Reflections from the checkout line
Last night I was standing in the checkout line with yet more diapers for my daughter (at least I had a coupon), waiting for my turn. It was one of those “self serve” checkouts and I was 4th in line. It was *really* busy at Walmart, I was in the shortest line I could find. Is Thursday night a big shopping night? Anyway, I was standing in line waiting and on the rack in front of me were Tic Tacs that were really intriguing looking, there were both red and orange Tic Tacs in the same package. I looked a little closer and they were “Cherry Passion” flavored, apparently the red were cherry and the orange passion fruit.
Cherry Tic Tacs! What an idea. They were on sale for $0.75! Hmm.
You all will be happy to know I resisted and didn’t buy them. Or maybe you’re disappointed because you wanted my review of cherry Tic Tacs. I was strong (even though as time went on I *really* wanted them) and I left without them.
And why, you might wonder, did I have so much time to ponder them in the 15 items or less self service checkout line? Because the person who was first in line took about 15 minutes (no exaggeration) to check out. You might think she was confused by the computer or having technical issues, but no. She was trying to use her credit card, which was repeatedly rejected by the computer.
She would slide her card through the reader. The computer would reject it. She would insert some denomination of money (I wasn’t close enough to see if they were dollars or twenties or what). Then she would slide the card through again. The computer would again reject it. She’d insert another bill. And repeat and repeat and repeat until the entire purchase was paid for without the card being accepted once.
Maybe something was going on I don’t understand (very likely) but my question is, if she had the cash on her why was she trying to completely max out this poor overworked credit card? Maybe the card wasn’t maxed out. Maybe it just wasn’t working for some other reason. But it was really really odd. And the card reader did work in general, it accepted my debit card (when I finally got a turn) just fine.
Don’t get me started on the girl right in front of me who paid for her $3.22 purchase in nickels and pennies…. at least the computer counts faster than a human would have.
Stay away from Walmart on Thursday nights. That is all I can say.
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August 24th, 2007 at 11:29 am
I’ve had a similar experience (though at Target).
It seems to me the woman was trying to squeeze every bit of the price she could onto a nearly-maxed credit card. She probably needs actual, real money to pay someone who doesn’t take cards.
Like the lottery agent.
August 24th, 2007 at 11:35 am
Walmart checkout lines are very irritating. One thing in particular that bothers me is that people don’t understand the one-line concept at self checkout. The scanners are placed in groups of four in two levels (two front, two back) and the natural thing is to have a single line for all four. But of course, people see that there’s only one person at the front scanner, so they go stand behind them! The whole thing is a mess because as soon as more than 2 people are in line at a scanner, it starts interfering with the neighboring scanner.
August 24th, 2007 at 11:45 am
I don’t shop at Wal-Mart for this exact reason!
I can’t imagine having a maxed out credit card…even with the credit card debt that I’ve run up…I’ve never maxed one out….It has to be pretty bad if the card wouldn’t even let her go over! I had friends that accidentally went over their card’s limit (and had to pay a $35 fee)…
August 24th, 2007 at 12:24 pm
If Wal Mart didn’t have such good deals, then I would NEVER go there. There are way too many people in the first place, and, in my experience, a good portion of them are rude and will ram you with their cart.
Although I did go to Wal Mart one time on the day after Thanksgiving just to watch the circus. Man was I bored that day.
August 24th, 2007 at 12:27 pm
If I remember correctly, every other Thursday is payday for Wal*Mart employees. That could explain the crowds! (Beware Wal*Martians who have run out of grocery money between paychecks!)
August 24th, 2007 at 12:29 pm
That story actually makes me kind of sad. I know in college there were times that I had maxed out my cards and just had the cash from my very-recently-cashed paychecks to make it the whole month. When my cards were rejected at places, it was humiliating. It was a temporary poverty for me, but I know some people live like that indefinitely. Still, I know that if I’d been standing behind her in line I would have gotten irritated too. I like to get out of wal-mart as quickly as possible most of the time.
August 24th, 2007 at 12:39 pm
I don’t understand the whole self-checkout phenomenon anyway. It’s just a way for the customer to do some of the work the store personnel are supposed to do!
I do occasionally use them at grocery stores when the other lines are way too long; however, whenever I use them, it always requires some intervention by a human store worker. Something doesn’t scan or a human needs to approve my purchase of wine or similar.
I don’t see the savings. Plus shopping is tedious enough without me functioning as a store clerk. *sigh*
August 24th, 2007 at 1:24 pm
Seriously Brian, you live an interesting life, going to walmart to watch the circus. lol.
I would watch but I am probably part of the circus anyway.
August 24th, 2007 at 1:26 pm
It made me sad too… for like 5 minutes. Then I was irritated for the other 10. And desperately wanting tic tacs.
I don’t really like the self-serve checkouts but the line was way shorter. And then I committed to it, and then I wanted to bail but all the other lines were long. Oh the insanity!
Walmart employees paid on thursday night… makes sense. that place was crazy. it is always crazy but this was especially.
Does anyone else do that thing where you take note of who is last in other lines when you get in line to see if you picked the right line? I definately picked the wrong one
August 24th, 2007 at 1:44 pm
I always check the people in other lines to see if I get out ahead of them. Funny thing, when I go shopping alone and pick my own check out lane, I always “win”, but when my dh picks the line, he gets frustrated and moves to a “shorter” line, which always ends up with an inept clerk or someone using 1,000 coupons and sale ads, then we “lose”.
WTG on resisting the Tic-Tacs
August 26th, 2007 at 10:14 am
It’s possible that this customer was using a pre-paid credit card. One that she got with a rebate or that was purchased as a gift by a friend or family member. I’ve gotten a few of these in my lifetime and they are a royal pain, especially if you don’t remember the remaining card balance. If your checkout balance is greater than the amount left on the card then you must pay cash or use another credit card first. Then you can use the pre-paid credit card to pay the remaining portion.
For example, if the total cost was $25 and you only have $5 left on the pre-paid card, you’d have to pay $20 in cash first and then swipe the credit card to pay the remaining $5. If she was trying to pay with both cash and a credit card this is the most likely reason.
August 26th, 2007 at 11:42 am
Could very well be. I admit I have no idea of the woman’s backstory.
I don’t think she was intending on paying with any cash at all though, she had to dig her wallet out her purse the first time the card was rejected.
Thanks for your perspective!