Why this Aussie supermarket is removing ALL its self-service checkouts

A supermarket has been praised for choosing to axe all of its self-serve checkouts, despite the depressing reason behind the decision.

IGA Greenslopes, in Brisbane’s south-west, will shut down its user operated pay machines in favour of traditional manned checkouts.

The move prompted a tidal wave of support and appreciation, as disgruntled shoppers celebrated the return to old fashioned ways.

‘Great. I hate the self serving areas,’ wrote one.

IGA Greenslopes in Brisbane’s south-west, will reportedly shut down its user operated pay machines in favour of traditional manned checkouts

The move prompted a tidal wave of support and appreciation, as disgruntled shoppers celebrated the return to old fashioned ways (IGA Greenslopes is pictured)

‘I am NOT an employee of the supermarkets.’

Another fan celebrated the fact it would likely create more jobs.

‘About time, hopefully the rest of the other supermarket’s choose to do this,’ they said.

‘It’s a personal touch to be served by a person not a machine.’

Another supported the move because they ‘hate being made to feel like a criminal with those Big Brother cameras’.

‘And they are at such an unflattering angle, too,’ they added.

Many called for the bigger supermarkets, such as Woolworths, Coles and Aldi, to follow suit.

But the store’s owners are thought to have made the decision for a depressing reason.

It was implemented because of a huge surge in shoplifting, reported news.com.au.

Daily Mail Australia approached IGA Greenslopes for comment.

Retail expert Gary Mortimer told the ABC that shoplifting in Australia was costing retailers around $9 billion each year and much of it was being driven by the cost-of-living crisis.

‘There is certainly a correlation between the cost-of-living crisis and increased theft in retail stores be it supermarkets, consumer electronics or discount department stores — it is happening across the board,’ he said.

Supermarkets have introduced several new security measures, including security cameras and automatic gates, in recent months in a bid to combat the rise in shop lifting.

But this technology is often too expensive for smaller, independent stores.

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