Sainsbury’s faces criticism as customers made to scan receipts at store exits

Sainsbury’s is receiving backlash from customers as some stores have made shoppers scan their receipts before being able to exit.

Implemented across select stores, the requirement takes place as the self-checkout area with proof of purchase required before a shopper is able to leave via the exit barriers.

The Big 4 grocer‘s customers have since taken to social media to share their views, with one Twitter user claiming there has been “no warning, no instore signage” and that the process “doesn’t work.”

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@sainsburys I’ve been loyal to Sainsbury’s for 30 years. Now it stops. How dare you insult me, by scanning receipts to leave. Not even the discounters to this. No warning, no instore signage and it doesnt work, my receipt had to be reprinted. Farewell you untrusting store.

— Jon Hosier (@JohnHosier) December 13, 2022

Scan your receipt to exit Sainsbury's … Another step closer to a cashless society and control..https://t.co/fTfCO5dYFQ

— R o c k y (@ROCE1900) December 11, 2022

British people are so confused that in Sainsbury’s you now have to scan your receipt to leave. Like there’s outrage about it on Reddit and everything 😂

— Zeppelin Captain (@wowpeachy) December 12, 2022

One Reddit user said: “I noticed yesterday my local Sainsbury’s supermarket is now making us scan our receipt to exit the barriers. Why are they doing this? I’ve never had to scan a receipt to exit a supermarket before.

“This has really put me off going back considering I have a large choice of supermarkets.”

However, despite the criticism received online, Sainsbury’s told Retail Gazette that while this has only recently been noticed on social media, this technology is not new and was only used across a “small number” of stores.

According to one Twitter user, the requirement is currently in place across two of the supermarket giant’s London stores in Dalston and Islington.

It’s catching. Not content with forcing Dalston shoppers to scan their receipt for the last few months, @sainsburys Islington has blocked off all but one exit, and is announcing “scan receipt to exit” from tomorrow on the PA https://t.co/EH4z67C05f pic.twitter.com/HYVFOWqyqr

— Kien Tan (@kientan74) December 11, 2022

This news comes as Sainsbury’s is one of the grocery retailers that has been the hardest hit by thieves over recent months, new figures have revealed.