Yesterday was rainy, and I did not go out - it was also Laundry Day for me anyway, and I had enough to do indoors. Today the sun made an appearance again, and in the afternon I decided to go for a walk to the supermarket for a few items.
Above: I stopped on the bridge across the river to snap a photo of yellow leaves dropping to the ground now (and into the water as well)...
Below: Some very red Rowan trees next to a tall building.
For over ten years now I've been doing most of my grocery shopping online with home delivery (from the same supermarket that I walked to now); but once in a while I like to go myself for some speical item, or just to try to keep up with changes in the store. When I do go in person, I always self-scan the few items I bought (with a hand-held scanner), so don't have to stand in line to check out. I've been doing that for even longer than I've been using their home delivery service, and it's routine procedure for me. ...
However, recently they have also made some changes to their self-checkout area; and for the second time this year, I found myself bewildered when getting there. I blipped my card at one of the stations and then clicked on what I thought was the right button that came up - but my self-scanned items did not appear on the screen. So I had to ask for help from a young girl (member of staff), who patiently took me through the explanations of how these check-out points were for customers not carrying a scanner with them through the store, but doing the scanning at the check-out; whereas those ones (pointing) are for customers who used a scanner along the way...
It all suddenly gave me a feeling of being old and confused and out-of-date... (And in this particular case, I suppose that's exactly what I was!) ... I'm not normally very chatty in stores, but it also made me want to explain, "in my defense", that the reason that the two different ways of "self scanning" had escaped me was that I do most of my shopping online these days! (Hoping somewhere at the back of my head, I suppose, that this might restore her opinion of me as perhaps not totally out of touch with the modern world after all...)
After I got back home, I learned that there's also a third scanning method now - downloading their special app to my phone, and then scan a QR code at the exit to pay. However much they claim that to be "simple", I don't think I'll complicate my life further by adding that to my personal mix of options. I just hope that they'll continue their home delivery service!!
in the last 6 months of using home delivery, I found that even Walmart had changed their scannning and they also have things like what you found. the way tech works now you could miss a month and find something new.. are you allowed to use cash? there are a few that take cash, I think.. the world is not built for old people now, going way to fast for us
ReplyDeleteYes, this supermarket does still handle cash and they even have an ATM where one can withdraw cash. They're part of a chain that also does banking. I think most grocery stores here still handle cash; but several other kinds of shops don't. I have almost ceased to use cash myself though, except at for example open air markets. I think the covid years contributed a lot to it here!
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ReplyDeleteLoved seeing the Rowan tree color! Wow! Ours don't turn that bright usually, but do have red berries. Oh the check-out woes these days! And feeling like our age contributes to our difficulties...but I don't think that's true. I just had over 45 minutes of trying to receive a simple list of dentists from my insurance company...which required me to set up a new "private" system of emails. And they still haven't messaged me a thing. That's their system's fault, not mine!
Barbara, the Rowan tree that I see from my own kitchen window doesn't get that red either. I think there must be different varieties. -- Here, private insurances for dental and health care are not so common, as we have national high cost protection systems for both. Communication with my primary health care centre these days has become increasingly technological, though - while my dentist's still have a much more personal approach.
DeleteThe young girl at the checkout zone needs to understand that you are a technological whizzkid. You worked for both Microsoft and Apple and you currently design anti-Russian drones in your free time. Yep! If she knew all of that, she would be mightily impressed Monica.
ReplyDeleteYP, I might have added that I'm also an internationally known blogger - but one doesn't like to brag...
DeleteOne doesn't like to but reluctantly one does.
DeleteOh gosh, way too many apps for the stores! They are too confusing. Whenever we go to McDonalds, before they even ask what we want, they ask are we using their mobile app.
ReplyDeleteGinny, I have so far never dared enter any eating establishment that requires the use of an app... Recently, a friend and I had an experience of the opposite kind, we ordered lunch at the counter of a rather large restaurant and they did not even give us a number flag to put on our table, but managed to find us anyway!
DeleteYou did well, all things considered, and ended up with the items you wanted, PLUS a walk with the chance for some photos of gorgeous trees in their autumn glory.
ReplyDeleteMy local Aldi, only 5 minutes from my flat, has recently introduced four self-checkout stations in addition to the four regular checkout lines. I have come to use them regularly now, as it is so much faster to do it myself instead of waiting in line.
Meike, I appreciate the self-scanning as such, but the info at the check-out in my supermarket now could be a bit clearer... ;)
DeleteThe rowan trees are a stunning colour and well worth photographing.
ReplyDeleteI sympathise with you in feeling confused and suddenly 'old.' How is it that no-one can see the vibrant young things we are inside our outer husks?
Janice, why indeed!? ;-) (I'm still having some difficulties with my new identity after crossing the 60s/70s border only just over a month ago...)
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