With the self-checkout stations in grocery stores becoming more prevalent, some customers are left feeling apprehensive about the change.
Kroger, one of the largest grocery store retailers in the nation, has embraced the technology by converting one of its locations to self-checkout only. By eliminating cashiers completely, the store risks alienating a percentage of their patrons who prefer traditional checkout methods. The shift has left customers divided.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
