TESCO is introducing a new voice at its self-service checkouts following feedback from frustrated customers.
Described as "friendlier, more helpful and less talkative" the new audio at machines will no longer utter the infamous phrase, "unexpected item in the bagging area".
Introduced in 2003, Tesco has over 12,000 self-service checkouts in the UK but customers complained that the old female audio voice was "shouty and irritating", and made paying for their groceries stressful.
The new male voice uses "softer phrases" and is more "customer-friendly".
Also axed is ‘Please take your items’ while ‘Thank you for shopping at Tesco’ has been added.
The new voice is already installed in a small number of stores including Hatfield, Peterborough, Edinburgh and Kensington.
It will be introduced in all of Tesco’s 3500 stores in the UK by the end of October.
James Dewen Self Service Checkout Operations Manager at Tesco said the voice is listened to by millions of customers every week so they "worked hard to get the new voice right to improve the shopping trip.”
