Frustration with self-service checkouts has led to a third of British shoppers swearing at these machines. Have you reached the end of your tether with a self-service checkout?
Around eight in 10 people have used a self-service checkout in the last few months, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they aren’t bleeping annoying.
Our survey of more than 7,000 Brits found that a third get loose with the f-word when they use self-service checkouts.
Throwing out the f-bombs
Sometimes when I hear ‘unexpected item in the bagging area’, all I want to say back is ‘I’ll give you an unexpected item in your bagging area!’ But then, I’m not one for public displays of anger. I try to remain stoic when I’m out shopping, and if I have one tip to share, it’s that listening to a few tunes on my headphones is enough to calm me down and drown out the drones of these machines.
Of course, not everyone f’s and blinds. Instead, more than a quarter of Brits just shout at self-service checkouts, while half admit to having talked back to one. There’s something wrong with the world if we’re talking back to machines, but maybe that’s better than our fellow humans bearing the brunt of our swears.
Why use machines?
Still, if so many of us find these machines so frustrating, why do we bother using them? Well, according to our survey, it’s mainly for convenience. Nearly half think self-service checkouts are quicker and easier to use than normal checkouts, and 27% prefer to use the machines so that they don’t have to deal with staff!
Are you a fan of self-service checkouts? Have you ever lost your temper with them?
Do you hate supermarket self-service checkouts?
Yes, I don't like using them (63%, 1,753 Votes)
No, they're speedy and convenient. (32%, 880 Votes)
I don't know, I've never used one. (5%, 131 Votes)
Total Voters: 2,767
