‘Had a gutful’: Coles shopper’s complaint about self-serve checkouts

A Queensland shopper has aired his frustration over a recent checkout issue at his local Coles store – saying he’s “had a gutful”.

A Queensland shopper has aired his frustration over a recent checkout issue at his local Coles store. Picture: Carla Gottgens/Bloomberg via Getty Images

A Queensland shopper has aired his frustration over a recent checkout issue at his local Coles store.

In a TikTokvideo, the Gold Coast man complained that there were no manned checkouts available to serve customers at the supermarket giant – claiming the only option was self-service.

“So it’s just before six o’clock at night at Coles and as usual, not a single till is open with anyone to serve you,” he said in the clip, captioned: “Anyone else sick off (sic) no staff on tills?”

“Has anyone else had a gutful of this and are you changing supermarkets because of it?

“Because I don’t know about you, but I just want to buy my groceries and have someone scan them and put them in a bag. I don’t really want to scan them myself.

“I know that might be lazy or whatever, but I go to a supermarket like Coles for service and if I wanted to do it myself I may as well go to ALDI.

“What is everyone else finding out there? Local one has no staff at peak times?”

Responding to the video, a Coles spokesperson said in a statement that while “self-serve checkouts are a preferred choices … for many customers and offer convenience and efficiency”, staff are still available to serve shoppers.

“We are providing more choice to our customers in how they can choose to check out in our stores,” they said.

“Of course, if a customer would prefer to be served by a team member they are still available to happily serve them at the check-out.”

‘We are providing more choice to our customers in how they can choose to check out in our store.’ Picture: David Swift/NCA NewsWire

The clip, which attracted over 25,000 views, had hundreds of people in the comments also sharing the man’s gripe.

“It’s even worse when you think about all the jobs that have been lost,” one wrote.

Many shoppers had opinions on self-serve checkouts. Picture: Mark Scott

While a second said: “I refuse to serve myself. I am not employed by Coles and they don’t pay me and why should I be doing the service that is expected by them?”

“I’d much prefer extra staff who get a job,” a third agreed.

“It’s becoming way too common. You turn up to the checkout and it’s all self-serve, no staff.”

Others, however, disagreed – accusing those who still rely on a manned checkout of being “lazy”.

“I will only use self-service, best thing ever!” one wrote.

“I prefer to do it myself.”