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Self-serve checkouts open at Woolies

Posted on June 9, 2009, 7:07am

A new experience in grocery shopping arrived in Mount Gambier on Saturday when Woolworths opened six self-service checkouts.

The six checkouts are part of a $5m upgrade to the store that is due for completion in August.

Woolworths Mount Gambier store manager Adam Fosdike said self-serve checkouts were a convenient option for customers.

“Elsewhere we’ve had tremendously positive feedback from shoppers who have used them,” Mr Fosdike said.

“I’m delighted Woolworths are able to bring them to the people of Mount Gambier.”

The checkout lets customers scan, weigh and pay for their own groceries quickly and easily using cash, credit or debit cards.

It will even dispense mobile phone top up vouchers and provide cash withdrawals.

Shopper Kirsty Mudge said using the self-service checkouts for the first time on Saturday was a unique experience.

“It felt a bit funny going through and doing it all yourself,” Ms Mudge said.

“I think it’s a great idea and I’m happy we get to see it here.

“I’ve seen the self-service checkouts interstate and know people who use them all the time, so this will certainly help make shopping a bit easier, especially when the store is really busy.”

The checkouts feature animated instructions and voice prompts.

At least one member of staff will always be stationed close by to talk customers through the technology or to help out if assistance is required.

“In the stores where this technology has been introduced, customers have really embraced it and its popularity has far exceeded our expectations, with approximately one third of all transactions going through the self-serve checkouts,” Mr Fosdike said.

“Of course they will never fully replace standard or express checkouts, but they are certainly a handy alternative for the busy shopper.”

In addition to the new checkouts, the 2863sq metre store is undergoing a new design and layout.

When the store upgrade is completed, it will have wider aisles, reduced clutter and a softer colour palette.

The fruit and vegetable section will also have a new and contemporary look, moving away from the white, bright and stark colour schemes.

“We are looking forward to providing the Mount Gambier community with a fresh outlook on shopping,” Mr Fosdike said.

“Woolworths customers will have a quicker, more enjoyable shopping experience as a result of the refurbishments.”

The store currently employs 170 people and this number will increase to 180 when the renovations are complete.

ADAM BLOM

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Comments

8 Responses to “Self-serve checkouts open at Woolies”

  1. the diplomat on June 10th, 2009 9:47 am 1

    The diplomat thinks we need to read between the lines. This is not about convienence but about boosting profits for an unethical company. Yes they are spending money to do this but they will save millions across the nation over the years by not paying for checkout staff and their benfits and entitlements. For the amount of profit margin they have and the way they opress rural Australia, I expect service. I wonder how many other service cutbacks and “convienence” programs will be planned. Enquiry touchscreens instead of an enquiries desk??

  2. Ebony Jackson on June 10th, 2009 1:46 pm 2

    I wonder if the diplomat has noticed touchscreens in pharmacies, job network kiosks in Centrelink, tourist information bays and so on.

    Moving with the current times and events is better than being stuck in time.

    Change happens and we have to accommodate and adopt new ideas and procedures.

    If we don’t get get with how things are now … we might as well not bother getting out of bed each day.

  3. Maybe on June 10th, 2009 2:01 pm 3

    pfft, think that’s bad. How about Telstra BigPond’s help line with a recorded voice that tells you to unplug and plug it back in again, then get’s snooty when it has trouble understanding you.

    at least with a self serve checkout I can pack my own bags so that the eggs aren’t on the bottom! :P

  4. the diplomat on June 10th, 2009 2:06 pm 4

    The diplomat has never been unemployed. I know there are touch screens in the places you mentioned and it is good except I am not paying directly for those things. In a supermarket and other service industries I expect service. If woolies want to take away service then they can lower their prices in exchange though this will never happen. I am not against the technology, I am against the motives — it is not to make more convience as in a pharmacy or tourism kiosk — Woolies motives are different. They are purely putting profits before service. Remember when pizza hut used to serve you with real waitresses’? Then they made it a ‘self serve’ place and their profits skyrocketed because they had less people to pay and give benefits too. I am all for technology but should we not question the motives of a corporation like Woolies or just accept the spoon full of sugar method?

    “Moving with the current times and events is better than being stuck in time.” — great quote but were you not one of the first to criticize the main street development??

  5. Ebony Jackson on June 10th, 2009 4:33 pm 5

    No I did not criticise — think you have me confused with someone else?
    I am all for new development.

  6. the diplomat on June 10th, 2009 5:29 pm 6

    The Diplomat accepts your right of rebuttal and apologizes for the last part of his previous comment. However the diplomat stands by his views of the motivation behind Woolworths decision. I wonder if other stores like dvd rental shops will follow.

  7. Jaydos on June 12th, 2009 12:57 am 7

    Diplomat, could you elaborate a bit more on /why/ you believe Woolies motives are bad? I suspect their motives are bad too, but why exactly?
    I went in there tonight and noticed they have “confectionary free” checkouts for parents who don’t want to drag their kids past the lollies and whatever… Surely that’s not in the company’s financial interests… I suppose they figure they will get more people as parents go there over Coles etc. where they don’t have these checkouts but it still seems a pretty morally responsible thing to do.
    On the other hand, there was that story about the Tasmanian pig farm that supplies Woolies recently. It got busted for the most disgusting, filthy animal cruelty, and Woolies reaction was weak at best.

  8. the diplomat on June 12th, 2009 8:40 pm 8

    I have never attended a share meeting but public companies do not serve the community — they serve the investors and it is not even the mum and dad investors but it is the big boys. If Woolies took away 5 staff from every store it would reap millions. I believe they are going to focus a lot harder on the consumer where as before they focussed on the suppliers. There has been a global trend in big companies with this style as many suppliers are already absolutely shafted and are breaking even or making very small profits. Big companies will now try the consumer end to increase profits and if they cant do it through a price rise they will do it another way. It is funny how Woolies have told farmers they will pay them less because of the drought yet then they inflate the prices at the store and then tell the consumer that it is because of the drought — Double whammy of margin for them. Then they make those stupid ads to convince us they care about us.
    No company is above reproach or questioning from the th epublic — especially public listed companies. We are free to question our Govt. and corporation is not different though they think they are. I hope their motives are pure and maybe I am cynical and have spent too much time in political science and international development circles, but I am using my right to ask the question. If more people asked questions regarding the motives and actions of big business then the global crisis may have been lessened or even stopped.

    I am not a shareholder but I would love to see documentation on this decision and how much money they believe it will add to their bottom line.