Loblaws Self-Checkout Machines Are Now Asking For Tips

Lifestyle - Heading into the already pricey holiday seasons, Canadians can now expect to pay a little extra at the grocery store after Loblaws updated their self-checkout machine to include a gratuity prompt.

After scanning and bagging their own groceries, shoppers will be asked to leave either a 15, 18 or 20 percent gratuity on top of their final shopping bill. Loblaws says the gratuity will help the few remaining staff they have working offset the costs of doing the jobs of three to four employees.

“The employees that we still have left work hard to ensure shelves are usually stocked and customers only wait five to eight minutes when they scan an item incorrectly and need assistance while checking out,” stated CEO Galen Weston who also confirmed Loblaws would be taking an administrative fee of the tips, “A small gratuity of just $50 to $60 means our staff will make almost $1 an hour more.”

And with the rise in shoplifting happening across grocery stores, Loblaws says they have implemented plans to offset the cost of theft. Whichever gratuity amount customers select will automatically be increased by 5% to compensate for that pack of paper towels you “forgot” to scan.