‘Goofy as hell,’ Schnucks customer says as he was blocked by self-checkout pop-up – workers had to approve his shopping

A SCHNUCKS customer has slammed the retailer and vowed never to go back after a checkout ordeal that left them feeling shamed.

Taking to Facebook , the shopper shared how the retailer’s bizarre checkout policies mean it will lose out on profits as customers are being treated like a huge inconvenience.

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“Welp Schnucks that’s the last time I’m gonna be shamed for trying to spend money at one of your stores,” Ryan Hunter wrote in a Facebook post .

“Self-checkout lanes wide open. I didn’t realize that I had over 10 items.

“Maybe I should have put those snacks and drinks I picked up in the impulse aisles back. Those are your money makers yeah?”

Hunter explained how he went to the self-checkout and started scanning his items, but the machine stopped him at item 12 out of 15.

The self-service machine alert appeared and read, “Need attendant”

“So I waited for one of the 3 attendants to come over and berate me for having more than 10 items ‘TEN ITEMS’ she barks at me,” the fed-up shopper recalled.

“I asked [if] the 10 item limit triggered the ‘need attendant’ message and was told ‘yes – sometimes it does’ Well I had scanned in over 10, 12 total.”

SCOLDED

Hunter aimed at employees after claiming that a worker must have manually stopped his checkout as he had already exceeded the item limit.

According to the shopper, the current process leaves him waiting for help and allows store associates to “scold” him.

“You need to fix your equipment to block me at 10, or you need to tell your employees to stop hitting a manual stop and making me sit there waiting and waiting time so they can scold me,” he wrote.

“Seriously goofy as hell, you realize you are creating a system where your self-checkout monitoring employees are just looking for people ‘breaking’ this asinine rule.

“The second they see what they think might be over 10 times, your clients are now treated like a huge inconvenience at best, and criminals at worst.”

To drive home his frustration, the shopper concluded his rant by urging rival supermarket Dierbergs Markets to open stores in his city saying, “At least they want to take my money.”

Fellow Schnucks shoppers flooded the comments to complain about the move, which has been introduced across numerous retailers, including Target and Walmart, to reduce theft.

Schnucks introduced the 10-item self-checkout limit on February 1 across all stores with those who are over the limit being sent to manned registers.

It came after shoppers increasingly used self-checkouts for large shops, a spokesperson for the retailer told Spectrum News .

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.

Shoppers have also spotted their local Walmart stores restricting customers to 15 items or less to use self-checkout machines.

So, to improve efficiency and reduce theft, the limit was introduced.

“This item limit will help us maintain our costs while keeping the prices lower for our customers,” the spokesperson said.

‘SO MUCH FLAK’

However, one shopper suggested that the retailer make simpler solutions before cracking down on loyal and innocent shoppers.

“They’ve gotten SO much flak over this. You’re far from alone,” the Facebook user wrote underneath Hunter’s post.

“And it’s just an attempt to limit shrink in their stores, which, maybe don’t have just one security guard at the exit who stares at their phone all day? idk.”

Hunter accused workers of “micromanaging” the items in his order rather than addressing issues bothering customers after one shopper said he got poor customer service at Schnucks after buying out-of-date creamer.

Your clients are now treated like a huge inconvenience at best, and criminals at worst.

Ryan Hunter Schnucks shopper

“The employee at the customer service counter did not believe me and said I must have switched them out with one in my own fridge,” he explained.

“I do most of my shopping Dierbergs Markets and now they have ALL of my business.”

It is not just Schnucks customers who are revolting against policy changes.

The U.S. Sun has reached out to the retailer for comment.

Earlier this year, Walmart also introduced a 15-item limit at its self-checkouts.

However, shoppers have slammed the move, with one feeling “humiliated” and “treated like a thief.”

Similar complaints have been launched at Target after the retailer enforced a 10-item limit at self-checkout.

One shopper was so frustrated by the move that was not paired with an increase in manned registers that they abandoned their cart full of items worth almost $100 to shop elsewhere.

Anti-theft measures rolled out by retailers

Retailers across the US and Canada have rolled out strategies designed to combat theft. The U.S. Sun has compiled a list of measures that have been implemented at stores.

• Locking items in cabinets.
• Security pegs.
• Security cameras.
• Signs warning about the impact of theft.
• Receipt scanners.
• Receipt checks.
• Carts with locking technology