Not Everyone Is a Fan of Self-Checkout Lanes
George Solis of NBC News visited a local Kroger to get a better sense of how people feel about self-checkout machines replacing humans at grocery stores. He received an overwhelming response from shoppers who said they did not like self-checkout lanes.
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One patron emphatically claimed self-checkouts “do not work” while another said she would only use them as “a last resort.”
More Self-Checkout Machines Are Being Put in Stores
The overall disdain for self-checkout machines has not stopped grocery chains from adding more of them to their stores. Other retailers such as Walmart and Dollar General have also begun swapping out cashiers for a self-checkout only shopping experience.
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Despite the mixed reviews on self-checkout lanes, the technology is very likely “here to stay” according to Stew Leonard Jr. of the popular Stew Leonard’s grocery chain in New York.
Most Young People Love Self-Checkouts, While Older Customers Do Not
When observing the checkout lines at a grocery store, it’s typical to find more young people using the self-checkout machines.
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The older demographic is generally unwelcoming of the technology, and would be less likely to visit a store that offered self-checkout as the sole way to make a purchase. Stew Leonard Jr. revealed that 75% of his customers prefer human cashiers, but self-checkouts allow for lower labor costs.
Self-Checkout Machines Come With a Handful of Problems
Self-checkout machines may come in handy, but that doesn’t mean they are without flaws. The biggest complaint about self-checkouts is that there are still a lot of technical advancements to be made.
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The machines require frequent assistance from human employees, creating frustration for the customer. With such a divide between customer preference, it’s safe to assume self-checkout only stores will surely ruffle some feathers.