I Hate Self Check Out or How My Local Library is Trying to Drive Me Crazy
Maybe nobody cares that I hate self check out but I can just bet that I am not alone in this. 'I am 'mad as hell and I'm not going to take it anymore,' I think to myself all the while realizing that, eventually, the vast machine will devour the essence of humanity. I will move with the herd, shuffling toward the annihilation of human interaction and the death of the individual.
If I still want free books.
I have gone to the public library every 3 weeks since I've been 3 years old. Sometimes, more often. A while back, they added a touch screen self checkout to the library system. Just like at the grocery store, the hardware store, and everyplace else. And just like every other place, I had the choice not to use it.
Robot Library Clerk
Robot Library Check Out Girl is One Tough Cookie
But this time was different. The nefarious nabobs of progress have set the entire library check out process so that you have to do it yourself. The young woman who assisted me was unhelpful at best. Either she was against the whole scheme or she just couldn't get it to work.
She was as robotic as the machine. Not a glimmer of a smile creased her face. She was not amused. But when she tried to 'help' me, nothing seemed to work properly. She betrayed no obvious frustration at my inability to locate my library card and showed no concern over my ensuing panic. She did not care when I explained how important my library card is to me.
Maybe she had been instructed not to encourage trouble makers.
You will be pleased, no doubt, to learn that I did locate my library card. I then spent some time attempting to properly use the self check out machine. Try it this way. Try it that way. You don't have to check them out one at a time. You can place up to 5 books on the pad at the same time! She suggested that I spin the books.
I spun the books. The pad must be pretty slippery because one little twirl and the books flew off onto the floor. One weighty tome fell onto her toe. She did not flinch. Library check out robot girl is one tough cookie. She is a soldier in the war against human contact. Maybe she's autistic. May they've hired people with autism to thwart that messy human contact thing.
I wished there were some people in line. But it was not Tuesday (Tuesday being the Big Day at our local library). My Luddite sensibilities would just glow if I were able to stall the exodus of impatient library patrons.
I looked at robot library check out girl. She was a big one. Taller than me and I was wearing clogs!
Just for Fun
Not My Fault
'I'm not doing this on purpose,' I said as hands flew, books shuffled, and confusion ensued.
My husband tried to help out. Mr. Monet seemed to believe that he, being male, would be better equipped at handling technological devices. He was wrong.
Okay, so I occasionally have a little problem with electrical gadgets. I'll admit it. Cell phones often refuse to respond to my commands. My land line calls me back when I hang up the phone. Caller ID shows my own self!
Cash registers have been known to shut down when I have a question or problem. I did not think it was my fault that time at Kmart, but the cashier gave me a dirty look. Other cashiers whispered, casting suspicious glances my way, giving me the stink eye as their machines winked out one by one.
When I was a kid learning to bake cakes, voices came out of the mixer. Recognizable voices of neighbors talking about nail polish and other such fascinating topics.
'Okay," I said, trying to cooperate. The tall robotic library girl intimidated me so much, I did not even laugh. 'Let's do them one at a time.'
So, we cancelled out the transaction and started all over again. Dug out the wallet. Found the libary card.
'No, you don't have to scan the bar code of each book.' She was beginning to sound impatient as she grabbed the book out of my hand. (Finally got my paws on a copy of Girl With the Dragon Tattoo)
The self check out took 15 minutes.(What an improvement!?)
'Thank you,' I said to the robot library check out girl.
She looked at me as if I was a piece of wood.
Self Check Out Takes Away Jobs
So, library jobs are often low paying, mostly part-time work. But library check out jobs, just like cashier jobs, provide wonderful part-time employment opportunities for students, mothers whose kids are in school, retirees who want to make a few extra bucks so they can turn the heat up to 65 this winter. Tough luck, Pops. Too bad, Mom. You've been replaced by a machine.
The Dehumanization of Modern Technology
The old library check out lady wears seasonally colored clothing. She's nice. She smiles. She greets me and I greet her. I run into her, and others of her ilk at other places around the community. We say 'hi.'
It is a grand old tradition, the passing of books from hand to hand.
And at the grocery store, quick idle chatter, not enough to hold up the line, just people being human, sharing a brief moment of laughter, weather information. It's all so unimportant that it is important.
Someday very soon, we will all herd along like sheep. Our voices will be a low, meaningless rumble of weak compliance.
Who Were the Luddites?
When the Industrial Revolution created textile factories in England, a group of protesters stormed the mills at night and people attacked and destroyed equipment. Back in the day, people produced woven fabric at home to use or to sell. Small businesses called cottage industry also produced hand woven materials.
The protesters felt that mechanization would hamper and eventually destroy the hand crafted goods as well as the income of the crafters who produced the fabric. Jobs at the factories were low wage but produced cheaper material.
People who are opposed to 'progress' are often called Luddites because of this movement.
What is Progress
At the early onset of the Industrial Revolution, a group of people called the Luddites, sabotaged the machinery by breaking it up in protest over the loss of individual craftsmen and the cottage industry created by the large looms at textile factories.
Luddites are often portrayed as stupid, backward peasants or people who ignorantly stand in the way of progress. But what is progress?
I would certainly not encourage people to kick machinery and bust up electronic decides. I love electronic devices, the Internet, etc.
I would not encourage people to
- Accidentally scan an item several times and have to call the real actual person to help straighten out the confusion.
- Accidentally let a dime fall into a crack where you can't get at it and it may gum up the works.
- Accidentally spill liquid onto the machine.
- Accidentally swipe a magnet across an electronic self check out scanner
- Keep screwing up until the people behind you get really irritated and you be real apologetic, pleasant, and friendly to them.
Maybe the robotic library girl thought that I was being deliberately obtuse - that I was acting stupid on purpose to cause trouble. Which I wasn't.
But the more they push, the sweeter and stupider I will become. I will agreeable follow instruction in my own clumsy, ineffectual way. I will make only small mistakes. I will thank them for their help and they shove me toward the chute at the slaughter house. I'll fall down, cause others to fall behind me. I will bump into things and jostle the machinery and cry 'BAHHHHH!"'
THE SELF CHECK OUT POLL
Where do you stand on self check out?
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Comments
Hmmmm. At it again Delores? I have been through a few of those "experiences" with you, LOL. At least this time they didn't call the police.
R
Your brother-in-law
I refuse to use the self-checkouts at Lowe's and our local big-box grocery stores. Period.
Pat has taken on the mission of ensuring that the self-service tills in the grocery store do not put the cashiers out of a job.
Her mode of operation is to actually attempt to use the self-service till, but to keep making mistakes so that a member of staff had to come and help her. On a good day she makes about 1 mistake per 3 items purchased. This actually takes longer than going through the 'old fashioned' till, but is a whole lot more fun. (That's fun if you are totally pig headed.)
I have a rather simple rule that works for me. If a store cannot afford to pay a real, live employee at a check-out counter, then I cannot afford to shop at that store.
Thanks for this slice of real life, Dolores.
Our local library has this 'do-it-youself' check-out practice well in place. They have yet to hire the robotic and autistic, but I can see this happening soon. I am with drbj, if they remove the humans from their service, I remove this human from their shop.
Thank you for a truly honest look into the transition towards total removal of people from everything requiring customer service.
Up and awesome.
K9
I hate for the reason of jobs. A friend an unemployed engineer worked at Wal-Mart and he felt the jobs were being eliminated so both my husband and I stand and patiently wait at Wal-Mart. I think they go slower to encourage us to self check out. I don't mind the technology, I mind my friend not having a job. A job beneath him but none the less a job he wants and he wishes to defend.
There Wal-Mart hate me - I had to tell the whole truth.
The system we have at our store are pretty good. but there is hardly ever a person to help. so I wonder how easy it would be to accidentally forget to scan a few items.
Great hub DM!
I've had that problem too, Dolores, when I tried to check out 6 books for the grand kids over and over again--finally a clerk came over, grabbed the books and checked them out at the circulation desk.
50 - I'll stand in line any day rather than use those durn self check outs. Thanks for dropping in!
del - at my age, I deport myself with the utmost civility! Good to see you here!
RN - I guess I'm not the only one! Thank you!
2patricias - it's heart warming to hear from a fellow Luddite across the Pond! Thanks!
drbj - well that is the sensible route but I can't not go to the library!!!!
K9 - I sure do not want to insult people with Austism. It's the robots and people who support them that I can't stand. Thanks!
I've never used the self check out at the library. Of course, I try to stay away from libraries unless I have to be there. Soon enough, I'll have to be there!
Awww, Delores you're sweet.
Your Brother-in-Law
R
I hate those robotic checkout thingees... and the people who act like one! great post.
blackmarx - that would be called shop lifting which is stealing and though the temptation is strong, one must resist being the stinker. All those big floor walker chasing you down the sidewalk just ain't worth it for a free pound of bacon! Thanks!
Richard - that's the ticket! Act stupid! Only in my case, it is not always acting! Haha. Thank you!
daPuma - I could not live without my library! I worry about budget cuts but have to lose the face of humanity there. Thanks for the comment!
RW - it's so nice to see that an actual relative stops by! Most of them don't seem to care. :(
carolina - well around here, the line piles up for the real actual person cashier. They will keep shoving those self checkouts down our throats till we have no choice.
I agree wholeheartedly with you on this one. The last thing I want to do after a long day's work is someone else's job.
Oh, I've got to agree with you. The buzzer went off at the door and embarrassed me because the dumb machine didn't scan the book when I put it through one time. Everyone in the library looked at me like I was a thief. What happened to the librarian being your friend. Now you can't even say a few words to them.
I too, hate self checkouts. Your absolutely right. It's called planned human obsolescence. Refusing to participate might buy us some time! Enjoyed the story. Thanks
Very interesting hub from you. I really enjoy to read this again and again. I never found the library like this one in my city. Thumbs up for you! Have a nice weekend.
prasetio
This is so funny! I agree with you. I've haven't tried at them at the library, but I tried it once at the grocery store, and once at Walmart. What a mess! I, like you, couldn't seem to get that silly thing right, and I find it really frustrating. What an amusing story!
Tammy - haha, great point!
Barbara - I should contact the library bigwigs to complain. Like they would care. What am I going to do, refuse to go to the library? Thanks!
Kim - I did it again yesterday. The nice library lady spotted me and started laughing. She doesn't like it either. Thanks!
prasetio - good to see you! Don't worry, the robotic library check out thing will soon be appearing in a library near you!
prairie - thank you! One has to laugh.
You know, once I figured it out (and I confess I was trying to scan the IBN numbers and stood there for 15 minutes trying to figure out why they were not entering the computer).....I kinda love it. It makes me feel like Marian the librarian! I revel in being able to go there and do my own thing and I secretly think I wish I was a librarian. Cute hub, though Dolores...and I completely understand your frustration!
Audrey - I can see where some folks think the self check out is kind of fun. But I'd hate to see my favorite library clerks disappear do to the introduction of the self check out machines and the fact that they are going to force us to use them. They are taking away the choice. Thanks for stopping in - I can see that you are very busy these days on HP!
Very funny hub - and LOVE your drawing! I like self-checkout at the library, but detest it at the grocery store. Things don't scan right and someone always needs to help me with the coupons. And, I'm always in a hurry with 4 kids.... ;-)
steph - that's all you need with 4 kids in tow...I hate to say that I whipped right up to the self check out as if I was okay with it all, being a sheep and now in the mood to create a disturbance. BAAAAAA! (Thank you!)
What a pertinent hub. I did not realise thee were taking over libraries also. Perhaps the unhelpful lady knew her job was on the line and did not want to co-operate. I'm with you here Dolores
ethel - thanks! I think a lot of us feel the same. It's almost as bad as the body scanners at airports. What are we doing to ourselves?
Yes, all these automatized processes are sometimes pretty crazy!
Forrest - now that I must, I use the durn thing and have no trouble. But I miss the personal connection of going up to the desk and seeing a human being up there. Thanks!
I actually remember the first time I used a self check out machine, I was at Albertsons, the lines were long, and I was in a hurry. So I thought hey why not try the self check out? Big mistake! It took me at least five minutes to figure out how to weigh my apples, not to mention the other ten minutes it took to get my change. My library now has then as well but I refuse to use one, even though I have gotten my fair share of eye rolls from the librarians.
Sarah - I have no choice. The machines have taken over the library! Soon we won't even need people for anything! haha!
Your self-checkout experience makes for a very amusing article, though I speak for those smiling, friendly, chatty people who work alongside the library's self checkout. My work load is greater than ever, no one at our library has been put out of work in the two years we've offered the option of self-checkout, and I enjoy the time I spend helping our patrons find whatever they need, and the interview process of the library assistant never goes out of style. Mom was right. There are two sides to every story and you can have a lot of fun spinning it your own way!!
Emmy - we do not have an option to use self check out. It's the only way to check out. I guess in this economic down turn, a lot more people are using the public library. The last time I went it was like a nut house in there. You have a great job! What a wonderful place to work! Know that your work is appreciated - I just don't want you to be replaced by a machine! Thanks for commenting.
I missed this when I posted my Hub yesterday! I hate self check out and I hate that any successful company would think this was better than hiring a human being. Not only do they take a job away from someone, but they encourage theft, they set good people up to take short cuts and sorry, but people can still outsmart computers. I might even do a little investigation on how easy it actually is.... ummmm????
Hi, Dallas. I read your hub and must say that I never thought about how people might rip off the stores. But now I use the durn self check out, at the library anyway as I have no other option. Thanks!
Did you register a complaint with the library director? This is NOT the way to implement self check-out. It should be a convenience for those who want it, but interaction with a real live human being should always remain an option. The benefits of self check-out for staff, when implemented correctly, are: reduced repetitive strain injuries, an opportunity for library staff to perform "roving retail", i.e. get out from behind the circulation desk and assist customers out on the floor at the beginning of their library experience, rather than at the end (at check-out). In most libraries where this is implemented, it does NOT result in staff layoffs, but makes better use of the existing staff. Sounds like your library has viewed it exclusively as a means to cut costs, hence the less than enthusiastic attitude from the staff member "assisting" you. Also, not all self check-out technology is the same. Many products, often the cheaper options are poorly-designed and glitchy. You'll see this in retail experiences too. Always ask to speak with a library manager or director if you're unhappy with service. These kinds of interaction DO have an impact, even if nothing can be done right away, most responsible library leaders will pay attention!
Manda - thank you for the insightful comment. Actually, you are so right. I blather about such things, promise myself that I will contact the library, and may do so verbally, but the best thing is to really do it instead of just whining. But what with the economy, many government agencies and services are cutting back on workers to save money. People complain about their tax burden and it is a way make budget cuts.
I'm right along with you Delores, I hate self checkout almost as much as I hate bottle return machines. Ah, I remember when i could hand my bottles to a human and tell him/her how many I had. Those were the days. I will wait in line for a human cashier while the self checkout sits idle. Perhaps I'd be more apt to use them if I received a discount, because after all, I'm doing the job of a store employee by using the self checkout.
homesteadpatch - you've got me thinking about the bottles. When I was a kid, we'd walk around looking for discarded bottles and use the money to buy candy. Thanks for commenting.
I don't mind self-checkout at most stores, because nobody is pushing it to me. But I think it is an abysmal idea for libraries. The idea is supposed to be that the librarians now have more time with the patrons. Yeah. At the library where I worked, there is now usually no one even standing at the desk. Their greeting to you is: "The self-checkout machines are right over there" No more conversation about books and films (and children and travel and everything else). Librarians are now free to file, shelve and otherwise manipulate the "things" and not the people.
hako - there are several ladies who have worked at the library for years and it was always nice to see their friendly faces and exchange a few pleasantries. I miss that. Thank you for commenting.
Very interesting hub, I happen to work at a library, we do have self checkout machines and one thing I can say is that the children love it. It is pretty easy to use. Of course there are still people who come to us to check out their books which we don't mind because we know that not everyone like to use them. We respect everyones decision whether they want to use them or not, and we still focus on the patrons who come in which makes them happy. But great hub, so many people think differently on this kind of things.
Dancilla - oh I agree that they are (now) easy to use and actually kind of fun. My whole objection to the self check out thing is the dehumanization of so much of our world. I used to chat with the check-out lady, just like at the movie store where they used to know what kind of movies came in that I liked. Human interaction is being replaced by machines in many walks of life, and I am fearful that it's not really the best thing for a society. Thank you!
50 Caliber 18 months ago
Wow, Delores, we have seen the beginnings of many things robot, that swallow jobs and other things bigger to do more with less, humans. So I say at Kroger to the manager,
get some check outs open! Manager says "why sir there are 3 self check outs wide open" I said why the hell you suppose that is?, Myself nor the rest waiting in line don't want to check and bag our own at these prices. Manager says, "suit your self" and walks away.
So No more Kroger for me, unless I might scan every 3rd item and come out ahead? Great, hub and funny video to match, 50