We all have our social quirks, or not-so-social quirks. Some of us talk to our plants. Some of us talk to our cats. But increasingly, some of us would rather not talk to a cashier… ever again.
According to recent data from a consumer group, 42% of shoppers overall now prefer self-checkout. But age matters.
The appeal? 82% of them prefer it because it’s faster, 41% said quieter, and 36% enjoy bagging their own groceries like they’re playing real-life “Tetris.”
The no-chat checkout life is especially beloved by Gen Z and Millennials, who most definitely prefer shopping methods that involve as little human interaction as possible. Whether it’s self-checkout, curbside pickup, or ordering online so they don’t have to speak to Chad in Aisle 6… they’re in.
Meanwhile, older shoppers are holding the line: 40% still prefer human cashiers, often because they enjoy the interaction, but also because they don’t want to have to bag all their own stuff.
So when does the turning point occur? Age 55
According to the report, 55 is the age when the average shopper starts saying, “You know what? I’m picking the lane with an actual person.”
And when it comes to in-store pickup, the generational divide gets even wider. 86% of Gen Z and 76% of Millennials do it at least monthly, with about a quarter doing it weekly. Half of Gen X and Boomers, though? They’ve never tried it. Possibly because they don’t trust their phone. Or maybe they just like wandering around.
Bottom line: Retailers need to cater to both crowds. Give the people their human-free zones… but don’t unplug the cashiers just yet. Some of us still like a little small talk with our snacks.