Regarding Self Service checkout, I buy most of my groceries at Aldi's. They do not have a self service checkout but they do have the most efficient checkout system I have ever seen in the US. They humanely have check-out stations that allow the cashier to sit. They also have lots of organic food and plan to go all organic in 2019 with their fresh produce. Add in the cheapest prices in town and I am an Aldi fan

I've been gaining weight steadily for the last 2 years and I definitely succumb to those cattle chute goodies. If I'm going to successfully lose weight again. I must learn to say no regardless of the circumstance. In other words, my white and health is my responsibility.

None of those things bother me at all. I'm totally resistant to the junk "food", trashy magazines and cheap trinkets in the cashier aisles. I don't even see them although I know they're there. I'm too busy watching the purchases of the people ahead and the basket behind and looking to see if there's even one single healthy item among them. Rarely.

It's harder and harder to find an actual cashier anymore at the big box. I try to go to the more locally owned grocery store where they don't have a computerized "self-service" checkout, which is just a way for the stores to cut down on staff and maximize profits.

Speaking of things "improving", someone mentioned a Microsoft update. Since the last one, I'm finding it impossible to type fluidly on this site, the page doesn't accept my input as quickly and I have to slow down my typing to a crawl. Plus, I can't move the cursor more than one space or delete more than one letter at a time. It's as if something changed my input settings for me...

"Will merchants ever learn to think of us as people and not just as wallets?"

No. It is best to shop online.

You could look into shopping online and either getting it delivered or pick it up. Lots of stores are offering that now.

You are only a consumer. They want you to max out 5 or more credit cards as long as you consume. Cars and homes get more pricey but it is American to have the newest one. Studies show that some of these cars last for 10 years but you will be paying for it for 8 years. I see people in the grocery lines who can't get out without paying well over $100 and more. Tonight I had a break and spent $40. That doesn't happen often but I did get 4 craft urbock German beers too. I feel blessed.

We are not people to them, we are consumers. All they care about is finding ways to make us consume more.

You can protest; call the management and store owners, explain why you object, and are now planning to find a different store, write something in the local news about it on the opinion page, tweet about it, etc.

I always say more modern is not always better.

Wow, I've never been in a store like that. Perhaps it's a regional phenomenon?