I’m writing it here, because I keep forgetting that for some items, chain stores really suck.
Take today for example. I went to Sainsbury’s. Which is right next to B&Q. Continue reading I Must Stop Using Chain Stores So Much
I’m writing it here, because I keep forgetting that for some items, chain stores really suck.
Take today for example. I went to Sainsbury’s. Which is right next to B&Q. Continue reading I Must Stop Using Chain Stores So Much
It’s Easter Sunday (or “Easter Day” as the news have now started calling it), so this is the perfect time for me to rant about something that irritates me.
Today, in England, “larger” shops are not allowed to open. Small shops can open like Tesco Express, Sainsbury’s Local, and anything else which is less than 280 square metres in size. What a ridiculous rule that is.
Now I know it’s closed because it’s a religious day (for Christians), but as an atheist, why can’t I nip down to B&Q to get some nails, so I can finish a DIY job I’m doing in the garden? Continue reading Local Independent Businesses
What is wrong with people?
Not a week goes by, without someone moaning to me about the “unexpected item” error you get in self-service checkouts at the supermarket.
If you’re getting it, it is YOUR fault.
Seemingly it’s a problem we’re all having, all the time.
Well I’m not.
Ever.
I’ve never thought of myself as a genius, but as I’m seemingly the only person in the world who can figure out how to use these machines, I thought I’d write a post explaining this, why it occurs, and how to resolve it.
I’ve had no training in building these machines, but from what I can see, there’s two things going on.
1. You scan.
2. You put it in the “bagging area”.
First the machine scans a barcode, then it expects you to put something in the bagging area.
I’m pretty sure it checks the weight of the bagging area, to make sure you haven’t bought 12 toilet rolls, and scanned them through as a Snickers bar.
It will report “unexpected item” if you just chuck something in the bagging area, because you haven’t scanned it.
That’s your fault.
So scan it, then put it in the bagging area. Simple.
You’ve scanned it, it’s waiting for you to put it in the bagging area.
Where a few people get confused is where they use their own bags.
Given it measures the weight, you already know you can’t just put your bag in the bagging area.
You know this doesn’t work – don’t fight it.
Don’t blame the machine.
If you put a bag in the bagging area without scanning anything, it’ll complain. YOU are using the machine incorrectly.
If you’ve been struggling with this, the solution is so simple you will kick yourself.
For this example, I’ll be buying a 2pt bottle of milk.
You scan the milk, then put it in your own bag, then put the bag (now containing milk) in the bagging area.
It weighs it, and it is approximately the weight it was expecting.
You do this for each new bag, as you add them.
Simple.
If that doesn’t work for you, then you’re still doing something wrong. I haven’t had an argument with the machine about unexpected items in months.
The only argument I have is when you have 4-5 bags, you’re attempting to put money away and pick them up, and as you’re a tiny few seconds slower, it tells you “please take your items” as if you’ve forgotten.
I’ve got a simple solution to that too – swear at it. Profusely.
I know that’s not an evening meal. I had my lunch today (sandwiches, etc), and then was surprised to pass what used to be a Somerfield store, to find it had been replaced with a Marks and Spencers. Brilliant.
Despite already having had my lunch, I stopped there anyway and bought some apple and mango juice (not from concentrate), and a bakewell tart from the bakery.
Very nice they both were too.
I wish they’d replace the rest of the Somerfield’s in the country with a Marks and Spencers. There’s two on Gloucester Road that could be got shot of straight away. In fact they could just replace the ones in Bristol. In fact I’m not that harsh. One of the ones on gloucester road. And I wish the residents would stop whining and get that big Sainsburys built too. Then I can stop shopping in that tiny Sainsbury’s MetroExpressDailyLocal..whatever it’s called.