Wednesday 12 January 2011

Robo-till

So I go to use one of these self service machines to pay for my shopping and I make the mistake of inserting my card the wrong way round.

The screen flashes “PAYMENT NOT RECOGNISED, PLEASE SEEK ASSISTANCE” accompanied by the voice of the machine screaming: “ PLEASE SELECT A PAYMENT OPTION OR PAY IN CASH”.

I press whatever options I can see on the screen but the voice and the words continue, non-stop.

By the time someone comes over to help, I’ve melted in a puddle of nervous convulsive sweat.

Next time I shall queue patiently at a staffed till.

Charlie says: I look for more mices in your messy pots!


Bloggie friends!! Please be reassured that I’ve been very good with renewing my library book apart from that one time where I had to pay 30p in late renewal charges! Ahem!

Wow!!Wednesday! :-)

38 comments:

Cat and DOG Chat With Caren said...

Here we call them "self-checkouts" I can NEVER use them because they make me too nervous!

Did Charlie find any mousies??

xoxo

Joanna St. James said...

ha ha good to hear you are not the only reasons the libraries are still functioning, i wonder how much they make in late fees.
You poor thing trust Engerland to have a screaming robo till, the ones in america dont really talk back

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Some of those self-serve lines are a pain in the... well, you get my drift.
And 30 pounds? How late was the book?

Anonymous said...

Oh, you know what, I never use the self-checkout stand. I always go to a live person at the till because quite frankly I'm terrified of the other. I tried it once and made a terrible mess of it, and had to get a live person to help me. So I can definitely empathize with you!

And I'm so glad to hear that you are so diligent now at renewing your library book. Hooray!

Have a patient and calm Wednesday!!

The Words Crafter said...

I really don't like those self serve ones. They always mess up on me.

And I'm also an embarrassed mess afterward.....sorry that happened to you.

Nicole said...

*hee* griffin hid a mouse under our couch - wondered why the dogs were trying to dig under it...

The Arrival, on Amazon NOW!
www.damselinadirtydress.com

Tracy said...

:) Isn't technology fun? NOT!!! Love it when it works but when it doesn't I have these anxiety pangs of failure...not fun!

Anonymous said...

One of the small time libraries I used to go to had amnesty days for those who had overdue books! It helped me out alot! We lost our Cats of Wildcat Woods blog - Google deleted it as spam. We will post on another one while we try to get this fixed.

Tucker The Crestie said...

Our mom hates those self checkouts (as we call them on this side of the pond). They never seem to be working properly, and it is very frustrating.

Charlie, did you find any mousies in there?

Katnip Lounge said...

Technology is Hard. I like Charlie's paws on method MUCH better.

lupie said...

Ahaha ... those machines!

I made a fool out of myself when I was in UK!! heheheheh

I was all "lost" trying to force money into the wrong slot!

As for lovely Charlie, good luck with more mice !

Karen Jones Gowen said...

I figure paying library fines is ok because it goes to a good cause, as opposed to paying late fees on other charges grrr!

Deborah said...

How much is that in US dollars! If it was that late here, I would keep the book and buy them a new one! probably cheaper in the long run! I never go to those machines because I always need assistance and people just stare at you with their nice looks they have!
xxoo
Deborah

notesfromnadir said...

I like the term robo-till! Wow, can't it just spit it out instead of making a big issue about it?!

Good luck w/ finding those mices, Charlie!

Summer Ross said...

I'm sorry you got nervous! I didn't know Charlie was a mouser. My manly mans Sasha is too.

umi_e said...

Hi... It's quite a while that we didn't visit you here...hope everything is going on well...

>hugs<

Brigid O'Connor said...

I hate all those flashing machines, the Tesco express ones especially, with the shouting at you it does if you make one error, poor you!

Kea said...

Oh, I hate those self-scan checkouts and do avoid them if possible. I take my my own bags to the grocery store and you should hear the fuss "she" makes the times I've tried to get them set up (instead of the store's own plastic bags). I always end up needing assistance!

Frankly, we pay enough for our goods (regardless of the store) that I think we *should* have decent, personal check out service--i.e. a real person ringing us through!

The Monkeys said...

Those robot cashiers should be banned! So loud and rude!

Brian's Home Blog said...

Technology is wonderful...yea, right! No technology can find mice better than we can, right Charlie???

Hannah and Lucy said...

I always queue to pay Jen - machines don't seem to like me - well really I think it's me that is intimidated by the machines!!
I am like a gibbering idiot while I'm using them and a nervous wreck when I've done it!!
Charlie don't be cheeky about the plant pots - give your mum a break a machine's just told her off!!

Unknown said...

I have nothing but problems at those DIY tills but again and again I put myself through the torture. Am I too ashamed to have the cashier know I'm buying crisps again?

CD

JE said...

First, I LOVE that hamster!!! You can feed and feed and feed him and he never gets tired of eating! LoL.

Second, me and library books have a stormy past. I ALWAYS end up paying overdue fees. Always.

And lastly ... I've never been crazy about those self-checkout lanes. They've got a mind all their own.

Hope the kitty caught a mice-y.

~JD

Pip said...

That is so funny! I get nervous at those machines too. But I'm not near patient enough not to stick with it. (Queuing is not for me!)
After the third of fourth time, it's not so daunting.
Get those mices, handsome Charlie!

Roxy said...

Experiences like that make me want to stay home from the shops entirely. Unfortunately, they have chocolate at the shops. Hence . . . I must go. Bravo on hunting the mice, Charlie!

Tara said...

I hate those things! Lots of stores have either taken some out, or all because people seem to avoid them. I'm sure it's for the reason you mentioned.

I have an award for you at my blog.

Anonymous said...

Ooh the one I use has a persitent but seductive voice. I tried putting my own shopping bag on the loading tray and it kept complaining "unidentified item in loading area. Please remove". Of course I just talk back to it/her in an equally forceful and sedutive tone, then slink out without making eye contact because I'm sure everyone in the vicinity probably thinks "There goes that mad woman again!" :O)

KarenMcG said...

Well, Old Kitty, it seems you might need a little help there with the library card remembering and the cash machine.

Charlie looks like he's up for the task.

Thanks for stopping by to see "The Boys".

Hart Johnson said...

Oi! I hate machines that don't let you fix stuff! Especially when they YELL at you! I'd go back and stick chewing gum in the slot to get even! *shifty*

(had to hang up and re-call last night because on a stupid 'hit the number' on the phone I hit one wrong--why cant there be an 'erase' option!?)

Pat @ Mille Fiori Favoriti said...

Yes, I do not like those automated check outs either! If a person forgets to put the item in the shopping bag they also yell in quite a loud voice that sounds annoyed. I'd much rather deal with a live chashier!

I hope Charlie found what he was looking for :)

Kat_RN said...

My Sweet Hubby thinks I am silly, but I refuse to use those things. The way I see it, everyone of them represents a cashier out of a job. Besides, I like to talk to people, not machines.
As for the library book, well I must admit to "donating" a bit to the library fund by paying late fees. At least you are using the library right?
Cheers,
Kat

Angel Ginger Jasper said...

Know just what you mean. we have tried several times to use these check outs and always somjething goes wrong.. They are supposed to be quicker.. Ha ha..Hugs GJ x

penandpaints said...

Oh, they are so maddening aren't they? I seem to have a fairly heated exchange with the automatic till robot woman eacch time I go. Why must she insist on repeating herself? 'Please place item in bagging area'
I have! I have! Please shut up and leave me alone!
Seems to me there's more interaction with staff when I use the stupid self serve than when I go to the 'proper' till, as they have to come and sort out the machine for me at least three times!
I always leave feeling stupid, but it's not my fault! Really!
xx

Words A Day said...

Oh I hate those talking machines!
"please remove your baggage from the paacking area"
I usually end up muttering to the one in tescos -
No I say, I'll do it when I feel like it -
(not obviously when there is a queue behind me!)

Travis Erwin said...

I despise those automated cashiers and avoid them whenever possible.

GreatGranny said...

I don't plan on using those non- person checkouts. Someone needs a job where those techy things are.....GG Hello, Charlie, this is Kassey, I'm following you now. catch a mousey for me. I never get to eat mice.

Anonymous said...

Oh... those machines are rude... don't you pay them any mind!

Well... don't make up your mind just yet Jenn. Now that you know what you were doing wrong, those robo-machines can sometimes be a timesaver.... :)

Theresa Milstein said...

Our drugstore, CVS has switched to mostly auto checkouts. I often screw up something between purchasing, coupons, and payment. And then the light flashes. I feel stupid and old. So I can relate!

Poor people who are being replaced too.