Self-service checkouts have already become an inseparable part of many retail chains. And while they’re extremely convenient both for a store that can employ fewer people while still offering more open checkouts, and for customers with small purchases, some outlets are forced to give up on this idea due to from the scourge of theft. The best example of this problem is the Aldi chain of stores in Germany and the worrying statistics from the Netherlands. There is also more and more talk about regulation in this area in Poland, because the current law is not fully adapted to the current situation.
Self-checkouts are the bane of theft
An example is an Aldi store in Cologne, Germany, which abandoned such a solution, which is said to be caused by numerous thefts of goods. According to reports, customers often pack products there and leave without paying the bill.. Bread is the most stolen commodity there. Anonymous callers suggest the thefts may be caused by students from a nearby school. It should be added, however, that the spokesperson for the chain of stores does not confirm that these two problems are linked in any way.
In February, the Dutch police published a report on the increase in shoplifting. According to the report, the number of thefts has increased by around 30% compared to last year. According to experts, this is due to self-service checkouts which are becoming increasingly popular in Dutch supermarkets. These machines allow customers to scan and pay for products themselves without the need for a traditional cash register and cashier service. However, less control over customers using self-checkouts can lead to an increased possibility of theft.. According to a study conducted by the University of Leicester, some customers feel unpunished and are tempted to steal products, which results from the lack of control over the checkout process at self-service checkouts.
Self-service checkouts aren’t just intentional theft
A similar problem also arises in Poland, although we do not have specific statistics here. It should also be added that sometimes in the case of a self-service checkout, involuntary thefts occur. For example, they knew the shopping routine, we won’t even notice that our card was not read correctly, and we’ll pack the groceries and go to the exit. Another problem is unintentional cheating, i.e. mistakenly deleting a different type of rolls or fruit. Of course, there are also those who purposely give incorrect information at checkout.
The editorial staff of Business Insider asked the Polish branch of Aldi if it also plans similar activities to its German counterpart, if necessary… but on our soil the problem does not really exist. Not because we have such law-abiding citizens, but because according to information provided by BI, unlike other chain stores, no Polish Aldi has a self-service checkout yet. Aldi representatives explain this decision and at the same time comment on the possibility of a future change.
Today, our main focus is on professional and direct customer service and improving its standards. We analyze the possibilities and look for solutions that will offer customers the greatest shopping comfort and allow the optimization of the payment process.
Self-service checkouts – The deputy has an idea to solve the problem
MP Jarosław Sachajko from Kukiz’15 asked the Minister of Justice for an interpellation on fraud at self-service checkouts. He underlined that the absence of precise regulations on fraud makes it difficult to qualify the author’s act legally. In case of fraud at the cash register operated by a store employee, the perpetrator commits an act prohibited by art. 286 (generally § 3) of the Criminal Code, i.e. the crime of fraud.
However, in the case of self-service checkouts, where it is not possible to visually check the goods, it is difficult to establish a legal qualification, and the perpetrator is treated more leniently than in the case of cashier fraud operated by a store employee. However, given the accidental errors, which would be corrected by an employee at the checkout, one can have mixed feelings about the idea proposed by the MP.
Source: banker.pl, mynederlandia.pl, money.pl, Twitter