When self-checkouts first arrived in Irish supermarkets nearly two decades ago, the promise to customers was immediately alluring. Forget the long queues and awkward small talk with cashiers. Instead, you could scan items with a single swipe, bag them and be on your way.
Today, we know the process is rarely so simple. Customers are still queuing, and frequently need to wait for a cashier to clear error messages or approve the sale of age-restricted items..
