A new survey released by Retale, a location-based mobile platform connecting more than 3.5 million shoppers with their favorite major retailers locally, finds that 20 percent of millennials don’t like interacting with cashiers during checkout.
The survey found that the overwhelming majority of shoppers (85 percent) have used a self-service checkout kiosk, with just 15 percent having never done so. 91 percent of millennials – those 18-34 years of age – have used a self-service kiosk versus 81 percent of those 35 and older.
Of the respondents that have used self-service checkout, the most popular reasons for doing so were: “I have a limited number of items” (72 percent); “there was no line” (55 percent); “I prefer to keep my transactions and financial information private” (13 percent); and “I don’t like interacting with cashiers” (12 percent). Among millennials, “I don’t like interacting with cashiers” was eight percentage points higher than the average (20 percent). In addition, 20 percent of those surveyed wish to have the option to pay via a mobile phone or smartwatch at each kiosk. Among millennials, 26 percent want to be able to pay at self-service kiosks using mobile devices versus 16 percent for those over 34.
Editor’s Note: This is good news for micro market operators. In 2015 Millennials will be the new majority in workspaces. Micro markets fit the bill as millennials move towards unattended retail preferences, especially as they become more comfortable using kiosks in multiple retail experiences.
