Start waving goodbye to what was once hailed as the wave of the future -- self-service checkouts.

Several nationwide grocery chains recently reported that they're bagging the automated checkouts. But the DIY machines have been losing their luster for a while. In 2010, only 16 percent of supermarket transactions were done at self-checkout lanes, down from 22 percent three years ago, according to the Food Marketing Institute in Arlington, Va.

The checkouts, which debuted 10 years ago, were designed to cut the time spent waiting in line for shoppers and reduce labor costs for stores.

Some retailers also hoped they would be a surefire way to make a positive impression on customers, said supermarket analyst David Livingston of DJL Research in Waukesha, Wis.

"Not all stores can hire friendly, attractive employees who leave a favorable experience," he said. "Sometimes a self-service checkout leaves a more positive feeling."

While some shoppers enjoy the autonomy, Madeline Forbes of Minneapolis said she uses self-service only as a last resort.

At Cub Foods last week, she went through the self-serve line because she had just a few items in her basket. But after scanning a couple, she hit an error message.

"They're too much trouble," she said.

Desmond Bernstein came to the same conclusion after avocados brought everything to a halt.

"I pushed the button for 'large avocados' by mistake," he said. "I didn't know how to switch back to the produce screen, so I had to call the cashier over."

But Lilia Rodriguez, a Cub Foods spokeswoman, said plenty of shoppers prefer automated lines.

"Our customers love self-service checkout," she said.

For now, self-service checkouts are still also bedeviling -- or delighting -- shoppers at Rainbow Foods, as well as Home Depot, Lowe's, Wal-Mart and Costco in Maplewood.