ASDA has introduced new self-checkout rules at one of its stores and customers have described the change as "unpleasant". The supermarket giant is operating "self-checkout only hours" at one of its branches in a move that has sparked frustration. A shopper at Asda's superstore in Bournemouth shared a picture with the MailOnline of a sign showing the hours that the manned checkouts are open.
The customers told the publication that the self-scan only hours had made for an "unpleasant" shopping experience. The sign shows that from 7am to 8am every day, except Sundays, only self-scanning checkouts are open. On Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays, from 8pm until 11pm, manned tills are closed and only self-service is open.
READ MORE IN MONEY On Wednesdays, from 7pm to 11pm, the supermarket is self-scan only. Meanwhile on Fridays, the self-service only hours are from 9pm to 11pm. On Sundays, self-service and manned checkouts are open all day.
Asda told The Sun that the move was a "temporary decision" taken by the Bournemouth store during quiet shopping hours and that it is not a company wide policy. Most read in Money They added that most customers use self-service checkouts during these hours and that staff are still on hand for anybody who still wants to use a manned checkout. It comes after Asda, which has 1,200 supermarkets across the UK, said it will put more staff on tills as part of a £30million investment to get customers back in stores.
The supermarket said it will not be installing any more old fashioned checkouts in its shops after they removed a number amid the rise in smart shopping. Instead, the remaining ones will be staffed more often, especially at the weekend and other peak times. Over the past decade supermarket bosses have invested loads in self scanning tills, adamant that customers preferred the speedy style of shopping.
But there has been a growing disdain for them amongst customers. Earlier this week Rami Baitiéh, the chief executive of Morrisons , announced that the company will scale back the number of self-checkout kiosks in its stores. In an interview with The Telegraph , Baitiéh said that the company is "reviewing the balance between self-checkouts and manned tills.
" Booths, an upscale Northern grocery chain, recently abandoned the technology after discovering that customers had a more enjoyable experience when interacting with a cashier. This move aligns with data previously published by The Grocer , which revealed that service satisfaction has declined by as much as 8% due to the use of self-checkout machines. It's not just supermarkets that offer self-checkouts too.
In recent months, Primark has been rolling out self-checkouts at dozens of stores. Shops including Sainsbury's , Aldi , Morrisons and Primark all have barriers where customers must scan receipts in order to leave, in a bid to help cut down rising theft incidents. THERE are plenty of ways to save on your grocery shop.
You can look out for yellow or red stickers on products, which show when they've been reduced. If the food is fresh, you'll have to eat it quickly or freeze it for another time. Making a list should also save you money, as you'll be less likely to make any rash purchases when you get to the supermarket.
Going own brand can be one easy way to save hundreds of pounds a year on your food bills too. This means ditching "finest" or "luxury" products and instead going for "own" or value" type of lines. Plenty of supermarkets run wonky veg and fruit schemes where you can get cheap prices if they're misshapen or imperfect.
For example, Lidl runs its Waste Not scheme, offering boxes of 5kg of fruit and vegetables for just £1.50. If you're on a low income and a parent, you may be able to get up to £442 a year in Healthy Start vouchers to use at the supermarket too.
Plus, many councils offer supermarket vouchers as part of the Household Support Fund. DODGE SELF-CHECKOUTS If you want to avoid self-checkouts, you may want to consider using scan-as-you-go technology. Scan-as-you-go systems are the latest addition to the supermarket shopping experience, and several retailers are making them permanent features in big stores.
They allow customers to scan as they browse, either using their smartphone or a handheld device. Then, most shops allow you to check out in a completely different area from other shoppers, saving time in queues. READ MORE SUN STORIES It means shoppers can track how much they're spending as they go around the aisles, allowing you to budget and stick to your list.
It also means you can bag your groceries as you wander around, saving you even more time. Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing [email protected].
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