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The US Sun
‘I left my cart with $300 of goods,’ rages Walmart shopper told store had no cashiers – ‘I refuse to use self-checkout’
By Molly Bowcott,
11 hours ago
A RAGING Walmart shopper who swore off self-checkout kiosks was forced to abandon their $300 cart after discovering no cashiers were open.
Retailers across the US have increased their reliance on self-checkout desks in recent times and shoppers have been unimpressed by this move.
Walmart shoppers have criticized the retailer for its over-reliance on self-checkout desks (stock image) Credit: GettySome shoppers have been forced to abandon their full carts due to a lack of manned cashier desks in-store (stock image) Credit: Getty
One shopper took to social media to express their frustration.
"Refuse to use them," the customer wrote in a post on X.
"Even when being pushed, I say no.
"Walmart tried one day, said no cashiers, so I left my cart full of 300 dollars worth of merchandise," they explained.
This comment was made in response to a similar post on X.
"Self-checkouts need to be scrapped," another shopper declared.
"Nobody wants them and they're impersonal and not much quicker," they declared.
These are just some of the many complaints Walmart shoppers have had about self-checkouts.
Many are also frustrated by the recent 15-item or less policy at self-checkouts in some stores across the country.
The policy is not nationwide, but those who have encountered it have not been a fan.
"I'm all about obeying rules, but if you're going to have self-checkout only 15 items or less, you should have more than two cashiers working," a shopper said on X.
"I have 23 items so I can't use self-checkout," another customer complained.
"So to them, it will be fast for me to wait in line behind 8 people who have 70 items in their carts.
"That makes soooo much sense," they wrote sarcastically.
"Why not just make self-checkout maybe 35 items or less?"
Target also introduced a similar policy this year and customers were equally unhappy about it.
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.
The retailer has limited the number of items that can be scanned at self-checkout to 10 items or less - even stricter than Walmart's policy.
"Target making the self-checkout line 10 items or less is the worst policing of all time," an angry shopper declared.
"I almost never get out of Target with fewer than 10 items - that's their whole business model!" another customer wrote on social media.
Target introduced this policy in March to supposedly make the checkout process more "convenient."
There has been lots of backlash, however, from shoppers who believe the policy makes their shopping less efficient.
"One register open, self-checkout is limited to 10 items or less & they have a paid worker there making sure you don't have more than 10 items," yet another frustrated shopper wrote.
Walmart has also come under fire for the introduction of its 15 items or less policy at self-checkout desks at some stores across the country (stock image) Credit: Getty
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