Self service at the checkout

Linwood's Anzhelika Sarehkoua is a dab hand at putting her groceries through the supermarket scanner. Picture / Christchurch Star

A Christchurch supermarket has launched the country's first four self-checkout systems, allowing customers to scan and pack their own groceries.

"People are taking to it like a duck to water", said checkout assistant Carol Kirk.

Customers have the choice of using the self-checkout or the traditional system.

More than 1.3 million shoppers visit the local supermarket more than three or four times a week, for a "mini shop".

Jiale Zhou, from New Brighton, said he would probably use it again.

He said it was better than waiting in a queue.

Anzhelika Sarehkova, from Linwood, looked as if she had done it before, as it was so easy. She said it was very helpful.

But there certainly will not be any stealing or underage purchasing tolerated. The system freezes if an item is put on the scales where the open carry bags sit, before it has been scanned.

"The beauty is that it allows the customer to sort that out," said Pak'N Save group manager Tim Donaldson.

A service desk monitored all the tills, also picking up when someone bought alcohol or cigarettes, requesting age identification.

"What people like about it is that they are doing it themselves," said Mr Donaldson. He said people liked privacy, and controlling their own transactions. "I got quite intrigued," said customer Jack Stedman, from Cashmere. He said it would be good once he got the hang of it.

Self service director for NCR Geoff Evison said the self-checkouts were about $25,000 each, depending on how many a supermarket bought.

"There's always going to be a need for assistance," he said, so the number of checkout staff would not be decreased with the introduction of the self- checkouts.

"It's ideal for the quick trips."