so, are you only supposed to use one bottle machine or can we take 2?

[dawbs]

I live in a place where we pay deposits on bottles, hence everyone returns bottles for the deposit.

Now everyplace has these newfangled machines where you feed the bottles in (one at a time), the machine scans them, and when you're done it prints a slip for $x amount of store credit. (I miss being able to roll up cart up to the minimum-wage bagger and say "I have 75 bottles" and have them just give me the cash, but I'm a Luddite about some of these things )

So, Mr. Dawbs and I went to return bottles while grocery shopping today.  There are 6 machines.  When we got there,we were the only customers there, so we each grabbed a machine and started putting in our bottles. 

Meanwhile, a man and 2 kids arrive, and the kids want to operate the machine (obviously.  If I were 6 or 8 and barely able to reach it, I'd want to operate the machine too  ), he's keeping an eye on the kids (who are dutifully and slowly scanning their bottles...), and the family takes 3 of the other machines (I'm quite certain dad took his own machine because he can scan bottles much faster than his kids).

So now, with one open machine, suddenly 1/2 dozen people appear to return bottles.  Mr. Dawbs "cashed out" his machine and moved to my machine, so we wouldn't be using 2.

So he asked when we were leaving, if that was the "polite" thing to do.  We would have been out of the entire return area and off both machines faster (it's slower to just use one, because even w/ 2 people, the machine only takes 1 bottle every so many seconds) if we would have both continued at our respective machines...but by moving to my machine, only 1 was taken for the duration, so the next person in line could get started.

Sooo...are we supposed to use 1 or use 2?

[123bees]

I say use 2 if nobody is waiting and 1 if there is a line.  At least let others get started.

[Bob Ducca]

Hmmm...from a strictly practical standpoint, I can see how using 2 machines faster might make more sense, but it was polite to get off of one machine and let someone else start a bit earlier.  I would imagine that the people waiting behind you weren't in one big group, so letting the next person go showed goodwill, at least.  I think that, under the circumstances, you did the polite thing.  I would say to only use more than one machine if, as it was when you arrived, no one else is waiting to use them.

Good for Mr. Dawbs!!

[IndianInlaw]

We use 4! (We drink WAAAAY too much soda!)  Two for cans, two for plastic.

We don't go at busy times and of course, we relinquish for anyone coming in.

[scooter2071]

I just seperated and washed bottles to return (about 800)...we stockpile them and return them to a redemption center.
I think you guys did the polite thing by making way for someone else BUT I wouldn't feel guilty if you did not because it was two of you returning bottles, using two machines, its not like it was one person using all the machines.
In our area, there are now limits on how much one can return in a day using the machines, I think its $10 worth. In that case, if you had more than that you would have to use two seperate machines and present two seperate slips.

[Evil Duckie]

You did fine.

If there is no line it is fine to use more. It more people show up it is nice to open up one machine, but not necessary.

[madmusician]

I think it's mainly the gesture that's polite--if there's a line forming, clear out of one of your machines. Maybe not the most practical way to go but definitely the most polite.

[miredrose326]

When I go with my 7 and 9 year old they each get a machine.  I help the 7 year old and the 9 year old is on his own.  If all the machines fill up we will gladly let someone have one of ours.  I think it is the polite thing to do but definitely not required.

[MelJill]

If there's a line, it's nice (but not totally necessary) to let one machine go so the others can get started.  OTOH, my experience is that I'll be running two machines because I've got both plastic bottles and cans, and one of 'my' machines is for the plastic bottles and the other one is for the cans. 

In that sort of case, I don't think it's necessary to relinquish one machine (though if I know that I only have a few more of one sort, I may pull those out and cash out that machine instead of just doing whichever I grab first).

[itiswhatitisn't]

When DH and I go we each grab a machine (one plastic and one cans) and we wouldn't give those up.  Last time all we had were cans and it was late at night and no one else was there.  We eached grabbed a machine and raced.  Had someone come in we would have stopped and given them a machine. 

Five years ago I went to return cans at the supermarket.  And ahead of me were a father and daughter and four bangs that were four feet tall.  I had 20 bottles.  The father turned around, looked at me, cashed out his machine, let me use it, and then resumed when I was done.  The whole thing cost him a few minutes, but waiting for him could have cost me an hour and I was grateful for his courtesy.  That and I didn't want to drag the bottles home again on the bus

[Venus193]

I also miss the day when you could hand the bag over and get the cash.  It was so much faster.

[sparksals]

I have never seen these machines before.  Do they look like pop machines?

[dawbs]

I have never seen these machines before.  Do they look like pop machines?

I guess they are a rather local phenomon, for those of us who pay/collect the deposits.
If you scroll down here:

http://www.chanatrys.com/service.html

there's a picture of the kind I use (except my local grocery now has a combined cans/plastics machine, it can read the barcode of either.  Only glass needs separate machines)...not a great picture but the best I can find

[ShadesOfGrey]

hmm, this is interesting, because I think the opposite of what most posters said here.  I think it would have been fine for you to stay on 2 machines for the fact that it was faster, because when you were done two machines would have opened up, allowing more people in the line to use a machine simultaneously.  (Nobody was there when you got there, so the fact that people came afterwards just means they have to wait in line like any other normal person.  Also, it's not like just 1 person was taking up two machines, there were two of you returning bottles (even if it was from 1 bag).  Just my opinion though. 

It was a polite gesture to move, though, because it seems as though you were recognizing the others.

It's kind of like when you are in a store with two registers right next to each other, and everybody forms 1 line and the next person in line just goes to whichever register opens next.  It's faster for everyone, no just the next person in line, so I like it better.