Unexpectedly bad decision in the bagging area (From Falmouth Packet)

Unexpectedly bad decision in the bagging area

11:22am Thursday 14th March 2013 in Skipper

The rise of automated tills. Yes it was about time the Skipper took a break from council bashing, and had a look at something that has been getting his goat for years.

This week’s column was sparked by the arrival of even more of these impersonal, shouty, “item not in the bagging area” nightmares in the Asda Penryn store.

Now I get the financial imperative, get the shoppers to do the labour for you and profits will rise. And I suppose if this saving is passed onto the customer, everyone is a winner.

But a little birdy told me, when I was caught having a moan in the store, that they could see a future, not even ten years off, when there will be no traditional checkout staff at all.

This raised a question that could not be answered. If even supermarket check out staff are made technologically redundant, which I hasten to say they have not yet in the Asda store, what hope for the rest of us?

Where will people get the cash to spend in these automated stores?

On a side note, it seems that the Eden Project is really starting to struggle. Last summer was miserable, and the rain, combined with the Olympics did take their toll, but I for one hope it can find a way to become sustainable.

While all good things come to an end, we should keep our fingers crossed that it keeps drawing the visitors for decades to come.

It would, however, be better if it did not have to rummage around in taxpayers pockets every few years to keep going, and if it does, it better be open about it.