Overview
- A Facebook thread about Kaufland drew reports that self-checkout there still does not accept cash, rekindling arguments over payment options.
- A Threads user described fear of using the systems and received practical tips such as trying Rewe’s hand-scanner to move at one’s own pace.
- A separate Reddit post defended the terminals as time-savers for staff, while others countered that retailers primarily aim to cut personnel costs.
- EHI data show roughly 38,650 self-service tills in Germany and about 11,000 stores offering self-checkout as of August 2025, with usage rising and nearly two-thirds of people saying they use them.
- Trade groups and researchers stress ease of use and warn of higher theft risk, prompting retailers to deploy measures such as camera monitoring and AI.