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Card-Only Self-Checkout at Kaufland Fuels Fresh Cash-Access Complaints in Germany

Rapid expansion of self-checkout across the country collides with worries over cash exclusion, usability, theft.

Overview

  • In a local Facebook group, customers reported that Kaufland’s self-checkout stations still do not accept cash, confirming card payment only.
  • New posts on Reddit and Threads revived polarized reactions, from a shopper defending the systems’ speed to another admitting fear of looking incompetent and avoiding them.
  • EHI counts about 38,650 self-checkout terminals nationwide, and roughly 11,000 stores offered the option as of August 2025.
  • Coverage notes many units are card-only because handling notes and coins requires more complex, costly, and maintenance-heavy hardware.
  • Industry bodies highlight trade-offs, with EHI warning of higher theft that prompts camera and AI monitoring, and HDE urging that systems remain clear and easy to use.