One of the most valued aspects by Trader Joe’s customers, in their shopping experience, is customer service. The entire staff of each store is always smiling, friendly and helps you find everything you need without a single second’s hesitation. In addition, the stores of this famous Californian retailer chain are beautifully decorated, warm and easy to navigate, without too much trickery to catch you. They are only top quality products at incredibly low prices. But there’s a thing about its stores: they don’t have any self-checkout stations.
And you will understand that Trader Joe’s is one of the nicest places to work in the retail sector in the United States, with stores that are unionized and employees with pretty good salaries. Not only that, but also their labor rights are respected by the company. Because of this, employees feel at ease and that is transmitted to customers. You can feel that good energy as soon as you enter the stores. Again, you won’t see any automated self-checkout kiosk, and that’s an interest thing to discuss.
Trader Joe’s Have Made a Decision About Adding Self-Checkout Machines to Its Stores
While other retailers, such as Walmart and Target, have implemented self-checkout machines, which have been known to reduce employment opportunities, Trader Joe’s has taken a different movement. Tara Miller, the vice president of marketing at Trader Joe’s, emphasized the company’s dedication to hiring and retaining staff rather than replacing them with machines.
In a recent episode of the Inside Trader Joe’s podcast, Miller explained that “our people remain our most valued resource,” and that the company has continued to hire more crew members. In the other hand, other retailers have cut staff and added self-checkout machines, curbside pickup, and outsourcing delivery options.
And costumers seem to agree with this approach about employees: everybody loves them, and it’s practically unthinkable for a Trader Joe’s worker to quick looking forward to moving to some other retailer chain.
Not Everyone Is Happy About Trader Joe’s Not Adding Self-Checkout Machines
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the increased use of AI and robots has led to concerns about technological displacement in certain occupations, including cashiers. The BLS has predicted a 7.4 percent decline in cashier positions by 2029 due to the rise of self-checkout machines.
Despite these predictions, Trader Joe’s decision not to implement self-checkout machines has garnered praise from some. Nick Mueller, the director of operations at Hawaiianislands.com, notes that self-checkout kiosks were initially intended to serve customers with only a few items, but the increased use of these machines has resulted in longer wait times for all customers. Mueller applauds Trader Joe’s for prioritizing the customer experience by hiring more staff instead of relying on automation.
However, not everyone agrees with Trader Joe’s decision. Some argue that self-checkout machines are efficient and cost-effective alternatives to human cashiers. Josh Snead, the CEO of Rainwalk Pet Insurance, believes that the company may be making a mistake by not incorporating self-checkout machines into their stores, as they provide a quick and convenient option for those who do not want to interact with a cashier.