Tesco's ‘VAR'-style self-checkout cameras are the final straw
Tesco has followed Sainsbury's lead by installing cameras above self-checkouts to identify when shoppers fail to scan an item properly, using the footage to provide a live-action replay of their misdeed. Predictably, it's not gone down well: a video posted on Instagram involving a can of tuna got more than 3.5 million views. When will the supermarkets learn to stop treating their shoppers like criminals?
Much of the reaction to Tesco's VAR (Video Assistant Referee) cameras has focused on Britons' humorous responses: 'VAR Decision – Tuna Disallowed,' joked one person. 'Clearly off side,' riffed another. But the growing surveillance in our supermarkets is no laughing matter.
Everyone needs to buy food and, with a 28 per cent share of the UK supermarket sector, Tesco is the UK's biggest grocery chain. Shoppers who don't want to be spied on are running out of options.
One customer, noticing the new systems in his local store in south-east London, has taken the matter seriously.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Metro
4 hours ago
- Metro
Sainsbury's aisle change could signal end of an era for classic shopping feature
We've seen a number of changes being tested in supermarkets of late – from Tesco adding locked security cabinets to the introduction of Scan & Shop devices that let you skip the checkouts completely. Many of these have prompted strong reactions from shoppers, with some baffled and others downright 'horrified' feeling like 'big brother' is watching them. The most recent change being trialed shops isn't likely to cause such a fuss though, although it could signal the end of a classic supermarket feature. Retailers across the UK are trying out new electronic shelf-edge labels (ESLs), with Sainsbury's being the latest to give them a go. Sainsbury's is believed to have installed the new electronic labels in several of its bigger stores, across items such as wine, beer, spirits and health products. The technology allows staff to update prices for products remotely on a computer, removing the need to use traditional paper price labels and replace them each time a price goes up or down. According to The Grocer, the new electronic labels are currently being trialed in the Witney store in Oxfordshire. This is one of the company's 'Future Stores' in which they test new aisle and display formats as well as different technology. Another of its kind can be found at Kiln Lane in Epsom, Surrey. The Epsom store was renovated in November 2024 and is known as a 'Destination Plus' supermarket as it stocks the retailer's entire range of food, general merchandise and clothing, as such it's a store that people travel for miles to get to. Speaking about the new labels, a Sainsbury's spokeswoman confirmed they were being 'trialed […] in a number of stores' but they didn't share any other information on them. Sainsbury's isn't the only retailer opting to give ESLs a go, as several other supermarkets have also recently trialed them, including Asda, Waitrose, Co-op and Company Shop. ESLs aren't new as the first systems launched more than 30 years ago and supermarkets have trialed them before, but they've never stuck. Tesco was set to roll them out back in 2017, but ended up not going ahead with this, and Sainsbury's also previously tested digital pricing displays in 2015 in a bid to see if they could cut the use of paper and automatically update prices, and some were tested last year in three stores to discover the impact they would have. Now they are once again being considered for use around the UK as executives believe they could prove more efficient and help cut costs. More Trending It's not clear yet what will happen with ESLs, but if supermarkets were to move ahead with using them in future, it would signal the end of an era for paper labels, which have been a feature in aisles for decades. And it won't be the only supermarket feature that will have been axed after a long time, as barcodes also look set to disappear after being used for 50 years. GS1, the world's only authorised provider of Global Trade Item Numbers (GTINs) believes barcodes will soon be replaced with pixel-based QR codes instead. Anne Godfrey, chief executive of GS1 UK, claims almost half of British retailers have already updated their checkouts to prepare for the use of QR codes. Do you have a story to share? Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@ MORE: 'Mouth-watering' chocolate brand that disappeared from supermarkets five years ago is back MORE: Tesco launches major new Clubcard bonus — but shoppers need to act fast MORE: Jaffa Cakes unveil brand new flavour — but fans say 'not a chance'
Daily Mirror
15 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Sainsbury's change may eventually mark end of an era for shoppers
A pilot is being trialled at a small number of stores as Sainsbury's begins using a system Asda, Co-op, Morrisons and Waitrose are also employing Sainsbury's shoppers could be starting to see the end of an era for a classic supermarket symbol. The retailer is experimenting with new electronic labels to make it easier to change the price. The supermarket chain has reportedly installed the technology in some of its larger stores on items such as beers, wines, spirits and health products in a new trial. Electronic shelf-edge labels allow staff to remotely update prices via computer, eliminating the need to manually replace traditional paper tickets. This also paves the way for dynamic pricing, where prices can fluctuate at the last minute when demand spikes, a strategy seen in apps like Uber. Sainsbury's teamed up with specialist fixtures firm Harrison Retail to create the shelf fixings where the devices will be installed. It was understood that the Witney branch in Oxfordshire was among the first to test the new labels. "We are trialling electronic shelf-edge labels in a small number of our stores," a Sainsbury's spokesperson confirmed to The Grocer. When pressed by the Mirror for more details about the rollout, the chain stated there was "nothing further" to add to what had already been reported. Sainsbury's has become the latest addition to a growing list of retailers trialling electronic shelf-edge labels, joining the ranks of Asda, Waitrose, and Morrisons. This development follows closely on the heels of the Co-op's announcement to swap traditional paper shelf tickets for digital ones across all its branches by the end of 2026, with 1,500 stores set to adopt the new technology by the end of this year. Steven Logue, the Co-op's head of operations, said: "The electronic labels have the potential to enhance product information and transparency, avoid paper waste, and make everyday tasks like picking online orders easier – improving ways of working, supporting our growth ambitions and enhancing the shopping experience for our members and customers." READ MORE: Blackbird crisis: UK residents with gardens urged to take action amid rising Usutu virus cases READ MORE: 'I started turning my driveway into a garden - then a neighbour came round' Lidl also revealed plans to introduce electronic shelf-edge labels last year, following a successful pilot in 35 stores. The budget-friendly retailer claimed that implementing this system would lead to significant environmental benefits, including saving over "206 tonnes of carbon annually through paper and packaging reductions, while ink usage will also be drastically minimised". What are electronic shelf-edge labels? Electronic shelf-edge labels are tags that display product prices digitally and enable price changes to be made remotely from a separate location. According to tech specialists the Barcode Warehouse, the devices are "typically connected via wireless networks, allowing for instantaneous price changes and information updates from a central database or control system". The technology was pioneered in the 1990s and has since been embraced by retailers across Europe and North America. However, it hasn't quite taken off in the UK market, with Tesco halting a complete rollout in 2017 because it claimed "there was nothing new to say" about the technology. Nevertheless, the Barcode Warehouse says shoppers are the real winners when it comes to electronic labels. Its website states: "With real-time price updates, customers can trust that the prices they see are accurate and up-to-date, reducing confusion and improving satisfaction. "Additionally, [they] can display detailed product information, helping customers make informed purchasing decisions."
Spectator
15 hours ago
- Spectator
Tesco's ‘VAR'-style self-checkout cameras are the final straw
Tesco has followed Sainsbury's lead by installing cameras above self-checkouts to identify when shoppers fail to scan an item properly, using the footage to provide a live-action replay of their misdeed. Predictably, it's not gone down well: a video posted on Instagram involving a can of tuna got more than 3.5 million views. When will the supermarkets learn to stop treating their shoppers like criminals? Much of the reaction to Tesco's VAR (Video Assistant Referee) cameras has focused on Britons' humorous responses: 'VAR Decision – Tuna Disallowed,' joked one person. 'Clearly off side,' riffed another. But the growing surveillance in our supermarkets is no laughing matter. Everyone needs to buy food and, with a 28 per cent share of the UK supermarket sector, Tesco is the UK's biggest grocery chain. Shoppers who don't want to be spied on are running out of options. One customer, noticing the new systems in his local store in south-east London, has taken the matter seriously.
