Dear Friends

Please send me an email about of your experiences of shopping on the self-service-tills-card-only-tills on: pmccarthy940@gmail.com

Many of you have written to me, telling me of  your personal experiences of trying to shop, primarily in Tesco's, but in other supermarkets too where there are now a majority of self-service-card-only-tills. How many of you have still got access to a staffed till with a customer services assistant able to help you?

In the Netherlands Jumbo Stores have re-instated customer service operated tills in 200 of their stores - to cut-down on loneliness and to create a much nice shopping environment for their customers  Why can't we have that system in the UK?  Why not Tesco's. Why not other supermarkets too?

Some of you have told me about personal visual impairment,  of other disabilities, arthritis, mobility, dexterity, balance issues or lifting and carrying problems. Those disabilities predicate against automated shopping and payments systems. There are many of you as older people for whom the new automation of shopping is simply too much! Others refuse to spend hard-earned cash on check-outs that are machines check-outs only. It will lead to job losses and an inferior service. 

Carers who shop for cash for their clients have no option other than to queue at the small number of customer service assistant tills open that still take cash.  I have also been told that one customer couldn't shop in a Tesco's Extra GetGo store as she had no access to Internet Banking, downloading an App or then shop.  Much like Amazon Fresh. 

If you haven't done so already, can I ask you to please complain to your local store manager, telling them why you don't want to use, or cannot use the new SSCOTs - it does not matter if you don't know the store manager's name. Just let me know how you got on if you would please.  Also the date upon which you complained and at which store? You might have done so already, so what was the answer from the Store? Some of you have simply 'given up'.

I hope to hear from you.  With the kindest of regards. Pat