{
  "id": 141625,
  "title": "Should customers pay less when they use a self-checkout?",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/04/should-customers-pay-less-when-they-use-a-self-checkout",
  "topic": "finance",
  "section": "Finance & Markets",
  "published": "2026-08-04T17:38:19.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "RNZ Business",
    "slug": "rnz-business",
    "url": "https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/personal-finance/887580/should-customers-pay-less-when-they-use-a-self-checkout"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "New York lawmakers are considering a bill that would require stores to give self-checkout users a 10 percent discount. Retailers use self-checkouts to cut costs by reducing staff, but shoppers could share in the savings, lawmakers argue. Consumer NZ has similar thoughts in New Zealand. The group believes stores are saving money by using self-checkouts and not passing those savings on to customers. Grocery prices are often the top concern for people's finances. Marketing experts say it makes sense to pass on savings to loyal customers who use self-checkout systems. However, retailers like Foodstuffs and Woolworths say self-checkouts offer convenience and flexibility to customers. Both companies continue to invest in both self-service and staffed checkouts to give shoppers choices.",
  "summary": "The supermarkets are saving money through less staff resourcing, but those savings are not being passed on to shoppers.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}