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Study: Gen Z Overwhelmingly Prefers Self-Checkout

Millennials, boomers and Gen X more likely to use a traditional checkout aisle or counter.

Published

2 years ago

January 26, 2024

INSTORE Staff

Study: Gen Z Overwhelmingly Prefers Self-Checkout

PHOTO: ISTOCKPHOTO

A new study commissioned by Avery Dennison (Mentor, Ohio) that polled 4000 shoppers in the U.K. and U.S. found that 52 percent of Gen Z respondents would “switch to another store if their favorite decided to get rid of self-checkout,” Inc. reports.

The preference of using self-checkout versus a counter staffed by a human among Gen Z, according to the survey findings, is driven by speed, the desire for shorter lines/wait times and a reduced amount of human interaction. Conversely, boomers, millennials and Gen X’ers would rather not interact with self-checkout stations.

Some retailers have been shifting away from the reliance on self-checkout methods, like Dollar General (Goodlettsville, Tenn.) which recently announced it would increase the amount of workers in its checkout area, or Walmart (Bentonville, Ark.), which plans to reduce the amount of in-store self-checkouts to deter theft at certain locations.

Honoring a Legacy: How Smith & Son Jewelers Exceeded Every Goal With Wilkerson

When Andrew Smith decided to close the Springfield, Massachusetts location of Smith & Son Jewelers, the decision came down to family. His father was retiring after 72 years in the business, and Andrew wanted to spend more time with his children and soon-to-arrive grandchildren. For this fourth-generation jeweler whose great-grandfather founded the company in 1918, closing the 107-year-old Springfield location required the right partner. Smith chose Wilkerson, and the experience exceeded expectations from start to finish. "Everything they told me was 100% true," Smith says. "The ease and use of all their tools was wonderful." The consultants' knowledge and expertise proved invaluable. Smith and his father set their own financial goal, but Wilkerson proposed three more ambitious targets. "We thought we would never make it," Smith explains. "We were dead wrong. We hit our first goal, second goal and third goal. It was amazing." Smith's recommendation is emphatic: "I would never be able to do what they did by myself."