Moral perception also plays a role. Barbara Staib, director of communications for the National Association for Shoplifting Prevention, argues that self-checkout machines allow people who are already inclined to steal to justify their actions. “[The machines give] the false impression of anonymity,” she said. “This apparently empowers people to shoplift.”Many people would hesitate to steal from a cashier, but stealing from a machine does not feel the same.
Why Are Retailers Still Using Self-Checkout?
Self-checkouts were first introduced about ten years ago and initially faced backlash from customers, leading some retailers to remove them. In recent years, however, stores have returned to them for several reasons. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, high employment made it harder to hire workers. At the same time, retailers were losing customers to online shopping, and consumers were becoming more comfortable interacting with machines.
