1. PLAYSTAY
THAT’SLIFESIMONWALKER 12 ITEMS OR STRESS
A
s a loyal consumer who beats a familiar path between
fruit shops and supermarkets each week, it blows me
out how far checkout choice has evolved.
These days at a typical suburban shopping sprawl you can flex
at least three different checkout muscles in one assault.
You’ve got your conventional checkout chick/chuck
experience.
You’ve got your Aldi self-pack scenario – schnell,
schnell, schnell.
And to top it off, we’ve seen the advent of the
confounding computerised self-serve checkout,
assistance required please.
These choices are challenging for the humble
consumer who requires prep if he or she wants to get
home quick with nothing squashed.
It wasn’t always like that.
Used to be you only had the one uncomplicated
checkout option – the line up and wait.
Stuff got checked and put in a plastic bag, you
could try a bit of chit chat with the operator, you
paid, you left.
The only person responsible for squashing stuff
was the checkout operator. Simple.
And it stayed that way for years.
The only change you got came from the
operator.
Then magic plastic replaced cash,
signalling the end of the world as
we knew it.
Turtles, dolphins and landfill were
choking on plastic bags, so we were
encouraged to use hessian bags, or a box, to
save the planet.
A new public consciousness swept the checkout
nation, raising, in turn, complex ethical questions.
Turtles are choking, but I need plastic shopping
bags to line my garbage bin.
What to do?
And which side do I swipe my card again?
Deep down, as consumers, we knew these
were interesting times.
And to confirm it, along came a European chain that has
turned conventional checkout practice, not to mention product
lines, on their head. Aldi.
You still line up, but when you get to the point of sale there
are no shelves, no plastic bags, and little time to chat. Nein!!!
You gotta get your trolley in place, assume the position and
pack like a demon while the checkout person swipes product.
Supermarket slips practice.
This typically efficient German concept has sped things up, but
there are perils.
If you don’t react quick enough, you can lose an eye.
And if you don’t think about the order you put your items on
the conveyor belt, you can find yourself packing your eggs first
into your trolley and then your bread and then the strawbs and
then your air compressor, then your haloumi cheese, and then
the angle grinder and flat screen.
Tragically, things get squashed.
But whereas before you could blame the checkout person,
now it’s your fault.
And for some reason credit card users pay a 1 per cent
surcharge for the privilege.
That’s progress for you.
Which brings me to the latest (and the jury’s still out if it’s the
greatest) innovation in checkout culture, the self-checkout.
It’s ironic that you require more assistance in a computerised
express self-checkout than you ever did with conventional lines.
And you gotta feel for the lone staff member who has to
reboot the computerised weigh station each time Beryl, Basil or
whoever inadvertently bumps it.
Kids think it’s great though. They get to manipulate a machine
and another person other than their parents at the same time.
Without wanting to dob anyone in, how many consumers are
going to own up to buying premium-grade truss tomatoes
when the computer gives you the option for a range of cheaper
varieties? I mean, the computer’s sensitive, but come on.
Not since I was accused of having 11 kiwi fruit in my bag
instead of 10 have I seen such potential for rorting.
Ultimately, despite the change, one thing remains the same.
No matter which line you choose, some delay inevitably
happens meaning a quick supermarket exit gets checked out
the window.
Tuscany Wine Estate
Resort is a 38-room
boutique hotel at
Pokolbin. Accommodation comprises two room styles: The
Vineyard View and Olive Grove. Both offer a queen-size bed and
full bath and bathroom in a Tuscan-style setting.
Tuscany Wine Estate Resort has a special offer for Weekender
readers to stay one night and get the second night free.
The offer is valid midweek or weekends at full rack rate and not
to be used in conjunction with any other offer.
This offer is subject to availability during August and September
2010.
Mention Weekender when booking on 4998 7288.
Rug up in those winter
woollies.
Newcastle’s Biggest
Bonfire is a community event held tonight at Newcastle Foreshore
Park that aims to help the homeless living in the region.
Event organisers hope to raise funds for those less fortunate by
making a significant collective contribution to the work of The
Salvation Army and St Vincent De Paul.
All proceeds from the event go to the two organisations.
Newcastle’s Biggest Bonfire begins at 6pm and includes live
music, hot food and drinks for sale and a fireworks display.
The bonfire will be lit at 7pm.
For more information, visit newcastlesbiggestbonfire.com.
PAGE 5 WEEKENDER