Consumer Escapes - Self-serve Checkout

In so many areas I'm a confirmed do-it-yourselfer. (Travel planning, investing, taxes, snowblowing, ...) Except at the supermarket. A recent visit to the market reminded me how much I dislike the self-serve checkout system. I actually enjoy talking to a human cashier, rather than having a computerized voice say, "place the item in the bag." (So actually I'm the cashier and the bagger in the self-serve line.) When I shop I'm responsible for buying a lot of fresh produce. I can book a plane flight online at Q-fare but hell if I know the code for sweet potatoes. And because I placed the bottle of Tide on the edge of the scanner the machine thinks I'm making sweet potatoes for an entire aircraft carrier.

So next time you're at the supermarket, look for me in the manned aisles. While the pros do their job I'll be thumbing through the Enquirer and taking stock of what's in your cart.

According to my seven foot long receipt, you just saved $4.22 reading this message.