Woolworths introduces new feature at self-serve checkouts

Woolworths shoppers were shocked by the grocery giant’s new self-serve checkout machines, but the move has already divided customers who say the supermarket giant needs to hire workers.

A video uploaded on Saturday showed the new machines which feature larger bagging spaces and room to park a small trolley over the unloading area.

‘Woolies upped the game for self-serve registers,’ a caption posted with video said.

The video received a round of support from commenters who were glad Woolies had ‘finally’ updated their system.

‘My Woolies has self-serve conveyors as well as these,’ one person wrote.

‘Had them in NZ for three years now… you guys finally leaving the dark ages?,’ another said.

However, other commentators compared the new machines to Coles’ updated self-service system, which features conveyor belts and a larger area to pack and reload, and pointed out the remaining system flaws.

‘Do we get a staff discount since we do it ourselves,’ one commenter wrote.

‘Coles have better ones. Clamps to hold bags. Large area. Continuously scan without waiting,’ another said.

Several commenters under the video showing Woolworths’s new machines said they were glad the grocery giant is ‘finally’ updating its self-service system

‘That’s right mate, they up the game at self service by sticking a face recognition camera in your face,’ another wrote. 

‘Can they stop with the you haven’t put the item in the bag ! I put the item in the damn bag,’ another said.

‘Boycott the job killers!,’ another wrote.

A Woolworths spokesperson said: ‘We’re always cooking up new and better ways to give our customers the most convenient shopping experience, upping our game with larger self service checkouts is just one of them’.