and I've been know to crouch down to grab something off the bottom shelf for a few simply because they asked me to do so. The other week, I helped an elderly lady lift an item out of her shopping cart and into her trunk because she couldn't find a store employee to help her. Yes, senior citizens are wonderful people. But they usually have no business in the self scanning lane. There are several reasons for this:

1. The elderly are rarely in a hurry. There's absolutely nothing wrong with taking your time. But leave the self checkout lanes for those who need to be somewhere else within the next few minutes.

2. Their vision isn't always the greatest. This means they have to take more time trying to read the screen, especially when it's time to pay. This also means they are constantly calling the attendant over to help. This constant need for assistance cancels out the idea of doing it yourself.

3. There is sometimes a technology gap. The self scanners are designed to be simple to use, but they are ultimately just computers. Sure, you know how to type a letter and send an email. But if you never figured out how to program your VCR or how to connect your DVD player to your television without help, the self scanners are probably not for you.

And, just so you know this isn't a question of ageism, seniors aren't the only ones that I believe should be barred from the self scanning lanes. Idiots should be banned also. I've been behind people who constantly have to ask the attendant stupid questions, the answers to which are usually sitting right there on the screen. And, by the way, if you can't read beyond a second grade level, the self scanners are not your friend.

I was behind someone the other day who got an error message on the screen that said "clear conveyor belt and scan last item again". Of course, she felt the need to call the attendant over because "I don't know what it wants me to do." Hmmm...I'm just guessing here, but I think it wants you to clear the conveyor belt and scan that last item again.

What do you think? Are my expectations unreasonable?

-e