Overview
- Lidl plans to equip about 1,600 branches with self-service lanes by spring 2026, roughly half of its stores.
- EHI data show one in 18 retail checkouts is now self-service, and more than 10,300 German stores offer the option, more than double 2023.
- Debate over offering discounts for using the machines has flared on social media, with some users warning of cashier job losses and others citing convenience.
- Many shoppers report glitches, weighing errors and age checks that require staff intervention, while some customers refuse the machines in solidarity with employees.
- Cashiers quoted online say they have not seen job cuts, pointing to staffing shortages, as EHI notes higher theft risk leading to gates, cameras and AI oversight.