After several unpleasant interactions with self-checkout machines in the U.S., I gave up on them. If it can be broken, I will break it, although I really blame bad interaction design — if it can be misread or misinterpreted, I will.

But. . . something about the checkout process at the Monoprix — standard mid-sized department store, with more food and less other departments — encouraged me to try out their new self-checkouts. Maybe it was the prospect of standing in line while people fumble with their fidelity cards and count out coins while I have only one item (lightbulb), and I was ready to try it. Turned out to be remarkably bulletproof: I tried my best to break it, and it didn’t. Even after the helpful fellow pointed at the button to change the language to English and I didn’t.

Also notable: The really new machines, which only take credit or debit cards, don’t  weigh your items as a checkpoint. Scan, pay, and go.