‘Do better,’ Walmart shopper rages over self-checkout lines forcing customers to abandon carts – chain says it will act

A FUMING Walmart customer has slammed the megastore for only having half of the registers open - leaving many to ditch their carts.

The retailer has faced an onslaught of anger online over its self-checkout machines and the lack of flesh and blood operators.

In the wake of financial struggles caused by the self-checkout machines, including billions lost via theft, retail giant Walmart has completely rid of the machines in some locations.

As a result, many have flocked to social media to slam the big box retailer over the lack of available kiosks.

"Walmart, do better," one seethed on X, formerly Twitter.

"It’s not like it takes more employees to open more than 4 registers….. just seen a half dozen people walk out and leave carts full of meat and ice cream that will end up being trashed because they didn’t want to stand in line."

A representative swooped in to assure shoppers that they were working on the claim.

"We'd definitely like to look into this issue with the long lines at our store, Rick," they said.

"Could you please send us a DM with more details?"

$98 WALMART SELF-CHECKOUT

Aside from shutting down self-checkout, Walmart has taken several actions in the past to combat the theft caused by the kiosks.

For example, the retailer has implemented receipt checks, locked up items, and limited who can use self-checkout.

Shoppers have reported that certain Walmart locations have reserved self-checkout lanes for Walmart+ or Spark Drivers.

Many shoppers interpreted the change as the retailer effectively forcing them to pay the $98 yearly Walmart+ subscription fee to use self-checkout.

"I have finally convinced all of my family to quit shopping at Walmart. That $98/year fee to use self-checkout made that conversation really easy," wrote one shopper.

"I won't pay for self-checkout, but I'll pay more to buy groceries somewhere else," added another.

Walmart has denied the assertion that the change was made to increase Walmart+ subscriptions - "It is not intended to increase the W+ memberships," Pennington told The U.S. Sun.

IMMINENT CLOSURE?

Self-checkout machines have been causing controversy since they first became popularized in stores in the early 2000s.

The machines, which were originally intended to cut back on labor costs for the retailers, quickly led to high rates of retail theft.

“The tide is turning regarding the use of self-checkout,” Brittain Ladd, a former consultant to Kroger, told The Telegraph.

“Many retailers have grown tired of the increased theft that occurs when customers use self-checkout.”

Meanwhile, Phil Lempert, known as The Supermarket Guru, has predicted retail trends for 25 years and his latest forecast could make some customers happy.

Lempert revealed that security concerns and consumer preferences could force these changes to happen.

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 expert exclusively told The U.S. Sun that self-checkouts could be on their way out.

“Self-checkout is doomed,” Lempert warned.

He explained that many supermarkets have changed how they use self-checkouts and have turned back on their intended purpose.

“From a security standpoint, what’s happened is the retailers with self-checkout have had to add employees, whether it's security or other employees, to help people at self-checkout,” the expert said.

“So, you know you’re not accomplishing anything.

“You’re not reducing labor, you’re not getting a better shopping experience.”

Lempert suggested that supermarkets could go back to their traditional checkout ways to combat this issue.

“So, just open up another checkout and all those problems go away,” he said.