Sensei Talks  

Reports on “the hottest retail technology of today” describe an amazing product that pleases both merchants and consumers.

SELF-CHECKOUT! That’s right.

Retailers appreciate that “self-checkout machines handle large volumes allowing the labor force to focus on other aspects of the retail operation.” Equally amazing benefits for consumers found in marketing research analysis: When we use self-checkout at the grocery store, we “SAVE MONEY AND DROP POUNDS.”

“Impulse purchases among women drop 32.1 percent and men 16.7 percent when self-checkout is used instead of a staffed checkout. The average woman purchased and consumed over 14,300 calories from impulse shopping over the period of a year. Men under the age of 25 years are the heaviest consumers of caloric impulse items, consuming enough calories each year for an additional eight pounds!”

While response to self-checkout varies by age and gender, technology now leads us from temptation and delivers us out the supermarket door thinner, quicker and richer.

Life is all about choices. Little changes can have big results. Sometimes the road to hell is paved with good intentions, sometimes it’s lined with “tempting impulse items such as chocolate candies, chips and soda.” Make your choices wisely when you can.

When temptation calls, make a beeline for the self-checkout line. You’ll be glad you did!

- Nancy