BUDGET retailer Lidl is planning to roll out scan and shop handsets in a bid to save shoppers time at the checkout.
The firm has filed a trademark in Europe and the UK for “Lidl & Go” to apply to digital payment systems.
These include customer-operated electronic terminals, according to The Grocer.
Lidl said the new feature would be branded “Lidl Pay” and would be integrated directly into the discounter’s rewards app – Lidl Plus.
The system works as a digital wallet and mobile payment service built into the Lidl Plus app.
Budget retailer Lidl said this would enable shoppers to make secure, contactless payments at their local Lidl store using just their smartphone.
Shyam Unarket, Customer Relations Director at Lidl GB, said: “The integration of payment functionality into the Lidl Plus app represents a step forward in our digital evolution.
“We are committed to investing in technologies that simplify the customer journey and offer greater flexibility in how people shop with us.
“Whether customers prefer using traditional tills or self-checkouts, we want to ensure that every shopper can choose the experience that best suits them.”
Customers are expecting Lidl to introduce dedicated handsets alongside the new Lidl Plus app feature.
This would provide customers with the convenience of scanning without having to use their phones.
It comes as another of the UK’s biggest supermarkets shook up the way customers can pay via SmartShop.
SmartShop allows Sainsbury’s customers to scan products as they go through stores via a physical handset or app on their phone.
Sainsbury’s launched a trial, of new handsets that let shoppers pay by tapping their card on the devices, in two stores in Richmond, London, and Kempston, Bedfordshire.
Once payments have gone through they can print a receipt at a physical bay or ask for them to be emailed.
The devices then have to be returned to SmartShop ports when they leave the store.
The new systems at Sainsbury’s and Lidl come after The Sun exclusively revealed Sainsbury’s brought in new till security measures.
Shoppers who fail to scan items at self-checkouts will be prompted by VAR-style replays.
If an item is bagged without being swiped through, a message will now appear saying: “Looks like that last item didn’t scan.”
When do supermarkets put out yellow-sticker bargains?
THE time supermarkets reduce their products vary across stores.
Here’s a rough supermarket-by-supermarket guide:
Aldi
Aldi uses a red sticker to show reductions on fresh products such as bread, meat, fruit and vegetables.
This is when they have reached the last day of shelf life.
Red stickered items are most commonly found at opening and closing times.
M&S
Reduction times can vary from store to store but is most likely to occur near closing time.
Asda
Asda told Which? that yellow stickers are applied twice a day – in the morning and evening.
Co-op
Co-op told The Sun its reduced-to-clear prices are generally applied about four hours before the store closes.
It recently also started reducing bakery treats by 50% from 6pm every day too.
Lidl
Lidl has a similar procedure to Asda and Aldi with reductions twice a day.
However individual stores may opt to reduce prices throughout the day.
Morrisons
Shoppers online have said that Morrisons does the best bargains first thing in the morning.
However, the store told Which? that there are no specific times for yellow sticker price cuts.
Sainsbury’s
Sainsbury’s told The Sun it’s at the store manager’s discretion whether to offer discounts.
However, shoppers have reported that the best deals are in the evening from 6pm.
Tesco
Tesco has said there is no specific time for reduction, but again most people found that prices were reduced from 6pm.
Waitrose
As with most of the other stores, Waitrose shoppers have said the best reductions are found before closing.
However the store stated that there is no specific time for yellow stickers to be applied.
