Grocery store owner ditches self-checkout in defiant move as other chains replace cashiers with machines

A grocery store owner has shared how he ditched self-checkout kiosks in favor of a more sociable exchange.

Giant Eagle boss Jeff Galmarini ditched machines in favor of more human interactions between shoppers and employees.

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Jeff added that the supermarket’s machines in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, were outdated and would likely lead to congested lines as customers waited to pay.

“It’s rare that when you walk into a store all the checkouts are open,” Galmarini told The Rocket.

“Sales increase dramatically when students come back. We want to focus on service.”

Owner Jeff has also explored the idea of ​​placing an employee at either end of each register to scan and bag groceries for customers.

This would allow an employee to be on hand if a problem occurs in one of the lanes.

Interestingly, 75% of students surveyed said they would be more likely to return to the store if self-checkout lanes were open.

Most said they prefer an express shopping experience without the hassle of interactions.

However, others said they preferred Jeff’s approach because it eliminates the wait time waiting for more experienced shoppers to scan all of their items.

It was previously revealed that retailers who install self-checkouts could be hit with a new fee of $5,000 per kiosk, as authorities decry rising prices and job losses.

The plan is to hit businesses with an annual tax – particularly those that have taken away human cashiers.

Devon Reid, the eighth council member, proposed the tax during a meeting in the city of Evanston in Cook County, Illinois.

If passed, the tax could be used to provide training and outreach programs for local youth, he suggested.

“The aim is to utilize this revenue and provide youth with jobs in small businesses,” he added.