The introduction of giant trolley scales at a Tesco store in Gateshead has ignited a range of reactions from shoppers. Trolleys are now weighed before checkout to ensure items are not missed or scanned twice by customers using the Scan as you Shop feature. Some shoppers are uncertain about this new technology, with comparisons being made to airport security checkpoints. One Reddit user humorously questioned, “Am I at border control or Tesco?”
Tesco Clubcard members already have the option to utilize Scan as you Shop handsets, allowing them to fill their trolleys and then check out and pay at the end. In the Gateshead Trinity Square Extra store, shoppers can now place their trolleys on the scales. If the weight matches the items they’ve scanned, they pay as usual. However, if there is a discrepancy, a staff member will conduct a manual rescan of the entire trolley.
While some Reddit users view the scales positively for their convenience and speed, others are critical of their implementation. Some shoppers feel that honest customers are being treated like thieves, with concerns about the underlying intention of reducing staff costs. Business retail consultant Ged Futter discussed that the main focus is on loss prevention and controlling staff expenses. He emphasized that trust between retailers and customers is crucial, highlighting that customers may opt to shop elsewhere if they feel unfairly scrutinized.
As supermarkets aim to tackle rising incidents of shoplifting, the British Retail Consortium has highlighted the escalating issue. Retail criminologist Prof Emmeline Taylor noted the use of similar trolley scales in European supermarkets, attributing them to loss prevention measures. However, there are concerns about accidental errors in self-checkout processes, with a study revealing a significant error rate among scan and go baskets. As supermarkets continue to integrate technology to improve efficiency and reduce costs, the debate on self-scan versus staffed tills remains contentious. Some retailers have opted to eliminate self-scan entirely, while others are reallocating staff to manned tills to enhance customer experience
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