Sainsbury’s shoppers have slammed a new rule imposed by the supermarket chain that “makes life harder”. A policy introduced by shop bosses in 2022 is steadily creeping through the UK, with customers asked to present their receipts at the exit. While Sainsbury’s has installed the scanners to beef up security, the measure has left a bad taste in shoppers’ mouths.
In a recent post on the social media platform Reddit, users commented on the introduction of the receipt barriers to Greater Manchester.
Shops in Fallowfield and Salford have started following the policy, which requires them to scan their receipts to leave Sainsbury’s locations.
If they don’t, the barriers prevent them from leaving until they contact a store assistant.
One user posted a picture of a sign in the shop reading: “We’ve introduced new barriers as you leave this store.”
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“You’ll need to take your receipt and scan this on the barcode reader in front of the barriers.”
The original poster said they were “not a fan of how this is spreading”, with others seeming similarly frustrated.
Another branded the new policy a “pointless waste of money and time” that “just makes everyone’s life harder”.
One incensed customer said: “Looks like Sainsbury’s can get f****d then.”
While many people complained about the additional difficulties of leaving a store, others questioned the possible effects on waste reduction.
A user wrote: “I thought we started offering the ability to not take your receipt as a way to reduce waste.
They added: “And now we’re going backwards and making it mandatory to take your receipt.”
Sainsbury’s has courted controversy for installing the barriers since last year, with shoppers left angry at being “treated like thieves”.
One shopper speaking to the Daily Mail said they “felt like a criminal” after their till ran out of paper.
And Glasgow customer Peter Richards complained the barriers leave people feeling they are being treated as “guilty until proven innocent”.
Sainsbury’s has explained the barriers are “one of a range of security measures” installed in a “small number of stores”.
But the chain has not disclosed how many receipt barriers it has installed in the UK.
