the jimmymac attack!

There are about a million 7-Eleven stores in Taipei. Well, I exaggerate but there are a lot. I know one spot near the Taipei train station where you can stand and see four 7-Elevens. And then there are more 7-Elevens in the station that you cannot see from the street. I think there are 4 in the station. And 7-Eleven is great! I have been to one every day for the past year. Why are they great? Because they scan everything you buy with a wand scanner. I never have to talk to anyone. They scan your item with the wand and the price is shown on the cash register. It is so fast and easy. And the staff is trained to serve you as quickly as possible so purchases often take just seconds. To me this is brilliant. No small talk. No fawning over you to pretend they care about you. No awkward shifting and stuttering to try to speak English or stuttering and stammering by me trying to speak Chinese. Just a simple transaction! I want to buy, they want to sell - it is as simple as that. And everybody is happy! 7-Eleven is brilliant!