I recently had the pleasure of finally being able to pay from my shopping at Migros supermarkets directly on my phone. I could scan the items I wanted to buy and pay for my shopping using only my phone, without having to go through a checkout. I was so impressed that I made an open request for Coop to please copy Migros. I regularly shop at Coop and always have to go through the checkout line.
So I was very pleased when I saw an advertisement informing me that I could now pay directly through the app when shopping at Coop too. I quickly added my credit card as the payment method in the Passabene app and headed off to a Coop supermarket to try it out.
First, I went through my accustomed process of scanning all the items as I added them to my shopping cart. But when I tapped on the pay button, I got a message in the app saying that I had to go scan the QR code at the checkout. After I had done that, the app gave me two options: I could either pay through the app, or at the cashier. I chose the app as the payment method, and the purchase was charged to my credit card.
To be honest, it’s faster for me to just pay at the POS terminal using a mobile payment service. Then I don’t need to navigate to the payment feature in the app or enter a password in order to compete the whole payment process. It makes me wonder what the point of the whole payment function in the Passabene app is.
The big advantage of being able to pay directly in the app would be to be able to avoid having to wait in checkout queues until a terminal is free. But the app from Coop currently does not give you that advantage because you still have to join other customers in passing through the checkout. It’s too bad, because the app does not bring any real added value for me.
On the other hand, I’m still completely satisfied with the Migros app. It lets me easily skip the checkout queues at Migros (like those found on Sundays at Zurich’s main station).
I hope that Coop will make the needed improvements and eventually also let me pay directly in the app without having to go by the checkout.
What do you think about self-service scanning and shipping using mobile apps? Please share your opinions in our forum.
More on this topic:
Blog: Ralf’s experience with the Migros shopping app
Guide: How to save money on groceries in Switzerland
Deal of the Day 
