Major retailer to roll out self-checkouts to 100 more stores and it’ll divide shoppers

A MAJOR retailer has revealed a plan to roll out self checkouts to more than 100 stores - and its proving divisive with shoppers.

Homeware experts Dunelm will have unveiled the new till systems in more than half of its UK stores by the end of 2026.

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Dunelm announced the move in a financial update to shareholders, explaining it was focused on "harnessing our operational capabilities".

It has since revealed that trials had been held for 12 months and generated positive feedback.

A Dunelm spokesperson said: “We have been trialling assisted self-service tills in a number of our stores over the past year, receiving some very good feedback from customers who have welcomed the ease, speed and convenience of this option.

"As a result, we will be rolling out to more stores in our estate in the future. We continue to offer regular tills across all our stores should customers prefer this option.”

Despite the store's claims, self service checkouts have long proved divisive for consumers.

Dunelm's Taunton store was among the first to see the new systems installed and a report in the local press attracted varied comments.

One reader said: "I will not be using them! I very much disagree with upper management's underhand way of getting rid of staff so they get more money in their salary and they very rarely work properly anyway."

When the news was first revealed another shopper said they "hate" self service tills and wanted "just regular" ones instead.

Another customer said they would only use it if they were given "a discount for doing someone's job".

While a third person said they "absolutely" hate them too.

Last month the boss of Booths supermarkets admitted that its customers were happier after the business took the decision to remove self-checkouts from stores.

Previously released data from The Grocer revealed that the checkouts could see service satisfaction scores fall by as much as 8%.

Last year, Asda also said it will put more staff on the tills as part of a £30m investment to get customers back in stores.

But, despite some negative reviews other stores are increasing their use of self checkouts.

Sainsbury's is currently testing a giant hybrid self-scan till with a scanner on a moving conveyor belt.

This would give shoppers more space to scan and pack bigger trolleys.

Primark has also introduced self scanning tills across a number of its stores, alongside Zara and Berskha.

A full list of the Dunelm stores to receive the self-checkouts has yet to be revealed.

If you want to dodge the self checkouts, you may want to consider using scan as you go technology.

Scan as you go systems are the latest addition to the supermarket shopping experience with several retailers making them a permanent feature in big stores.

They allow customers to scan as they browse, either using their smartphone or a handheld device.

Then most shops allow you to check out at a completely different area to other shoppers, saving time in queues.

It means that shoppers can keep track of how much they're spending as they go around the aisles, allowing you to budget and stick to your list.

It also means that you can bag your groceries as you wander around too - saving you even more time.

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