technology

A supermarket nearby implemented anti-theft devices. First step was putting a bunch of pharmacy-type material behind locked displays so you had to call someone.

Then they added self-checkout. First a couple, then 5, 6, and 10. It needed two full-time attendants to get the line moving and help people with bad scans, missing barcodes, or telling them they have to go stand in a regular line if they want to buy alcohol.

A while later, an automated gate showed up. It had plastic saloon doors with LEDs and a claxon. Looked pretty complicated (and expensive). All self-checkout customers had to scan their receipt (after already scanning their own groceries) to open it. Many didn't know what it was about and just grumbled and pushed through the damn gate as the red lights flashed and the claxon blared. They needed another employee running after people who had pushed through the gate and explain they had to go back and scan their receipts. Many who were already on their way to their cars just ignored the attendant. Others used choice language.

A month later, the gate mechanism was still there but the saloon doors had been removed. They just sat there. Waiting for when they get rid of the whole self-checkout and go back to what worked just fine.