While it’s nice to have those self-service kiosks at grocery stores like Kroger, there are inherent drawbacks too.  Even though the Robot Lady’s voice is semi-soothing, it’s borderline nagging to tell me to “Please place the item in the bag” if I haven’t gone from scanning the item to putting it in the bag in less than 2 seconds.  Sometimes the bags are hard to separate although not as bad as trying to open up a clear produce bag.  I’d have better luck and feel more dexterous were I to defuse a bomb with my toes.

Other aspects of the software that could be improved have to deal with the weight-based table.  A lot of times a really light item, say a bundle of green onions, doesn’t register when you place them in the bag.  This is when Robot Lady gently chides you again to place the item in the bag.  Usually you wind up having to have the kiosk supervisor manually override the machine since it won’t let you scan another item or pay until the Robot Lords are satisfied you aren’t trying to sneak away with their merchandise.

One final tweak to the software should be the ability for it to recognize that since there are (usually) only two sections where the empty bags hang.  Once a bag is full and you remove it to allow yourself to fill up the next bag, the Robot Lady chides to you keep the bags on the tray until all items have been paid for.  Does Robot Lady not realize I’m just moving it to make room for more?  In fact, the bags are still on the same weight-sensitive table just to the left of the bag section.

Overall it still beats having human interaction although if you have a lot of vegetables and fruit it might be faster to have someone who knows all the codes to enter it in for you.  In the Chatty South, not having to wait for others to have a conversation with the person at the register is reason enough to use the self-serve checkout lanes.

And no, Robot Woman, I do not have any coupons.  Thanks for asking though.