A good question ...

[pthane@toot.wales]

@Natasha_Jay Several possibilities:
1. The machines are expensive
2. Staff are still needed to correct errors and authorise restricted goods
3. Fraud losses increase as customers 'forget' to scan things.

[azucat@mk.absturztau.be]

@Natasha_Jay@tech.lgbt because instead of price go down, ceo makes more money :3

[kalauer@digitalcourage.social]

@Natasha_Jay

Because it's a bullshit argument!

[david_chisnall@infosec.exchange]

@hsmolin @Natasha_Jay

In addition: Because there are other inflationary pressures that cause prices to go up, so a cost-saving measure that has a multi-year RoI will (in a competitive market) cause prices to increase more slowly rather than decrease.

That said, the 'in a competitive market' bit is doing a lot of work and supermarkets act more like cartels. The profits for the major supermarket chains (in the UK, at least) have spiked in the last few years because they had supply-chain disruptions that forced prices up and no competitive pressure to push them back down again once the supply-chain problems were addressed.

[tofm2@social.netdynamics.eu]

@Natasha_Jay Good question

[mahryekuh@hachyderm.io]

@Natasha_Jay Gotta compensate for the increase in stolen products, which they have no right to complain about after doing away with the people who could prevent that. 🥳

(And the obvious "more money for shareholders" that I'm sure the rhetorical question referred to.)

[transcedental@ieji.de]

@Natasha_Jay
Money, money, money...

[mxk@hachyderm.io]

@Natasha_Jay the prices do go down, if you forget to scan articles...

[javensbukan@cosocial.ca]

@Natasha_Jay They've actually removed many self checkouts where I live due to theft.

🫡 God speed the general public

[prolrage@todon.nl]

@Natasha_Jay All of these are capitalist innovations. https://todon.nl/@prolrage/116313998876349407

[natasha_jay@tech.lgbt]

@Javensbukan
They just put some of them in the Lidl nearest us which was 'sigh' but combined them with one of those thief-gates which we (both) hate so just queue for a regular check out ...

[tinkel@mastodon.social]

@Natasha_Jay

A good answer:

[gustl@metalhead.club]

... recognising the good old satirical and/or rhetorical question as such seems to be a dying art.