You Gotta Pay Attention

 So. 

We have this tag machine at work.

Where you buy a dog/cat tag at the register, take the tag over to the machine, and it will engrave the tag for you.

And in theory. It should be super easy to use.

Because like. There's a touch screen. And that screen also shows video demonstrations of what you need to do for each mechanical step of the process.

It shows you how to scan the barcode to start the process. Tells you where to find the code (on the receipt) to use the machine. Takes you step by step through the process saying what you want on the tag, and then finally it shows you how to place the tag in the machine in order for the machine to engrave your tag.

And yet.

Customers struggle like no other to work it.

Seriously. All you have to do is watch the screen and follow the directions.

But I suppose, considering how much of a fit customers threw throughout the pandemic about us wanting them to stay behind tape lines on the ground and how they 'can't see the fish' from two feet away and how often customers can't read labels on products and can't see the prices of merchandise....

I suppose it really isn't that surprising that customers can't work a machine that gives you step by step instructions.

Honestly. All of Happy Valley probably needs to go see an eye doctor because they're all blind.

In any case.

Most of the time, the customers who need help at the machine are usually grandparent aged....or else don't often speak English as their first language. So I can't really fault them for asking for assistance. It makes sense at that point to do so and I usually don't mind it.

But the weirdest thing about the customers who end up requesting help....are the ones who claim that the tag machine didn't work. That they 'stuck the tag in' but the machine didn't engrave the tag. 

*exhales*

You want to know why 9 times out of 10 the tag didn't get engraved?

It's because in the video on the screen it's clearly shown that customers need to place the tag on a little peg. Said tiny peg will hold the tag in place while the machine clamps down and pulls it into the engraving portion to engrave it. 

And yet. 99% of the time. if a customer claims that the tag machine didn't engrave their tag....

It's because they didn't place the tag on the peg.

Nope. They instead just lift up the lid and toss the tag inside....where it falls to the bottom....where the machine usually drops the tag AFTER it's engraved and the customer can reach in like one of those 25cent candy machines and grab the tag out.

BUT if you don't place the tag on the peg? The machine can't pull the tag into the engraving portion. Just dropping it basically skips the engraving step. You'd think it would be clear that that doesn't work. To just drop it in. But nope.

We get at least 2 customers a week who have this issue. 

And they always go "OH." When I show them the all important step of placing the tag on the peg. And then follow up with "I thought we just dropped it in." 

*shakes head*

Maybe next time watch the video and follow the instructions? It's not that complicated. 

Seriously.

Until you next find these words;
I'll be watching the leaves.
Enjoy the day!

-Sarnic Dirchi