Will the Muffles soon be withdrawn from supermarkets?

3. Less profitable investment than expected

Behind these machines, a less bright economic reality is lurking.

Each terminal costs several thousand euros for the purchase, not to mention maintenance, updates and repairs in the event of a breakdown. However, these incidents are frequent, requiring regular human intervention, which further reduces the financial value of the scheme.

Moreover, if the original goal was to reduce staff, many stores eventually have to hire additional employees to monitor and accompany customers.

Faced with these hidden costs, several retailers are wondering whether the investment is really worth it.