KROGER shoppers criticized the chain for making a change to self-checkout that caused someone to threaten to go elsewhere.
Customers took to X, formerly Twitter, to express their frustration with the “frustrating” self-service machines.
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Typically, complaints about self-checkouts revolve around glitches, AI cameras, or employees with beady eyes.
However, Kroger customers highlighted the “most significant change” to in-store security measures, which they say is in the machines’ software.
“The most significant change for me is that the mean lady voice (‘put the item in the bag!!!!’) at self-checkout can no longer be silenced,” one customer said in a statement. publish in X.
“I’m constantly turning off the machine and I resolve to never go back whenever I go there.”
“I thought I couldn’t hate @kroger and their ATMs more,” another shopper previously he said.
“But the most recent version of the software removed the mute button and made it even worse at realizing when an item is or is not placed in the bag area.
“Their software is frustrating and horrible.”
“Why do 18 distance runners need to hear every item being scanned? (sic)” a third added.
“I mean, it can’t be great for the cash register people, hours of beep beep beep like a life support machine.”
This comes just days after another Kroger customer made the same demand, while also criticizing other retailers like Pick N Save and Metro Market for not having the mute feature.
Kroger responded to the request by saying feedback would be shared with leadership teams, as the buyer said it “shouldn’t be too difficult” to fix.
However, several shoppers speculated on Reddit that the reason behind the voice is to prevent shoplifting.
Therefore, it is in the retailer’s best interest to remove the mute button on self-service machines.
The retail industry is struggling with theft-related losses of more than $100 billion every year.
Self-checkouts are a key factor in this issue, according to recent data, as shoppers become more brazen when dealing with a machine.
A search of loan tree found that 69% of shoppers believe self-checkout makes theft easier, with 15% saying they have stolen at least one item.
Latest self-checkout changes
Retailers are evolving their self-checkout strategy in an effort to speed checkout times and reduce theft.
Walmart shoppers were shocked when self-checkout lanes at several locations were made available only to Walmart+ members.
Other customers reported that self-checkout was closed at specific times and more cashiers were offered in its place.
While shoppers feared that shoplifting would fuel the updates, a Walmart spokesperson revealed that store managers are simply experimenting with ways to improve checkout performance.
One bizarre experiment included an RFID-powered self-checkout kiosk that would thwart fiercely contested receipt checks.
However, this test has been discontinued.
At Target, items are being limited in auto-checkout.
Last fall, the brand researched new express self-checkout lanes in 200 stores with 10 items or less for added convenience.
In March 2024, this policy was expanded to 2,000 stores in the US.
The most worrying thing is that 44% of these people said they would do it again.
However, as retailers step up their fight against theft, they have been warned about customer resistance to in-store automation.
Earlier this month, a senior retail analyst at Software Advice spoke exclusively to The US Sun about the findings of a recent consumer survey.
O Retail Automation Survey 2024 addressed “customer pain points” with consumers in the US and Europe, focusing on automation technology, including changes to self-checkouts.
The US Sun reached out to Kroger for comment on the allegations of removing the mute function.
This story originally appeared on The-sun.com read the full story
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