A slew of new Target self-checkout rules has shoppers across the country pounding their fists in livid frustration.
As of March 17th, every Target store manager now has the authority “to set self-checkout hours that are right for their store,” according to an official policy declaration.
“The move is in response to store managers wanting time to set up the machines at the start of the day and time to shut them down at the end. At these times, they need to also cash up and sort out stock – and it is thought the self-checkouts can be a distraction,” according to the Daily Mail.
The problem is that some managers are closing the self-checkout kiosks too early, which is leading to long wait times for customers.
Case in point:
@Target I get that you are trying to limit the use of self-checkout but having only one cashier with a line of 10 people is ridiculous.
— Rae (@rae__nee) April 26, 2024
banging my head against the wall why does me running to target to get red bull take 20 minutes now bc they closed all the self checkout lines till 10am
— kssi | cyno’s hype man (@sleepykssi) April 22, 2024
@Target why on earth your Jersey City store closes at 10pm but self-checkout closes at 9pm and there are only 3 cashiers between 9pm and 10pm? Huge line every night between 9pm and 10pm
— Tuan Anh Hoang-Vu (@hvtuananh) April 14, 2024
The @Target in Lake Park doesn’t open the self-checkout until hours after the store opens to “increase customer interaction.” I.e., they force you to wait in line because they can’t hire staff. Someone needs to be fired over this terrible decision.
— Matt Sarelson, Esq. – Attorney & Advisor (@MSarelson) April 26, 2024
the they closed all the self checkout at my local target and now the line is wrapped around the whole store cause there aren’t enough cashiers. this is crazy .@Target pic.twitter.com/sE9XlrGfgI
— sydney (@stopsyd) April 26, 2024
Target has also limited self-checkouts to customers with no more than 10 items to purchase. Furthermore, at least one Target store has instituted a new rule barring those under 18 from entering its stores without an adult present.
“[A] Target location in the Columbia Heights neighborhood of Washington is now implementing a stricter policy, mandating that anybody under age 18 must be accompanied by an adult to enter the store,” The Street reported this week.
Because the store is in D.C., it also reportedly has a number of items under lock and key.
Target isn’t the only store making abrupt changes.
“We’ve decided to remove self-checkout lanes and replace them with staffed lanes at select locations, including at our Shrewsbury, Missouri, store,” a Walmart spokesperson said this week in a statement to The National Desk.
“These decisions were based on several factors, including feedback from associates and customers, shopping patterns and business needs in the area. We believe the changes will improve the in-store shopping experience and give our associates the chance to provide more personalized and efficient service,” they added.
Critics for their part believe the real reason for this move is crime:
So people were stealing too much. We got it.
— Lenny ‘Chip’ English (@LennyEnglishJr) April 24, 2024
Any revenue stream dependent on the “honor system” for earnings will lose money.
Just ask anybody who was in charge of their office snack bar.— KingOfFitness (@strikeforcefit) April 24, 2024
Soon it will all be done via the app or a kiosk and employees will get your merchandise.
Theft is corrupting a simple trip to the store. Not being able to stop, arrest, and punish the perp is driving up litigation and cost.
Go for it WALMART. I’ll support you.
— Scott Cheatham (@scottcheatham) April 26, 2024
I don’t know why Walmart feels the need to lie about why they’re getting rid of self-checkout in some (most? all?) markets.
You can just say that it’s because of rising theft. pic.twitter.com/Ab0ftvyI7i
— Bojac (@HeartlessBojac) April 22, 2024
Last up is Dollar General, which said in March that it’d reduce self-checkout options at most of its locations and remove self-checkout entirely from the 300 locations most affected by shoplifting.
Dollar General also said it would add more staff to the self-checkout area to provide assistance.
“While self-checkout has contributed to the convenient proposition for our customers in certain stores, it does not reduce the importance of a friendly, helpful employee who is there to greet customers and assist while the checkout process is happening,” Dollar General CEO Todd Vasos said during an earnings call in December, according to Retail Dive.
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Author: Vivek Saxena
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