Major Woolworths checkout change gets mixed reviews from shoppers: 'Infuriating'
The supermarket giant unveiled the new system earlier in August and said it's intended to speed up shopping, while helping Aussies to budget better.
Shoppers are giving mixed reviews to arguably the biggest change to the supermarket experience since self-serve checkouts were introduced. Woolworths' new tablet trolley technology, that enables customers to scan groceries as they browse through aisles has now been trialled by thousands of shoppers – but not everyone is so sure about it.
Some have thrown their support behind the tech, saying it's "easy" and allowed them to speed up their shop, but others claimed it "took much longer" than they thought to get the job done, with one elderly shopper even describing it as "infuriating".
Unveiling the Australian-first trial earlier this month, Woolworths said the tech effectively shifts the checkout process to the moment you pull items off the shelf, with trolleys keeping a tally of all the products placed into it so customers can quickly pay on the way out.
It's meant to save time at the checkout, while also potentially helping customers to budget better and trim costs.
The scheme is being trialled in Woolworths' Windsor store in Sydney's north-west, before it is more broadly rolled out. Speaking to Yahoo News Australia, Woolworths Managing Director Faye IIhan earlier said the new Scan&Go system "is a market-leading innovation".
It's also been reported Coles will follow suit, however a company spokesperson told Yahoo on Thursday they don't currently have plans to adopt the technology.
Woolworths customers divided over 'market-leading' new tech
A little over two weeks since its debut, shoppers appear torn over whether it's actually enhanced their grocery shopping experience. Sydney customer Jenny Wergeltof said she wasn't convinced by the new system.
"It wasn't as easy as just doing my normal shop ... It took much longer than I thought it would," she told 7News. "Part of that was finding the products, but then it was also that you have to scan and lean over and just checking all the time."
Another elderly shopper went as far as saying it "infuriated" her. "I like my human contact," the woman said. While on the other end of the spectrum, a young customer boasted that she thought the tablets were "just so easy" to use, suggesting there might be a generational divide when it comes to shoppers embracing the new system.
"I'll try anything that makes it quick," another man said.
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One hurdle is the fact that, while an overwhelming majority of products on shelves do have a barcode on them, the trolleys will not be able to record produce that requires weighing. But despite the seemingly mixed response from shoppers on the ground, Woolworths said the rollout had actually exceeded early expectations.
"While it's been in use for just over a week, the launch of our Scan&Go trolley has exceeded expectations," a spokesperson told Yahoo. "Customers are saying the trolley is saving them time and the ability to see a running total of their shop means it's helping them better manage their budget."
Woolworths says staff will conduct random checks of people shopping to make sure people don't exploit the system to steal. The company told Yahoo the new technology won't impact employment.
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