Companies don’t like self-checkout anymore
Listen to the story (Canadian accent)
Shops put in self-checkout machines to save money and make shopping quick for customers. But the machines aren’t working well. Customers need help at the self-checkout machines. So, shops still need workers.
Self-checkout machines were very expensive for shops. But, some shops are changing. In the US, the shop Target only lets people with a few items use self-checkout. Walmart uses less self-checkout machines because people steal. In the UK, Booths uses less machines because they are slow.
In 2022, Dollar General in the US added many self-checkout machines. But now, they want to get more workers.
Also, more people steal from shops with self-checkout.
Shops hoped to save money with self-checkout machines, but they don’t. But some shops will keep the machines because they were very expensive.
Vocabulary11 words
- Put in
- To place or install something; to put something somewhere
- Self-checkout
- A machine in a shop where you scan and pay for your own items without shop staff
- Save
- To keep or preserve something; to collect and hold for a long time; to keep something, especially money, for use in the future; to prevent time, money, or effort being wasted or spent
- Customer
- A person who buys things from a store
- Worker
- A person who does a job; employee; staff
- Let
- allow; give permission to; say OK
- Item
- a single object or thing; one piece; a product
- Steal
- to take something without permission; to take something that’s not yours; rob
- Add
- To include or put more of something; + plus;
- Hope
- something good that you want to happen in the future; a confident feeling about what will happen in the future; wish
- Keep
- To continue doing something; to continue to hold
Fill-in-the-blank listening
Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.
Shops put in self-checkout _____ to save money and make shopping quick for customers. _____ the machines aren’t working well. Customers _____ help at the self-checkout machines. So, shops still need _____.
Self-checkout machines were _____ expensive for shops. But, some shops are changing. In the US, the shop Target _____ lets people with a few items use self-checkout. Walmart uses _____ self-checkout machines because people steal. In the UK, Booths _____ less machines because they are slow.
In 2022, Dollar General in the US _____ many self-checkout machines. But now, they want to get more _____.
Also, more people steal from _____ with self-checkout.
Shops hoped to save money with self-checkout machines, but they _____. But some shops will keep the machines because they _____ very expensive.
Discussion questions
- Do you like using self-checkout machines when you go shopping? Why or why not?
- What do you think about shops changing their rules for self-checkout, like Target only letting people with a few items to use it?
- Do you think self-checkout machines are a good idea for shops to save money? Why or why not?
- Have you ever needed help at a self-checkout machine? What happened? Why do some people need help?
More Business stories
Next story · Easy
China suggests large Gaza peace conference