🤖 The Rise of Self-Checkout – Convenience or Cost-Cutting?
Self-checkout kiosks were introduced with a promise:
“Scan. Pay. Go.”
But behind that sleek screen and robotic voice? A quiet strategy by big retailers to reduce staffing costs — sometimes by as much as 66%.
According to Dr. Sylvain Charlebois, director of Dalhousie University’s Agri-Food Analytics Lab:
“Retailers aren’t investing in convenience — they’re investing in automation that benefits their bottom line.”
Big chains like Walmart, Target, and Kroger have doubled down on self-checkout systems, reducing cashier staff and forcing consumers into a new kind of retail purgatory.
The result?
Longer lines (yes, really)
Increased stress and confusion
More false alarms and suspicion
Less human interaction when help is needed most
It’s not about speed — it’s about shifting responsibility to the customer.
🛒 The Problem With Malfunctioning Machines
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