Budget supermarket giant Lidl has sparked some controversy by introducing a bold new initiative at its self-checkout stations: bidding farewell to cash payments.
Lidl is spreading the word about these changes with signs popping up in select stores declaring: “Self-checkouts are now card-only. You can still use cash at the till.”
This move follows the store’s adoption of self-service checkouts in 2017, slowly leading to fewer manned registers. Shoppers not ready to ditch their bills and coins need not worry; the traditional tills attended by staff will remain cash-friendly for now.
Some argue that cash payments are dying away anyway, while others want the anonymity and accessibility of cash payments.
This gradual embrace of electronic transactions echoes actions taken by other retail players, highlighting examples like Tesco turning 40 of its eateries into card-centric spaces last August and Asda boasting an array of around 82 completely cash-free stores, as well as 267 petrol services operating exclusively on pay-at-pump.
Despite the modern shift, this issue stirs up debate as some critics warn of the stealthy march towards a ‘cashless society,’ potentially marginalizing those less tech-savvy or financially stable. There’s also a buzz among consumers and workers alike worried over potential job losses and reduced assistance at checkout points.
In response to the concerns raised, Lidl assures that there’ll always be a friendly face and a manned register ready for anyone needing to exchange cold hard cash or requiring additional help.
A Lidl spokesperson said, “It’s always our aim to ensure that our shoppers have the most positive shopping experience when visiting one of our stores. That’s why we pay really close attention to what they want and how they like to shop. Whilst the self-checkouts across our estate are a mix of card only and cash/card, we make sure that in stores where there is a clear customer preference for paying cash, we have that option available for them.”
They added, “At the same time, all of our manned tills take cash and in stores with card only self-checkouts, we will always have a manned till available with colleagues on hand to support.”