Should shoppers get a discount for using self-checkout?

New York lawmakers have proposed a bill requiring grocery retailers to offer a 10 percent discount to customers using self-checkout lanes, arguing that shoppers are performing unpaid labor traditionally done by employees. The bill, introduced by state representative Nikki Lucas, aims to ensure fairness and share cost savings with consumers. Consumer NZ advocacy head Gemma Rasmussen supports the argument's validity in New Zealand, noting supermarkets save on staffing costs without passing savings to shoppers. She cited Pak'n Save's model, where customers bag their own groceries for lower prices, as an example of existing self-service discounts. University of Auckland marketing expert Professor Michael Lee said the discount makes sense from a fairness perspective but doubted retailers would voluntarily adopt it without legal compulsion. Foodstuffs defended self-checkouts as a convenience option, while Woolworths was also approached for comment.