Tesco’s introduction of its new Scan As You Shop (SAYS) checkouts has sparked a debate among British shoppers, with some describing the high-tech system as “creepy” and “dystopian.”
A man in Newcastle recently noticed three new checkouts installed at the Gateshead Tesco, revealing that the system appears to weigh customers’ trolleys once they’ve completed shopping.
While some customers welcomed the innovation, praising its convenience, others were unsettled by the change, comparing it to airport security and questioning whether it was too far from traditional, staffed checkouts.
The SAYS system, currently being trialled in select Tesco stores across the UK, allows shoppers to pick up a handheld scanner upon entering.
Customers scan items as they add them to their trolley or basket, and once they finish shopping, they can pay directly without going through self-checkout kiosks or staffed tills.
As part of the system, customers may be randomly selected for a “service check,” during which a Tesco staff member verifies that all items have been scanned correctly.
Additionally, reports suggest that the new checkouts weigh trolleys to ensure the total weight matches the items recorded.
This aspect of the system has raised concerns among some shoppers. One person questioned its accuracy, saying: “(Who) knows how that will work when it would have to be sensitive enough to work for like birthday cards and also have enough variance for different bags people use, coat hangers, product weight, etc.”
Others likened the checkouts to airport security, pointing out their similarity to ePassport gates. “Am I at border control or Tesco?” one shopper joked.
One added: “A very dystopian feel, hoping that the general public will vote with their feet.”
Another quipped: “Come for the shopping, stay for the full body scan! Wtf.” A third added: “Are those the gates for the new Heathrow runway?”
Someone else humorously referred to the system as: “TSA Tesco Security Administration.” Another shopper joked: “Better get the Tesco Passport ready.”
Beyond the humour, some customers voiced concerns about accessibility and the accuracy of the technology.
One person commented: “Those floor scales are going to cause headaches. Especially as supermarkets are not too good at the calibration of scales.”
As Tesco continues rolling out the system, reactions remain mixed, with some embracing the convenience while others remain sceptical about its practicality and potential drawbacks.
