Greenwich supermarket scraps idea of zero checkouts at concept store
A trial shop in Greenwich from supermarket chain Aldi has seen the company make changes to its no-checkout layout.
Upon opening in 2022 customers would tap in when entering, pick up items and leave without using a checkout as numerous cameras around the shop recorded items picked up.
It doesn’t appear to have been a great success as no other stores in the format appeared and now self-checkouts have been installed.
The shop has recently closed while the refit took place.
Aldi have also removed the requirement to tap in upon entering with a £10 charge levied. That then stayed on the customer’s account for up to a week if not spent.
Nice bit of interest for Aldi if thousands did it; less good for the customer.
No checkouts
The idea of walking in and out without needing to use a checkout was en vogue a few years back with Amazon launching Fresh stores and Tesco opening their first till-less shop in 2021.
Sainsbury’s too launched a store in Holborn but reverted back to a traditional layout this year.
Amazon closed three such shops in 2023 just two years after opening.
My only experience in an Amazon Fresh was a hassle. I popped in, saw the high prices, noped out and when I went to leave the security guard wanted me to walk all the way to the other side of the shop to exit. No thanks.
This is good news. That concept was never going to work in stores to be honest. Self checkouts arw an Improvement on the scheme they replaced. But what is wrong with having cashiers sitting on checkouts providing a service to customers including the elderly disabled and other people who struggle to use self service checkouts. Technology is good but thete will always be people tbat will not be able to use them and need to use a staffed checkout.
I went to that Aldi when it still had tap to enter and saw the £10 thing. I asked the staff member lurking nearby what if I don’t buy anything and didn’t get a satisfactory answer. I decided to just leave. I agree with KM that there needs to be a return to staffed tills instead of having self-checkouts that need constant molly-coddling.
It’s not that clear, but the no checkout shopping has not been ditched.
Now everyone goes through the gate to get in, no card or app needed. (Better than before)
You can continue to put items in your bag and then scan the app’s QR code on exit.
Or you can take items to the self till and scan them if you want and pay like any other local supermarket.
So absolutely perfect for everyone. But once you get used to just taking items and walking out, you don’t want to go to a normal shop !!!
So maybe an edit to the article headline ?
I see headline is fixed. The Murky Depths is a great news site. Thanks Martin
Exactly! The convenience of the smart shop is still there. But now there is also an option for those who aren’t yet comfortable with it. I also felt the title was misleading – I think it’s good ALDI kept the old model (which I love) but also addressed its issues like the £10 charge or forcing people who might only use the shop once in their lifetime to download the app. They haven’t ditched the model, they just adapted! 😁
I will not use a self service checkout if I can at all help it. We need cashiers on tills not only they provide a service for people who are unable to use the self service checkouts. They self service checkouts slow checking put down as you wait forever for a member of staff to come to your assistance when the red light flashing as the self service checkout does not recognise an item. cannot read the barcode etc etc.
We need to see more staffed checkouts and mote staff on the shop floor in supermarkets and stores generally..
I liked the no check out set up personally
Working in the Payments industry, I can shed a little light on the £10 hold…
The hold would be a pre-authorisation. No money is paid to Aldi, but your bank would earmark £10 of your money to be paid later to Aldi. Banks will wipe that earmark if you pay Aldi, or will time out after a week.
Now for the bad news. Even if you do spend at Aldi, and they ask the Bank to release your funds, the get do choose when they do it, as long as it is within a week!
So nobody is making any extra profit, but neither can you spend your own money anywhere else!