Check it out: Morrisons bring back staffed tills as customers avoid self-service
SUPERMARKET Morrisons is installing 1,000 new manned checkouts as research shows two-thirds of shoppers avoid self-scan services.
Manned tills are popular with two thirds of shoppers whereas self-service ones frustrate customers
Customers blame the fear of holding up queues by setting off the “unidentified item in the bagging area” announcement.
The study found that 60 per cent of us always opt for a manned till at the end of our shop.
And it could be because we love to chat. Some 96 per cent of those who use staffed checkouts said they much preferred having someone to talk to.
One in seven even choose traditional tills so they can share a joke with the checkout staff.
Morrisons is now bringing back its 10 items or fewer staffed tills due to popular demand.
The average basket contains 11 items worth ?15.
More than 1,000 of the express checkouts will return to their more than 500 stores nationwide to give shoppers a quick and personalised service.
Two new checkouts will open in each store – one to stay in service throughout the day, the second for peak times.
Chief executive David Potts said: “We’re listening hard to our customers and responding quickly wherever possible.
If customers from time to time do smaller shops they want to get in and out of our stores quickly.
“We are responding by introducing express checkouts.
These – and our very helpful colleagues – will offer a quick and personal service, helping to keep queues low and improving thousands of shopping trips.”
We’re listening hard to our customers and responding quickly wherever possible. If customers from time to time do smaller shops they want to get in and out of our stores quickly.
Morrisons’ survey also revealed that shoppers’ favourite times to use the 10 items or fewer tills is noon to 2pm and 4pm to 6pm.
Mum-of-three Justine Mendham, 47, said she gets frustrated when she uses self-service tills but feels she has to if she has only a few items.
The secretary, from Basingstoke, Hants, said: “When I’ve got only a few bits of shopping, I feel like I’ve got to use the self-scan tills but they’re incredibly annoying.
“They frustrate me and I get flustered and then feel like I’m holding up the queue.
I’m terrified when they then start talking to me as if I’ve done something wrong and I tend to freeze.
“Having a shop worker instead is comforting and makes it easier.”