Why does it ALWAYS happen to me?
What did I tell you?
This morning I walked into my local high street in order to get some cash from a ‘hole in the wall’ outside my branch of Nat West Bank shortly before 9.00am.
This accomplished, I was walking back home when I passed the M & S store. Remembering that I had run out of orange juice at breakfast-time, I decided to pop in and buy some in the M & S food hall at the back of the store.
In the event, I decided not to buy orange juice, but picked up two cartons of M & S Florida pink grapefruit juice instead and strode to the check-out area.
By habit and bad past experience (somehow things always go wrong for me) I deliberately never ‘check out’ at any self-serving check-out system, but instead always go to a check-out where a human being is operating.
On this occasion there was no such staffer on duty or in the area at all. Thus it was self-checking out or nothing.
Tentatively I went to the nearest free check-out. And (as instructed) put the first item in front of the ‘beeper’ thingy than scans it through. Bingo! It made the required noise and the screen registered the amount (£2).
Then we came to the second carton. I did as before … and guess what? It didn’t jolly well register with the scanner!!!!!!!
I tried it again four or five times.
Still nothing.
Eventually I thought “Why not try the first carton again, after all it went through the first time …”
Guess what, readers?
It jolly well didn’t do that the second time!
In desperation/frustration I looked around at other shoppers … and then for signs of any M & S staff anywhere near in the store. No reaction and nobody on hand to help.
Next – in a huff, sighing and muttering – I placed both cartons on the self-checkut stand … and walked out of the store.
I’m going back to buying my cartons of juice from a store – any store – that has people serving in it.
Signed,
Arthur Nelson (aged over retirement age).