Checkout issue irks Woolworths customers: 'Not loving this'
- Replies 83
Grocery shopping is, for the most part, a mundane and routine task that we all go through. So it's understandable why so many of us prefer to get in and out of the supermarket as efficiently as possible, no matter the cost.
Increasingly, this means relying on AI-enabled technology like self-serve checkouts designed to speed up the checkout process by taking out the need for human interaction and involvement.
While this sounds great in theory, the reality is that for some of us, this technology can frequently be a source of frustration.
The latest checkout issue to annoy Aussie shoppers came about at an unnamed Woolworths store, where a customer found themselves facing an on-screen message that said, 'Have you left items in your trolley or basket? Please wait for assistance.'
The shopper, who said her trolley was empty aside from an empty Coles shopping bag, went to an online forum to vent her frustrations.
'Not loving this feature. Bloke next to me had the same thing,' they said.
On the same thread, other shoppers shared their experiences with the self-serve checkout issue and how it affected their supermarket habits.
‘I once had a small bag from the pharmacy sitting in my trolley and got the same message when checking out. I’ve stopped using the self-serve checkout. F*** em,’ said one incensed user.
A second said: ‘Hey, I copped it yesterday. Starts beeping and flashing going, "We didn't detect you [scanning] the last item you just bagged", even though I could see it right there at the bottom of the list of the items I was scanning…’
Many said they had become so frustrated by the feature they'd simply stopped using the Woolworths self-serve checkouts and resorted to shopping at other shops like Coles and ALDI instead.
‘Really p****d me off. Will move to the ALDI up the road for the next shop,’ one user said.
A second added, ‘I’m cancelling my Everyday Rewards Extras (even though it has amazing savings rewards) and switching to Coles/ALDI instead.’
Not only that, but some have also expressed their concerns about privacy, arguing that the camera that scans trolleys and baskets can and will store images of personal items, which could be ethically questionable.
‘Their cameras can scan and store images of the contents of our personal bags. Where is our privacy in all of this?’ said one inquisitive commenter.
‘Yep, same happened to me last week, and the “self-checkout supervisor” just leant over and picked up MY (empty) bag and opened it, no asking permission, just a grab of my personal bag!’ added another.
‘I was b****y horrified and won't be going back..they'll want a f***ing strip search next!’
And unsurprisingly, some felt like the way the self-checkout system flags users even when they did nothing wrong leaves a bad taste.
‘Does kind of make you feel very untrustworthy,’ one confessed. ‘I suspect leaving something in the trolley is the least likely way someone would try to scam.’
‘What happened to customer service? Instead, we get treated like crims,’ a response said.
There were also tales from users who claimed to be supermarket workers explaining that thefts do occur inside stores.
One such user said, ‘My friend works at ALDI and says lately, at least once a week, someone with a full trolley will wait by the entrance for someone to come in, and they just rush out through the doorway while it's open.’
Woolworths has yet to comment on the shopper’s experience.
Earlier, a spokesperson mentioned that the tech is aimed at reducing accidental mis-scans and making shopping more convenient, and it also acts to combat theft.
Should self-serve checkouts be scrapped entirely over incidents like this? If not, what improvements could be made? Let us know your thoughts below!
Increasingly, this means relying on AI-enabled technology like self-serve checkouts designed to speed up the checkout process by taking out the need for human interaction and involvement.
While this sounds great in theory, the reality is that for some of us, this technology can frequently be a source of frustration.
The latest checkout issue to annoy Aussie shoppers came about at an unnamed Woolworths store, where a customer found themselves facing an on-screen message that said, 'Have you left items in your trolley or basket? Please wait for assistance.'
The shopper, who said her trolley was empty aside from an empty Coles shopping bag, went to an online forum to vent her frustrations.
'Not loving this feature. Bloke next to me had the same thing,' they said.
One shopper’s Woolworths checkout experience took a sour turn when an empty shopping bag stalled their transaction. Image Credit: Reddit
On the same thread, other shoppers shared their experiences with the self-serve checkout issue and how it affected their supermarket habits.
‘I once had a small bag from the pharmacy sitting in my trolley and got the same message when checking out. I’ve stopped using the self-serve checkout. F*** em,’ said one incensed user.
A second said: ‘Hey, I copped it yesterday. Starts beeping and flashing going, "We didn't detect you [scanning] the last item you just bagged", even though I could see it right there at the bottom of the list of the items I was scanning…’
Many said they had become so frustrated by the feature they'd simply stopped using the Woolworths self-serve checkouts and resorted to shopping at other shops like Coles and ALDI instead.
‘Really p****d me off. Will move to the ALDI up the road for the next shop,’ one user said.
A second added, ‘I’m cancelling my Everyday Rewards Extras (even though it has amazing savings rewards) and switching to Coles/ALDI instead.’
Source: Seniors Discount Club
Not only that, but some have also expressed their concerns about privacy, arguing that the camera that scans trolleys and baskets can and will store images of personal items, which could be ethically questionable.
‘Their cameras can scan and store images of the contents of our personal bags. Where is our privacy in all of this?’ said one inquisitive commenter.
‘Yep, same happened to me last week, and the “self-checkout supervisor” just leant over and picked up MY (empty) bag and opened it, no asking permission, just a grab of my personal bag!’ added another.
‘I was b****y horrified and won't be going back..they'll want a f***ing strip search next!’
And unsurprisingly, some felt like the way the self-checkout system flags users even when they did nothing wrong leaves a bad taste.
‘Does kind of make you feel very untrustworthy,’ one confessed. ‘I suspect leaving something in the trolley is the least likely way someone would try to scam.’
‘What happened to customer service? Instead, we get treated like crims,’ a response said.
There were also tales from users who claimed to be supermarket workers explaining that thefts do occur inside stores.
One such user said, ‘My friend works at ALDI and says lately, at least once a week, someone with a full trolley will wait by the entrance for someone to come in, and they just rush out through the doorway while it's open.’
Woolworths has yet to comment on the shopper’s experience.
Earlier, a spokesperson mentioned that the tech is aimed at reducing accidental mis-scans and making shopping more convenient, and it also acts to combat theft.
Should self-serve checkouts be scrapped entirely over incidents like this? If not, what improvements could be made? Let us know your thoughts below!
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