Outraged customers slam Kmart's new 'insulting' checkout system
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There’s no denying that many of us have been comfortable with shopping from the comfort of our homes.
With many of us doing our shopping online during the pandemic, heading back to the store for the odd item or two can be a bit of a slog.
You stock up on everything you need and you can’t wait to get out and take a break.
But just as you're about to leave, you’re suddenly asked to show your receipt and open your bag for inspection…
Well, at least that’s a scene Kmart shoppers are all too familiar with, especially since the retailer added this to its store policy, much to the dismay of shoppers.
This new checkout process means that customers are made to go through a bit of an annoying inspection line before they can leave the confines of the store.
Many shoppers were quick to take to social media to express their disappointment and annoyance at the unnecessary addition to their already tiring shopping process.
In particular, one woman recalled her experience at a Kmart store and said that she was 'forced to queue up in a second line' just to make it out of the store’s entrance.
Mental health advocate Laura Strehlau was one of the first to take to Twitter and share her anger, arguing that Kmart needed to 'trust people' if it was going to go down that route.
'Our local (Kmart) store has started scanning barcodes at the front and you have to queue to leave after you’ve just queued to serve yourself,' she tweeted.
The post triggered a wave of complaints on Twitter, with many fed-up customers sharing their stories to echo Ms Strehlau’s experiences.
One person pointed out: ‘It’s everywhere. All over NSW as well.’
‘It will last a while; they aren’t going to spend all that money reconfiguring the stores just to change them back in the short term.’
On top of the time wastage, customers said that the extra process was ‘insulting, demeaning and was treating customers like an enemy’.
Kmart is not the only big brand to implement receipt-scanning when leaving the store, with hardware giant Bunnings imposing a similar rule for some time now.
One person who is a relative of a Bunnings employee took to a forum to share why this 'annoying' procedure exists.
They explained: ‘My husband works for Bunnings, theft is a huge problem.’
'The reason they stamp the receipts is to stop people from buying items, putting them in the car and returning (with the) receipt in hand and then picking up the same items again.'
'My husband often works on the gate, he checks the vehicles as they leave. He could write a book on what some (people) get up to.'
It’s certainly a polarising issue that has sparked quite a heated discussion online. On one hand, it’s understandable that Kmart is interested in preventing theft - after all, it’s no small issue and can cost big businesses big bucks.
But we can also understand why many customers are unwilling to wait in an extra queue just to prove they’ve paid.
‘They can do what they like but it’s ridiculous and last time I checked customers are the people that generate business,’ Ms Strehlau commented in response to a critic who backed the retailer’s right to examine customers' receipts.
‘In a cost of living crisis it’s best they try and keep those customers.’
This is not the first time Kmart has come under fire for this issue. We previously covered a story where shoppers made fun of the system on TikTok, with many voicing out their annoyance over the fact that the store layout made checking out complicated and awkward.
A Kmart representative previously confirmed that no matter how shoppers made their purchases, a bag check was a requirement for leaving store premises.
The spokesperson said: ‘Like many retailers, it is a condition of entry across all our stores that if requested, customers present any bags and receipt for checking before leaving the store.’
‘This is a standard procedure that occurs regardless of how a customer makes their purchase, whether it be from our service desk, self-service check-outs or if they have been assisted by a team member.’
What’s your opinion on this issue? Have you been affected by this new system? Share your experiences in the comments below.
With many of us doing our shopping online during the pandemic, heading back to the store for the odd item or two can be a bit of a slog.
You stock up on everything you need and you can’t wait to get out and take a break.
But just as you're about to leave, you’re suddenly asked to show your receipt and open your bag for inspection…
Well, at least that’s a scene Kmart shoppers are all too familiar with, especially since the retailer added this to its store policy, much to the dismay of shoppers.
This new checkout process means that customers are made to go through a bit of an annoying inspection line before they can leave the confines of the store.
Many shoppers were quick to take to social media to express their disappointment and annoyance at the unnecessary addition to their already tiring shopping process.
In particular, one woman recalled her experience at a Kmart store and said that she was 'forced to queue up in a second line' just to make it out of the store’s entrance.
Mental health advocate Laura Strehlau was one of the first to take to Twitter and share her anger, arguing that Kmart needed to 'trust people' if it was going to go down that route.
'Our local (Kmart) store has started scanning barcodes at the front and you have to queue to leave after you’ve just queued to serve yourself,' she tweeted.
The post triggered a wave of complaints on Twitter, with many fed-up customers sharing their stories to echo Ms Strehlau’s experiences.
One person pointed out: ‘It’s everywhere. All over NSW as well.’
‘It will last a while; they aren’t going to spend all that money reconfiguring the stores just to change them back in the short term.’
On top of the time wastage, customers said that the extra process was ‘insulting, demeaning and was treating customers like an enemy’.
Kmart is not the only big brand to implement receipt-scanning when leaving the store, with hardware giant Bunnings imposing a similar rule for some time now.
One person who is a relative of a Bunnings employee took to a forum to share why this 'annoying' procedure exists.
They explained: ‘My husband works for Bunnings, theft is a huge problem.’
'The reason they stamp the receipts is to stop people from buying items, putting them in the car and returning (with the) receipt in hand and then picking up the same items again.'
'My husband often works on the gate, he checks the vehicles as they leave. He could write a book on what some (people) get up to.'
It’s certainly a polarising issue that has sparked quite a heated discussion online. On one hand, it’s understandable that Kmart is interested in preventing theft - after all, it’s no small issue and can cost big businesses big bucks.
But we can also understand why many customers are unwilling to wait in an extra queue just to prove they’ve paid.
‘They can do what they like but it’s ridiculous and last time I checked customers are the people that generate business,’ Ms Strehlau commented in response to a critic who backed the retailer’s right to examine customers' receipts.
‘In a cost of living crisis it’s best they try and keep those customers.’
This is not the first time Kmart has come under fire for this issue. We previously covered a story where shoppers made fun of the system on TikTok, with many voicing out their annoyance over the fact that the store layout made checking out complicated and awkward.
A Kmart representative previously confirmed that no matter how shoppers made their purchases, a bag check was a requirement for leaving store premises.
The spokesperson said: ‘Like many retailers, it is a condition of entry across all our stores that if requested, customers present any bags and receipt for checking before leaving the store.’
‘This is a standard procedure that occurs regardless of how a customer makes their purchase, whether it be from our service desk, self-service check-outs or if they have been assisted by a team member.’
Key Takeaways
- Customers are outraged over Kmart's new store procedure, which forces them to queue up in a second line to exit the store.
- The post quickly struck a chord online, with many sharing their own experiences.
- Bunnings is another big brand that scans customers' receipts upon exiting.
- Kmart has defended the system, saying it is a condition of entry across all its stores.
What’s your opinion on this issue? Have you been affected by this new system? Share your experiences in the comments below.
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