IGA Greenslopes: Why this Aussie supermarket is ripping out ALL of its self-service checkouts

A supermarket has been praised for choosing to scrap all its self-service checkouts, despite the depressing reason behind the decision.

IGA Greenslopes, in Brisbane’s south-west, will close its user-operated payment terminals in favor of traditional staffed checkouts.

The move sparked a groundswell of support and appreciation, as disgruntled customers celebrated the return to old-fashioned ways.

‘Awesome. I hate the self-service areas,” wrote one.

‘I am NOT an employee of the supermarkets.’

Another fan celebrated that it would likely create more jobs.

“It’s about time, hopefully the rest of the other supermarkets choose to do this,” they said.

‘It’s a personal touch to be served by a person and not a machine.’

Another supported the move because they “hate feeling like a criminal with those Big Brother cameras.”

“And they’re at such an unflattering angle, too,” she added.

Many called on the larger supermarkets, such as Woolworths, Coles and Aldi, to follow suit.

But the store’s owners are said to have made the decision for a depressing reason.

It was implemented due to a huge increase in shoplifting, it was reported news.com.au.

Daily Mail Australia approached IGA Greenslopes for comment.

Retail expert Gary Mortimer told the ABC that shoplifting in Australia costs retailers around $9 billion every year, with much of that driven by the cost of living crisis.

“There is certainly a link between the cost of living crisis and increased theft in stores, whether supermarkets, consumer electronics or discount department stores – it’s happening across the board,” he said.

Supermarkets have introduced several new security measures in recent months, including security cameras and automatic gates, in an effort to combat the increase in shoplifting.

But this technology is often too expensive for smaller, independent stores.