Automated checkout hasn't made it to my grocery store yet. There are stores in the area that use it--my brother uses it at his store on the other side of town--but I haven't seen it yet. If this is a good example, and I have no reason to believe it's not, I won't be using one any time soon.

But that's not even the best part. The best part is that the machine is paranoid and will accuse you of theft at the slightest opportunity. The white platforms where you are supposed to stand your bags rigged to be weight-sensitive. After you scan each item, you have to drop it in to the bag on the platform, so the machine knows you haven't surreptitiously pocketed it ("But if I already scanned it, why can't I just..." No! No item for you!).

Idle Words