It recently occurred to me that IB次元官网网址檓 doing a lot of work and not getting paid for my efforts.

Of course, the trend started when the first ATMs appeared. In my youth (OK, that was a long time ago) every bank had a dozen or so smiling tellers waiting to serve customers. At the same time, gas stations had attendants who would clean your windshield and offer to check your oil and tire pressure, and grocery stores had clerks who would actually help you find items.

And fine, before you think that IB次元官网网址檓 going to start waxing poetic about the way customer service used to be (it was better) IB次元官网网址檒l acknowledge that the trend to have us do the heavy liftiing while corporations disappear jobs and reap the profits isnB次元官网网址檛 going to go away.

ItB次元官网网址檚 a matter of money. And greed.

You think that airports self check ins are about speed and convenience? Think again.

One study showed that it costs airlines about 14 cents to process a customer through a self check-in and about $3 to do the same job with at a staffed desk.

A well-known fast food chain discovered that the introduction of self -service terminals resulted in customers spending about 30 per cent more. It seems that, if you donB次元官网网址檛 have to speak to a real person, the shame of super-sizing a meal was removed. I guess people just figure that they deserve a break today.

But beyond its contribution to clogged arteries, I wonder if we realize what the cost of the self serve culture has been.

The fast food chain in question has gotten slower and, God forbid if you try to go to the counter to order food.

I did that the other day and the first two staff members that eventually approached me didnB次元官网网址檛 know how to work the cash till.

In another example, I was grocery shopping and found that only three human cashiers were working, all with long line ups. It was obvious that, if I wanted to get out of there before my milk reached its expiry date, I would have to go to one of the 18 self-serve tills.

The problems started almost immediately.

B次元官网网址淯nexpected item in the bagging area!B次元官网网址� the automatic voice cried out.

It may have been my imagination, but there was a bit of a tone there that implied that I was trying to sneak a can of shrimp into my cart without scanning it first.

The single bored clerk who was overseeing the 18 self check out terminals glanced over.

B次元官网网址淭ake your bags off the scale,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淵ou canB次元官网网址檛 have anything on that side that hasnB次元官网网址檛 been scanned.B次元官网网址�

Her tone at least didnB次元官网网址檛 imply larceny. Just the early onset of seniorB次元官网网址檚 dementia.

But larceny is a side effect of self serve grocery checkouts. A recent study estimated that about four per cent of people using those tills will steal something.

For some itB次元官网网址檚 an act of frustration as the item theyB次元官网网址檝e tried to scan refuses to register and they resort to tossing it in their cart anyway.

Some folks lie about the number of bags theyB次元官网网址檝e used and for others itB次元官网网址檚 a matter of miscoding their passion fruit as bananas (code 4011) and getting a bargain.

ThatB次元官网网址檚 why the machines finish up by asking of youB次元官网网址檙e trying to steal anything.

B次元官网网址淎re you sure that youB次元官网网址檝e scanned all your items?B次元官网网址� theyB次元官网网址檒l ask.

For me, the final insult in the experience came after IB次元官网网址檇 scanned, packed, stowed and paid for my groceries.

B次元官网网址淗ow did we do today?B次元官网网址� the machine asked in a chirpy voice.

I stood there for a moment before actually talking back to the machine.

B次元官网网址淵ou didnB次元官网网址檛 do anything. I did all the bloody work! I hope you rust and die.B次元官网网址�

I noticed that the millennial at the neighbouring self-serve machine was looking at me with the kind of pitying look you give your Grandpa when he misbuttons his shirt. I quickly left the store.

B次元官网网址⑩赌⑩赌�

Tim Collins is a Sooke B次元官网网址 Mirror reporter. Email him at tim.collins@sookenewsmirror.com.