Woolworths to Discontinue Scan & Go Mobile Feature
A checkout feature designed to simplify supermarket shopping for Australians is set to be removed from Woolworths stores across the country. As of Monday, most stores offering the Scan & Go Mobile payment feature will no longer have it available, and by early July, the feature will be completely phased out nationwide.
“While we are committed to exploring new ways to shop, we have decided to move away from Scan & Go Mobile due to low customer usage,” Woolworths announced. “We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.”
The feature allowed Everyday Rewards customers to scan each item with their phone and then pay using their device once they were done. This eliminated the need to wait in line at the checkout or deal with awkward situations if an item didn’t scan properly.
However, there is some positive news as Woolworths has introduced a new plan for shoppers to scan products. More Woolworths stores are getting Scan & Go Trolleys, which aim to make the shopping experience even more convenient.
New Payment Method: Scan & Go Trolleys
With the introduction of the new payment method, shoppers won’t need to pull out their phones. The feature is called Scan & Go Trolleys, and it allows customers to scan their grocery items directly from their trolley while packing as they shop.
“Simply scan your grocery items directly from your trolley and pack as you shop,” a statement from Woolworths reads.
A Woolworths spokesperson previously told Yahoo Finance that the Scan & Go feature was reviewed after receiving feedback from some customers who found it difficult to scan groceries with their phone while holding a basket of items. This led the chain to explore a hands-free option.
“We’ve received feedback from some of our customers that using a mobile device to scan products while holding a basket and other items can be challenging,” the spokesperson said.
The Scan & Go trolleys have already been introduced at some Woolies supermarkets for Everyday Rewards customers. Scan & Go Trolleys will be available at more locations in New South Wales soon. Plans are also in place to roll out the feature at a few stores in Queensland, Western Australia, and South Australia.
Customer Reactions to the Change
News of Woolworths moving away from the Scan & Go Mobile payment option hasn’t been well received by all shoppers. One customer online expressed disappointment, stating they use the mobile feature weekly.
“[I] find it a massive time saver,” they said. “So sad about this, was a lifesaver while shopping with a toddler,” another shopper added.
Woolies has been slowly phasing out the Scan & Go Mobile feature for months now. Last year, when the removal of the payment feature hit dozens of locations, consumer advocate Simon Berry said he was shocked to discover he could no longer use his phone to scan all his groceries while shopping and pay for them.
He told Yahoo Finance that it beggars belief why Woolies would get rid of the feature. “There was no double handling with Scan & Go Mobile,” he said. “You just put it straight in your bag and it meant I saved so much time during my shop.”
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