dont check yourself out

i am an independent girl for the most part. i like to do things on my own, in my own way and in my own time. recently ralphs has put in self check-out stations. cashiers are not needed. bag-boys are not needed. you just do it all yourself. and being a person of independence, i'm thinking this is my kind of deal. so today i went to ralphs to purchase some drinks for the greenroom at church. four 2 liter bottles of different kinds of beverages. i got to the check out area, glanced at all the lines, and quickly found the self-check-out area. i thought, "no lines. just do it all myself. this'll be quick and easy"...i was wrong.

after scanning my first bottled drink, some delicious squirt, i was breezing through this whole check-out deal. before grabbing the second liter, though, the screen quickly began flashing, followed by a computerized voice telling me to "please wait for assistance." after pushing a few buttons, i eventually realized i actually had to wait for a ralph's employee. a lady in a red apron walked over within a few minutes and told me to wait a little longer...aparently she had more important things to attend to. upon her return, she pushed a button or two, and told me to continue my scanning.

by the third bottle, i needed a new bag. so i took the full bag and put it into my cart. but i guess that's not allowed, because i was quickly scorned by the red aprin lady, and told to put my bag of beverages back where it was and use the bag next to it, and not to put my bags in the cart until i was finished. i dont understand the point of that at all, but i did as i was told. and everything was mostly down-hill from there. i then payed and got out of there.

in conclusion, the whole process was neither quick nor easy. i'm sure now, that everyone who was waiting in the normal check-out lines has experienced the self-check out process, along with all its dissapointment and frustration. they have learned from their mistake, as have i. i have found a new love for cashiers and bag-boys. never again will i use the self check out system in ralphs. and i advise you as well, don't check yourself out.