For some people, self-checkout is a quick and easy way to get around long lines. You get what you need, you ring it up, you get on with your day.

But in this story, self-checkout backfires when a woman just cannot seem to get self-started.

Let’s scan this one for laughs.

No Patrick, push start.

I work at self-checkout.

90% of the time if you just follow the instructions on the screen you’ll be fine, but most people don’t do this so I often end up having to walk them through it.

This is what happened today just a couple hours ago, I’m going to describe it pretty much word for word.

Ah, a verbatim TFR. Can’t wait…

Woman: I don’t know what to do

Me: Okay no problem. First push “start”

W: stares at screen, currently a mostly white background with our store name and a button the size of your fist saying “start”

I mean, sometimes technology is tricky but that seems pretty self-explanatory.

Me: Just push start

W: …

Me: Push start

W: …

Me: Push start

W: *pulls out her rewards card*

Nope, wrong move! Let’s see what she does next…

Me: You have to push start first

W: *starts trying to shove her rewards card in the cash slot* Here?

Me: *pointing at start button* Push the button that says “start”

W: *pushes start*

At this point, I think I’d be screaming. At least on the inside. Does OP keep it together?

Me: *pointing to scanner* Okay now you can scan your card here

W: Where?

Me: Here

W: scans card

Me: Okay now scan the blueberries (her only item)

Wow, OK. How long can this one item transaction take?

W: scans blueberries and bags them somehow without any issues

Me: Now hit “pay for my order”

W: starts trying to put cash in the cash slot

Me: Hit the big red button on the screen

I know sometimes you DON’T hit the big red button, but now’s the time!

W: pushes “pay for my order”

Now the machine asks her to scan any coupons.

There are two buttons on the screen, one saying “done” and the other saying “coupon problem.”

Hitting “done” takes you to the payment screen, and hitting “coupon problem” prompts you to give any coupons to me.

Bets on which one this lady is gonna hit?

It also locks up the register until I reset it from my terminal.

Me: Okay now push “done”

W: *keeps trying to put money in the cash slot* Why isn’t it taking it?

Me: Push done

W: stares at screen

Me: Push done

Maybe she’s…not done?

W: …

Me: Push done

W: …

Me: Push done (about four or five more times)

W: presses “coupon problem”

Alright, cue meltdown from OP, right?

Register: freezes up

W: Oh “done”!

So at this point I just can’t do this anymore so I go to my terminal, clear her machine, and then go over to just do it for her.

Yeah, this is a DIY sitch if ever I’ve heard one. Will the lady be able to finish up and pay or no?

I push “done” and then “cash” and then point as close as possible, literally touching it, at the cash slot saying “okay now put your cash in here.”

So finally she paid and left, leaving me to wonder how people like this even manage to get to our store.

It is a miracle that some people even make it outside.

Let’s see what the comments think of this transaction.

One person says, some people struggle with the basics, ya know?

Someone else says, some people never get the hang of it.

Another person says, she was just making use of the employees.

Another person says, brainpower: off.

This user says, yeah, terrifying who is allowed to drive.

This person is milking it.

She’s so bad at self-checkout, this lady needs to check herself.

If you liked this post, check out this story about an employee who got revenge on a co-worker who kept grading their work suspiciously low.