‘Oh no!’ says Target after customer rages over 20-minute wait for single cashier as self-checkout limited to 10 items

A TARGET customer raged after a self-checkout rule forced them to wait over 20 minutes for a single cashier.

Several retailers have imposed restrictions on self-checkout following a rise in theft.

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Some of these restrictions involve limiting self-checkout to a certain number of items or only allowing shoppers to use the machines at specific times.

The rules have upset many customers as they have to turn to traditional cashiers for checkout, leading to long lines at many locations.

One shopper turned to social media to vent their frustrations after a trip to Target went wrong.

“Dear @Target, you can’t change self-checkout to 10 items or less and then only open one regular checkout lane,” the user wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter .

“No one has 20 minutes to wait in line to checkout.”

The user explained that the incident happened at a location in Dallas, Texas .

Target ‘s official customer service account reached out to the user, apologizing for the incident.

“Oh no! We do apologize that the register lanes was a long wait,” the tweet read.

Target asked for additional information about the incident, telling the customer that their complaint had been documented and shared with the store’s leadership team.

This hasn’t been the only complaint thrown at Target over its self-checkout rules.

Target stores across the US have been enforcing the strict rules with some locations even eliminating self-checkout completely.

The chain announced in March that self-checkout machines would have a 10-item or less limit.

However, customers say that with the restrictions, self-checkout machines sit unused with only a few cash registers open.

“Target’s new 10-item self-checkout limit is trash,” a shopper tweeted.

“Making people wait in a 20-minute line while 3 of 4 self-checkout registers sit unused the whole time is ridiculous.

“Straight up never buying 10+ items from there again.”

Latest self-checkout changes

Retailers are evolving their self-checkout strategy in an effort to speed up checkout times and reduce theft.

Walmart shoppers were shocked when self-checkout lanes at various locations were made available only for Walmart+ members.

Other customers reported that self-checkout was closed during specific hours, and more cashiers were offered instead.

While shoppers feared that shoplifting fueled the updates, a Walmart spokesperson revealed that store managers are simply experimenting with ways to improve checkout performance.

One bizarre experiment included an RFID-powered self-checkout kiosk that would stop the fiercely contested receipt checks.

However, that test run has been phased out.

At Target, items are being limited at self-checkout.

Last fall, the brand surveyed new express self-checkout lanes across 200 stores with 10 items or less for more convenience.

As of March 2024, this policy has been expanded across 2,000 stores in the US.

The changes may have to do with the rising retail thefts across the country.

Stores lost an estimated $121.6 billion to retail theft in 2023, according to a study conducted by Capital One .

The number is expected to rise to over $150 billion by 2026.

In 2022, shoplifting increased by 19.4%, according to the same study.

The U.S. Sun has reached out to Target for comment.

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