‘Just say no,’ shoppers say in reply to self-checkout change that’s now at airports & stadiums – customers have to tip

AMERICANS are outraged as self-checkout machines across the US have continued to ask shoppers for tips.

The policy has infuriated shoppers and some have taken to social media to share their advice on how to avoid these added costs.

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Shoppers have questioned the need to tip a digital self-checkout machine when they are the ones doing all the work.

But there has reportedly been a rise in the number of these kiosks asking customers to tip, The Wall Street Journal wrote.

Customers have shared their opinions on this policy on Facebook .

“We should get tipped for checking out ourselves,” one user wrote .

“We deserve a discount since we’re doing some of the work,” another shopper declared.

“I did the work – I’ll ‘tip’ myself instead!!” a further comment said in agreement.

While there is certainly frustration about this controversial policy, some shoppers have said they simply refuse to pay the surcharge.

“Nobody’s forcing us to tip at self-checkouts and the like,” a Facebook user wrote.

“If we aren’t tipping a live person at a register, why would we at a self checkout.

“Just say no and move on.”

And many seemed to be in agreement with this statement.

“I only tip when I sit at a table or at [a] bar and an actual human service is provided,” another frustrated shopper wrote.

“No self service or self checkout.”

Tip prompts on self-checkout machines are often found in cafes, sports stadiums, and airports, and Americans aren’t happy.

The Wall Street Journal report revealed that many were unclear on where the tip money was going.

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.

One American said they were asked to give a 10% to 20% tip after purchasing a $6 water bottle from a gift shop at Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey.

Although shoppers have recently expressed outrage about these tip prompts, this is not a new issue.

Even last summer customers were voicing complaints about this policy.

“I was prompted to tip at the airport self-checkout station,” an individual wrote on Reddit .

“But who are you tipping exactly? Nobody has provided a service to you.”

Some have even called it emotional blackmail.

And others have suggested that the prompt was “guilt-tripping” shoppers .

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