Alright, who thought these were a good idea? You rock up to Countdown, Pak’nSave, or New World just wanting to buy a block of cheese and a six-pack, and suddenly you’ve been promoted to unpaid checkout operator. Instead of chatting with the lovely staff on the till, you’re standing in front of a glowing machine, fighting with its constant accusations: Unexpected item in the bagging area!

Sure, they save the supermarkets a wage or two — but at what cost? Customers do the mahi while the big chains rake in the profits. And don’t even get me started on the flashing red light when you buy Panadol or a bottle of wine. Nothing says community vibe like a 17-year-old supervisor glaring at you while unlocking the booze.