Supermarket shopper insists we've all been using self-checkout machines wrong
The shopper has shared a self-service till hack
A supermarket shopper has gone viral with a video to say we've all been using self-checkout machines wrong - but others issued a warning over the 'hack'.
For most people using the machines, all it takes is a quick tap and go with our cards or phone and we're on our way, but for others it provides the perfect opportunity to get rid of some loose change. If you're using a weighty bag of coins to pay for your shop, a video posted on TikTok by @Wicked_boss_babe claims to be able to save you a lot of time at the checkout.
The video, captioned: "Was today years old when I learned this', shows someone feeding coins into the machine one at a time through the narrow slot, adding 'How I've been doing it". But it then states: "How you should do it' and the coin flap is lifted up to reveal a far larger hole hidden underneath where the customer is able to throw in entire handfuls of coins in one go."
It instructs: "You can add change until the green arrow goes off. Then wait for it to count." The video racked up more than five million views, appearing to have been filmed at US chain Walmart and UK viewers wanted to find out if it could work in other shops. A Tesco worker then filmed a response the video, walking over to the self-checkout machines and successful lifting up the coin slot covering as shown in the original clip.
Some people were left stunned by the revelation, as one wrote: "Could have saved me a lot of time with my £3 worth of 2ps." And a second said: "Nahhh we've been struggling for no reason." But others claimed it wasn't a wise idea to try the shortcut, as one person argued: "DON'T DO THIS the cover was put on there to stop the coins being jammed. People like you will be the ones complaining when it miscounts your money." And another viewer simply said what everyone was thinking, adding: "I can't remember the last time I used a coin to pay for anything."
A version of this article first appeared in June 2021.