Shoppers have slammed Tesco over plans for more self-service checkouts in stores around the country, MirrorOnline reports.
The supermarket giant has confirmed it is looking to replace staffed stills with automated self-checkouts. The self-service areas have previously only been used for baskets, but the supermarket has been trialling new versions which are designed for customers using trolleys.
But the decision, which would enable more shoppers to, in theory, use self-service tills has come in for heavy criticism. This would allow them to use more of the tills in this way as customers who had come in for a bigger shop would also be able to use the self-service, at least in theory.
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But many critics have said that they will choose not to use the new tills. Some even raised concerns about the job security of the checkout staff who could find their roles made irrelevant.
Self-checkouts do still require a member of staff to monitor them - often doing jobs such as checking ID if someone is trying to buy alcohol or another age-restricted product along with helping occasionally bemused customers when they run into issues with the machines.
Grocery Insight chief executive Steve Dresser said more self-service checkouts could allow stores to use the space more efficiently. He told the Express: “Stores are moving to dedicated checkouts rather than manned checkouts that sit empty.
“[ Tesco ’s decision] would make sense given Asda has done the same and we know self-service and scan as you shop has grown post-Covid.”
But shoppers are not impressed, with many taking to social media to criticise the move. Twitter user @mad_musings53 wrote: "Chef at work today was telling me he was moaning at the checkout at Tesco about all the self-checkouts now. Staff are actively asking customers to boycott them. If enough people don’t use them they will be ripped out and manned tills will replace them.”
@economics21st commented: "I hate the self-checkouts; always go to a person manning a till, say “hello”, and maybe have a short conversation. And they put the shopping through efficiently."
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