The never-ending self-checkout shift
You know those shifts where you get stuck on self-checkout and you just know it’s going to be a long day? That was me today. First hour was steady, no problem. Then the rush hit and it didn’t stop for the next five hours.
Machines kept flagging, bags weren’t scanning, and I had at least three customers trying to scan 50+ items each with no patience. Meanwhile, the OGP orders were piling up, and every other minute I’m called to clear a flashing light. The worst is when people get mad like I broke the scanner on purpose.
What really hits though is when you’re flying between machines, helping three people at once, and someone still says, “Can we get more help over here?” Like, buddy, I am the help. I’m the entire team right now.
By the time I clocked out, my legs were s^ot and I could still hear the beeping in my head. Self-checkout days hit different.
It’s survival mode from the first backup call.
And when you finally get help, it’s someone who’s also covering two other spots.
I’ve had days where I just stopped hearing the walkie after a while. Too much happening at once.
The worst is when the card reader glitches and now you’re a tech support agent too.
Facts. Suddenly I’m IT, security, customer service, all rolled into one.
Why do people always blame us when the machine messes up? Like I built it myself.
Right? I always get “Your machine isn’t working.”
As if I coded the software and personally sabotaged their bananas.
And the best is when they try to hand you cash at a card-only register like that’s gonna magically work.
Or when they want you to scan all their items like it’s a full-service lane.
Self-checkout: where people refuse to self-checkout.
I always get sent to self-checkout when it’s already on fire. Like can’t we send help before it’s a disaster?
You’re just sent in to hold the line until backup for the backup shows up.
It’s like they expect one person to solve a system-wide meltdown.
And somehow the soda machine will also explode at the same time.
Never forget when the register locks mid-transaction and the customer just stares at you like you broke the planet.
You haven’t truly lived until all six lights are flashing at once and there’s only you.
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Self-checkout is honestly the most chaotic assignment. You’re on an island out there.