British shoppers have mixed feelings about the self-service checkouts that have become common in UK supermarkets in recent years.
While these machines can offer a quick payment option for those with fewer items, they often cause frustration when they fail to register grocery weights correctly, forcing customers to seek assistance from store employees.
Recently, however, some Tesco shoppers have expressed a different concern – the self-service tills are allegedly too loud. Do you share this view?
Several customers have described the automated voice as sometimes “screaming” at them, with one admitting the sound is the primary reason they avoid Tesco entirely.
This follows a post shared on X that has attracted over 200,000 views, stating: “Tesco self checkout are TOO LOUD. Hear ye hear ye [customer name] club card has been accepted. So uncouth.”
A response to this post read: “I never go to Tesco for this reason.”
Another account commented: “Being outed with the APPROVAL NEEDED declaration is always fun.”
One user wrote: “No genuinely I never go into a tesco but the one time I did I was like why are you screaming at me.”
Another shared their experience: “Announcing to the whole store that I need an adult just bc I dared swipe a can of Monster at the self checkout.”
A shopper observed: ” Idk how staff on self serve at any supermarket don’t go loco being shouted at by robots nonstop.”
A separate user agreed: “It must drive the staff absolutely mental.”
Newsquest has reached out to Tesco for a statement.
What are the new self-service tills at Tesco?
Last year, Tesco introduced “VAR-style” self-service checkouts across its UK stores, following the approach taken by Sainsbury’s.
The updated system was rolled out in Tesco locations during spring 2025, incorporating a camera that monitors customers as they scan and pack their groceries.
If items are scanned incorrectly, playback footage is displayed to shoppers along with messages such as: “It looks like that last item didn’t scan.”
In May, customers were quick to share their opinions, with one previously stating on X: “Shouldn’t have to do these sort of things today in society.”
Another commented: “Just bring back staffed tills – simple option.”
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A Tesco spokesperson informed Newsquest: “We are always looking at technology to make life easier for our customers.
“We have recently installed a new system at some stores which helps customers using self-service checkouts identify if an item has not been scanned properly, making the checkout process quicker and easier.”
What are your thoughts on Tesco’s self-service checkouts currently? Please share your opinions in the comments below if you believe any modifications are necessary.