03 February 2025 , 20:46
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Almost two in five people have failed to scan at least one item when using self-checkout machines.
That’s according to research for The Grocer, which commissioned a survey of more than 1,000 people who use self-checkouts.
It found only 63% of shoppers said they "never" failed to scan an item, meaning 37% have.
The survey, by Toluna Harris Interactive, also found:
A third (32.5%) admitted to weighing loose items incorrectly;
38% had put through an incorrect loose item;
54.2% prefer self-checkouts to staffed checkouts;
Just 29.8% would rather go to staffed checkouts.
Lucia Juliano, the UK head of research and client success at Harris Interactive, said they were "surprised" 37% admitted to failing to scan an item, citing men and shoppers under 35 as the biggest culprits.
She wondered if it could be put down to user or system error, but associate professor for criminology at the University of Leicester Matt Hopkins said: "This move to self-scan and self-checkout has created a new breed of shoplifter.
"You’re creating opportunities for people who otherwise wouldn’t even think about shoplifting."