British supermarket chain cuts self-service checkouts for being ‘too troublesome’

A supermarket chain in the UK is ditching its self-service checkouts in a bid to improve customer experience.

Self-checkouts are all the rage in Australia.

A supermarket chain in the UK is ditching its self-service checkouts in a bid to improve customer experience.

Self-checkouts were first introduced more than 10 years ago in major supermarkets and now the craze has spread to even more retailers.

But upmarket British retailer Booths has revealed that it will replace the checkouts from all but two of its 27 supermarkets, according to The Grocer.

Booths has branches in Yorkshire, Cumbria, Lancashire and Cheshire — all in England’s north.

It comes after a recent survey showed that many shoppers find self-service checkouts too troublesome to use.

Many instead opt to head over to a staff manned checkout, leading to long queues and disgruntled customers.

Booths managing director Nigel Murray told the publication that supermarket is not a “great fan of self-checkouts”.

He added: ”We pride ourselves on great customer service and you can’t do that through a robot.”

Mr Murray also revealed that the technology can be ”problematic” and can cause customers to have to wait longer, for example, when workers need to check ID for alcohol or when weighing an item.

The idea of a self-service checkout was first introduced to the public in 1986. Picture: Supplied

But not all shoppers agree that self-service checkouts are a bad idea.

Writing on X, formerly known as Twitter, one customer said: “Ummm, I know I’m in the minority, but I actually prefer self checkout – why would I want to talk to anyone?!”

Self-service tills are often unsuitable for shoppers who want help with packing or need to pay by cash.

Their arrival has also meant supermarket chains are cutting back on staffed checkouts.

Many supermarkets instead have opted for scan as you go systems as an alternative to self-checkouts.

They allow customers to scan as they browse, either using their smartphone or a handheld device.

Then most shops in the UK allow you to check out at a completely different area to other shoppers, saving time in queues.

It means that shoppers can keep track of how much they’re spending as they go around the aisles, allowing you to budget and stick to your list.

It also means that you can bag your groceries as you wander around too – saving you even more time.

But most supermarkets require you to pay by card when using scan as you shop.

This story originally appeared on The Sun and is republished here with permission.

Originally published as British supermarket chain cuts self-service checkouts for being ‘too troublesome’