Yahoo News Tesco cafes go cashless at 40 sites, leaving some customers frustrated
Tesco has gone cashless at 40 of its cafes, with the supermarket chain asserting that this will reduce customer wait times and enhance shopping experiences.
However, the decision has been met with criticism, with some branding it as 'bonkers' and suggesting it could alienate certain Tesco customers. Martin Quinn from the Campaign for Cash described the move as a 'mad decision', arguing that elderly customers or retirees may prefer to order in person rather than through a computer screen.
While currently only 40 cafes have transitioned to the cashless system, it's believed that more could follow suit. Cafes in locations such as Oldham, Sheerness, Newmarket and Ashford are among those that have gone cashless.
This development follows a pilot scheme launched last year between tech company Givex and Tesco to refurbish the sites, as reported by the Daily Telegraph. A spokesperson for Tesco stated that new digital boards for food ordering have helped to decrease queue times.
Mr Quinn expressed his concern, stating: "As the vast majority of cafe-goers will be cash users, what they're essentially saying is that they don't want your business.", reports Birmingham Live. He further added: "People will rightly vote with their wallets and take their custom elsewhere. It's an utterly soulless experience."
Sarah Gayton from the National Federation of the Blind of the UK charity also criticised the move, labelling it as 'absolutely bonkers' and 'not the right approach', according to The Express. She commented: "It's absolutely bonkers and a totally backwards step."
"Elderly people go to these places for chit-chat, to talk about the weather and about what's happening in their lives. It might only be a few minutes of the day, but that is a very valuable conversation."
"Why should they be confused over croissants and coffee? Yes, businesses need to make a profit to sustain themselves, but transforming your customers into self-service automatons is not the right approach."
"How are those with visual impairments supposed to manage? " The move has sparked uproar among some patrons voicing their vexations on social media platforms.
An aggrieved individual remarked on X, previously known as Twitter: "At a Tesco cafe and you can't order and talk to someone anymore, you have to use a machine. There's been many confused elderly people."
After dropping in at a Tesco cafe located in Broadstairs, Kent, another customer noted: "This has just been renovated and I came here to do shopping but first wanted to sit down with a coffee. I couldn't do that because they don't accept cash or Tesco gift cards as payment."
Marks and Spencer had previously undertaken a similar transition in certain cafes to a system mandating touchscreens for orders. Morrisons, meanwhile, has scaled back the count of self-checkouts across several shops, conceding that they had overstepped with the technology.
Tesco has issued assurances to their client base that there will always be staff on hand ready to assist anyone struggling with the new payment methods. They also confirmed that the switch has not resulted in any job cuts.
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