Self-checkout arrives in Superior as a customer convenience offering

Superior may be a small town but its hometown supermarket is home to the latest innovations in technology.

Shannon and Jenny McCord, operators of Superior's Ideal Market, recently installed two self-checkout stations.

The stations allow customers to quickly check out their purchases while avoiding waiting in line.

Shannon stressed he was not cutting back on cashiers but the stations are for customer convenience. Someone with a two or three item order can check themselves out without having to stand in line behind someone filling a monthly shopping order.

Shannon was reluctant at first to install the station. Fellow grocers pointed out the customer service aspect of the systems and he came around to that point of view.

The systems were installed in late October.

Customers may pay with debit, credit or EBT cards. A cash option is not available.

Shannon notes the necessary hardware is on site to link the store rewards program to the stations. He is awaiting a technician to install the devices. The stations did not require the removal of an existing checkout lane. The stations are being utilized at least 25 times per day, up from the 10 transactions per day when they were first installed.

The machines allow customers to price check items as well as weighing produce items.

The McCords have been constantly updating the store with energy efficient coolers and freezers and lighting as well as new flooring.