In one of the supermarket chains in Norway, we have self-service in that you get a scanner that goes along with the cart. You put bags in the cart when you ente

In one of the supermarket chains in Norway, we have self-service in that you get a scanner that goes along with the cart. You put bags in the cart when you enter the store, and then scan the groceries as you pick them from the shelf and put them in the bags. When you get to the checkout, you put the scanner in a dock and then pay. Done. Hardly ever fails. It's just so unbelievably much quicker that I dread going in a store without. As an added bonus, since you're bagging as you put things in the cart, you can now also sort the items in different bags according to where in the house you're going to put the items when you get home, so you'll save time unpacking, too. And lamenting the loss of store greeters... makes me think that perhaps the real issue here is the same as why some people actually want to tip at restaurants: It's not about getting the job done, but rather the feeling of having other people working for you.