Walmart follows Target’s new limited self-checkout policy – customers threaten to ‘spend more’ at Aldi

WALMART might be driving some of its shoppers away with how some of its stores are tweaking their self-checkout policy to only 15 items or less.

Customers aired their concerns on social media, as some Walmart stores seem to allow only shoppers with 15 items or less to use the self-checkout.

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One user said on X that they would rather go to other stores like Aldi than have to count their groceries.

“Walmart u made us use self [checkout]. Now u want it 15 items or less.. we want no lines at the register. U want me to count my items. No. Make sure there are plenty of workers on the registers.  i dont care. Im using a self [checkout] or spending more at [Aldi] and Lidl and Bjs,” they said.

Another user on Facebook said they would shop elsewhere next time because of the 15-item or less self-checkout policy in their local Walmart.

“Okay Walmart WTF are you doing? They say let’s get self-check outs it will be more convenient… they say card only…. Now it’s 15 items or less at self-checkout….. when does this shit stop!!!! Make up your friggin minds,” the Facebook user said.

“Note to self shop elsewhere next time!!! Absolute bullshit!!! If you are going to limit what we can buy then put on more cashiers!!! Not two!!!” the same user added.

The U.S. Sun reached out to Walmart for comment.

Nevertheless, the retail giant, which has more than 4,600 stores all over the country, does not have an official nationwide policy on self-checkout.

Instead, Walmart is giving its individual stores the discretion to decide whether or not to impose a self-checkout, according to Reuters .

Some stores reportedly reserved the self-check out lanes for shoppers with a Walmart+ membership, which costs $98 a year.

In this case, it seems some stores are tweaking that policy by adding a limit to how many items each shopper is allowed to check out on their own.

This is similar to how Target has been redefining the self-checkout experience in their stores.

Target reserved express self-checkouts in most of its stores nationwide to 10 items or less, a press release read.

The U.S. Sun has written extensively about customer experience at a time of fewer to no self-checkouts.

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.

Target’s self-checkout policy was also not received warmly by shoppers .

The Sun also wrote about Walmart closures, and what they can tell us about a potential retail apocalypse .