Walmart Faces Backlash as Customer Expresses Discomfort with Self-Checkout, Prefers Target

A customer has criticized Walmart after a bad experience at the self-checkout. This might lead to more people shopping at competing stores instead.

Walmart is receiving complaints about problems at its self-checkouts, such as slow machines, special lanes reserved for members, and long waits at some locations.

Shoppers Unhappy with Self-Checkout Changes

Another customer has shared his frustration, saying a confusing self-checkout system made him and his girlfriend uncomfortable.

On X, the platform previously known as Twitter, many customers are speaking out against big stores because of the constant changes.

Many of these customers have decided to shop elsewhere, and Erick (@Juggalotus209) is one of them. He said that his last visit to Walmart was on Sunday.

"Last time I come to @Walmart," he mentioned in his message.

The customer complained that his local Walmart is forcing shoppers to use self-checkout lanes where employees scan their items.

He said that Walmart has replaced most cashier lanes with self-checkout and now requires shoppers to wait while an employee scans their items. "They installed 60% self-checkout stands, and now we just have to stand awkwardly while an employee scans our items," he explained.

He also mentioned that Walmart wouldn't let them check out their items themselves. This made him and his girlfriend feel uncomfortable as they had to stand by and criticize Walmart while an employee scanned their purchases.

The customer warned Walmart that he would start shopping more at Target, Walmart's competitor, because of this self-checkout process.

Also Read: Kroger Faces Backlash Over Changed Meat Recipe: Shoppers Demand Return of Fan Favorite

Walmart May Tighten Self-Checkout Rules

While Walmart hasn't officially said it's changing how self-checkouts work, these steps might be to stop theft.

Reports Ginux, Walmart, the biggest store in the country, loses about $3 billion each year to theft. That's why it and other stores are trying different ways to prevent theft, like putting up security gates, checking receipts, and setting limits on how many items you can have at self-checkouts.

Last month, Target's new fast self-checkout lanes only let people with ten items or fewer use them. Now, a law in California might make Walmart and other stores' self-checkouts stricter to protect workers and reduce theft.

The proposed law, Bill 1446, aims to reduce theft. If it passes, stores like Walmart cannot offer self-checkout unless they meet specific rules.

For example, one employee can't watch more than two self-checkout machines simultaneously, and another can't have other tasks simultaneously.

Stores would also need to check new technology carefully before using it, especially if it could take away jobs or essential work duties.

Shoppers might see new changes at stores as they deal with losing more than $100 billion yearly because of theft.

Walmart has faced some complaints for closing its self-checkout sections at a few locations. However, some shoppers think that going back to old ways of shopping is the best move for the future of retail.

A customer mentioned that stopping self-checkout could be a good step for Walmart after seeing issues with how self-checkout works and the store's hours.

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