Personally , as a frequent user of the 'Northern' ticket machines , I have had no problems with the machines at al!.
However , I have had many problems with the lack of staffing at a supposedly staffed ticket office. On recent trips to Newton-le-Willows station ( during the J-press northern promotion ) . Where you have to supply a filled out form to a staffed station , only to find signs up saying ticket window temporarily closed ( while staff carry out cleaning duties around the station ) Also on one occasion a member of staff was in the vicinity , but said he was too busy to serve , proceeded to lock himself In a back room , before returning to the ticket desk some 30 to 40 mins later !!! Now after making a journey of 9 miles by road to just stand around for over half an hour , I find quite unacceptable.
However , I have had many problems with the lack of staffing at a supposedly staffed ticket office. On recent trips to Newton-le-Willows station ( during the J-press northern promotion ) . Where you have to supply a filled out form to a staffed station , only to find signs up saying ticket window temporarily closed ( while staff carry out cleaning duties around the station ) Also on one occasion a member of staff was in the vicinity , but said he was too busy to serve , proceeded to lock himself In a back room , before returning to the ticket desk some 30 to 40 mins later !!! Now after making a journey of 9 miles by road to just stand around for over half an hour , I find quite unacceptable.