Walmart tests invisible barcodes to curb self-checkout theft and streamline shopping

Walmart has implemented new technology to stop thieves from getting away with goods while at the retailer's self-checkout lines. The chain retailer has started testing invisible barcodes on their Great Value items, which would allow shoppers to simply move the item over the scanner for it to be registered.

The invisible barcode was first introduced by Walmart in 2019 through the discount chain's partnership with Digimarc, reports The Daily Mail . According to the outlet, even though the barcode is invisible to the naked eye, it is printed all over the item.

Digimarc created the barcode to help speed up a customer's checking out process by making it easier to scan and not having to locate the barcode and angle the item to get the scan.

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"The scanning speed goes up significantly," Digimarc told the outlet. "Hunting for barcodes during the scanning process becomes unnecessary, which eases the self-scanning for customers."

They added: "The imaging cameras can also pick up several products at the same time." the barcode also serves as a deterrent for potential thieves looking to take off with the unpaid goods as grocery stores have continued to see a rise in shoplifting.

If a potential thief attempts to fake a scan of the item with the barcode, the computer will still register the code and register it for payment. Walmart is not the only place to adopt the new method of scanning, other supermarkets such as Wegmans have begun using the new payment method.

The news of the anti-shoplifting method comes after one shopper voiced their complaint about a brand-new self-checkout policy implemented by Walmart. According to Mitch Hastings, he was forced to spend an obscene amount of time checking out $400 worth of groceries.

"This will be my last Walmart trip. Apparently, weekday mornings are now down to self-checkout only," the man complained on Facebook. "No cashier working. So I just spent 30 mins checking out $400 of groceries with the machine showing error every other item while an associate stood behind me to scan in eve time."

Hastings also complained that he had to ask an employee to watch over his cart while he went to go ask a second person to help him carry his bags. Adding to his stress level was the fact he then had to show his receipt to leave the building. "Had to ask her to watch my cart so I could go to the front of the store to get an empty cart to put my bags in," he wrote in the post.

"Then on the way out someone sitting at the entrance tried to stop me to see my receipt, 'no thanks' and kept walking," he added. "At this point, they are just mocking us as consumers."

Many people commented on the status agreeing with the customer's dislike of the new policy. "This is why I don't go to Walmart anymore, especially getting groceries," one person wrote while another chimed in with "I haven't shopped at Walmart since 2019."

"I used to do all my shopping at Walmart with all 4 kids. The self-checkout got to be way too much for me," a third disgruntled customer said.