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That’s not the full story though because there are random spot checks and they’re very very annoying when they happen.

Annoying? A person comes and scans a few of the items on the counter, then leaves again. If that is already annoying to you, you must live a very stressed life

It's super annoying. We'll often have groceries for the next few days, which includes a lot of baby food. So yeah, they're scanning like 40 items, and we have to repack the bag to not squash produce/bread and such.

Another related problem is that you physically can't leave the store unless you buy something and get a receipt to scan. You have to tailgate someone with a receipt, or hop the turnstyle, etc. Hope you're not in a wheelchair and change your mind / the store's out of what you were looking for!

In Waitrose (UK) stores at least this is not the case. When you are spot checked the staff member spot checks that a few things in your trolley have been scanned. They tend to check some higher value goods like alcohol.

Also those stores, at least where I live, have no physical barrier to exit.

The scan as you go app is quite good until you get a rescan. The issue there is on the employees handsets. They never seem to be able to log in

Honestly why did you all have to Brexit. Would have loved to immigrate to the UK. Had to settle for NL.

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