Super Walmart shutting down ALL self checkouts...

[NotUrsula]

My closest store, built about 3 years ago with almost all "corral" style self-check kiosks (the setup arranged in a square with the kiosks all facing the middle, with a gate on the area), was the first store where WM decided to eliminate self-checkout (well, not completely; there are still 3 kiosks that can be used only by food delivery drivers and members of WM's free-shipping club.) They made the change last April.

The first week after the change was absolutely insane; the checkers had no idea what they were doing, and the average line to check out became nearly an hour long. It's a wee bit better now, but not much; this photo was taken on a random Tuesday evening in late May; when I took it I was 18th in line for one of the only 5 registers in operation (sent it to DH to explain why my quick run to the store was taking so long.) I now try very hard not to go to that store except either very early or very late; it's worth it to drive further away to a store that still has self-check to avoid the long lines.


PS: It doesn't surprise me that WalMart has a higher-than-average shrink rate at self-check kiosks. I've never encountered one that had not disabled the weight sensors in the bagging areas, so of course people are going to slip in extra items without being caught. If they re-enabled the sensors, the shrinkage problem would be mitigated, but then they would have to put more humans on the kiosk area to resolve weight registration errors.

 

[ClaraOswald]

I hope my store keeps them. I like bagging things myself. I also hate forced small talk with strangers. I often wear earbuds and listen to music when I shop and check-out which makes it a more pleasant experience.

 

[tinkerbellandpeterpan]

I wouldn't mind self checkout but I have to put everything on the stupid scale/belt instead of being able to bag. And yes the bag sets off the scale/belt into a frenzy. And every time I buy meat I have to get the self checkout supervisor to come over and confirm for each individual item. It's ridiculous. Either you trust us to self checkout or you don't.

 

[Silvermist999]

I love self checkout, but I have recently gone back to using the cashier at one of our local supermarkets, because they are still doing price matching. Can’t price match at the self-checkout so that now means waiting in longer lineups to price match, I’m ok with that.

 

[tvguy]

If a store expects me to self-check-out then I expect them to give me an employee discount. yeah right.

The workers of the Unionized local grocery story traded employee discounts for a bigger pay raise. Makes sense. Their store sells milk for $4.28 a gallon. Less a 15% employee discount, they pay $3.64. They can go down the street to Walmart and pay $3.48 with no discount. They are money ahead by getting the higher pay and not shopping at their store.

 

[kymom99]

My local Home Depot has removed all registers and replaced them with all self checkout.

I assume that is because they hate their customers and employees.

Checking out with a bunch of 2x12’s you have to weave through the self checkout queue making two 90 degree turns and a 180.

Use the hand scanner

 

[kymom99]

I prefer to scan my own groceries. I often just use the hand scanner and leave most of the stuff in the cart. Then after I pay I can bag it up. I hate the way the employees bag things. My son works in the off season at a grocery store. Believe me when I tell you, they are not cutting employees due to self checkouts. They can’t get enough workers as it is.

If you hate self checkout, don’t go to England. They have them in all the sainsburys.

 

[Imzadi]

My local Home Depot has removed all registers and replaced them with all self checkout.

I would LOVE this! The cashiers at our local Home Depot store on 23rd St, NYC, cheat and add on about an extra 32¢ to 69¢ on EVERY purchase I made. I'm talking FIVE times in a row. I often didn't notice until I got home that the number of screws or nuts & bolts had been input incorrectly. Often, one doesn't make a special trip to Home Depot just to correct that. AND when using a cashier, the computer screen isn't facing us to see the itemized list.

Once I realized this, I purposely told the cashier I have 10 bolts. He had to count them himself. Yep, he counted to 10. Then he went to input the number on the register and I HEARD HIM under his breath say "Okay, so 13 bolts."

I had him correct the number. But, when I looked at the receipt before leaving the store this time, the amount was incorrect on the nuts! At that point, I had to go to the service desk to get a refund. I told them how "Mike" got the numbers wrong and they just laughed. They knew what was going on. Their boss probably told them to add on several cents here and there when they can. When they do that to almost every customer, the money adds up by the end of the week, each week.

Now, I will only use the self checkouts there.

 

[luvthatduke]

My decrepit back hates self checkouts.
Aldi's are a tiny, little square, with no hand scanner.
Another chain here also no hand scanner but you do use the belt.
Unfortunately, the belt doesn't move.

 

[disykat]

I like the self checkout if I have a few items, but a whole cart? Forget it! The system gets all balled up if you can't fit all your items on the little space allotted at the same time. If you try to move anything, it stops!

I like going to a nearby store where they scan but I bag my own. I like controlling what is bagged together. That can be a pain if it's super busy around a holiday, etc. though.

 

[kdonnel]

Use the hand scanner

That doesn’t help getting through the queue. Or cover the fact that someone buying lumber has to block 3-4 of the self checkouts since they are placed so closely together.

 

[anniemae]

Self checkout is the best. My introverted self loves it! I find it quick and easy and if I have an issue there is always an attendant standing nearby to help. I wish my grocery store would put them in.

 

[Disneylover99]

I like self-checkout and usually use it wherever I go, but I can see why some stores would want to shut them down due to theft. Some people just can’t be honest and when they see an opportunity to cheat or scam, they go for it.

 

[Moliphino]

I love self-checkout. No awkward small talk. My preferred local grocery chain removed them about a decade ago, but they brought them back after a couple years (I think partly due to complaints, and partly due to improved technology).

 

[dizneegirl]

All you have to do is ask for someone to check you out and they will open a check stand. Under ADA they HAVE to do that. And of course, they have to do that if you have alcohol, since you can't buy that at a self check.

You can self-check liquor in Illinois. I've done it.

 

[SandyinMonterey]

At my Super Walmart there are 5 self check outs and at least 15-18 check outs. I don't go often, but when I do usually only 2 checkouts are open. Last month I was out of state at a Super Walmart, same thing. I'm glad they're closing self check out.

 

[TippyThomas]

Dealing with all the produce alone is enough for me to hate self checkout. I always need additional help anyway because the system shuts down and lights flash so I might as well just go to the manned checkout lane to start with.

 

[Smugpugmug]

Another perk of self check out for me is that I can bag my groceries the way I want. Whenever I do the normal check out, my stuff is bagged incorrectly every. single. time. When I mean incorrectly, I mean eggs and bread at the bottom, raw meat with produce, etc. I end up having to reorganize everything in the trunk of my car before leaving.

I went to our Neighborhood Market mid-morning on a Sunday and only self check. No big conveyor belt lanes either. Just those tiny stands with a small square spot to put your bags. We had an entire cart full of groceries, over $200. I came very close to walking out.

The Giant near me is like that on weekdays which I guess makes sense to them seeing as they think it's less busy. But a lot of people (including myself) shop on their lunch break and the line for self checkout goes through the produce section on the worst of days.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

I like the self checkout if I have a few items, but a whole cart? Forget it! The system gets all balled up if you can't fit all your items on the little space allotted at the same time. If you try to move anything, it stops!

Our Walmart that we go to doesn't do that. Sure you put the item in the bag then the machine registers it then you are free to put that bag in your cart.

Now our Costco? Yeah it has more issues when you want to pick up the item before you're completely done with the transaction but not Walmart.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

My local Home Depot has removed all registers and replaced them with all self checkout.

I assume that is because they hate their customers and employees.

Checking out with a bunch of 2x12’s you have to weave through the self checkout queue making two 90 degree turns and a 180.

I always thought that Home Depot had it smarter by doing the handheld scanner, of which not too many use that around here most annoyingly Walmart. But the Home Depot self check shouldn't be intended to be used for lumber and other large bulky items, I've seen it used for that but it really shouldn't. I agree with you that your local Home Depot is making the wrong move on that end by not having any regular check out. The self check out at home improvement stores is great for people who are going in for quick small-ish stuff like sprinkler heads, screws, lawncare items, etc because you're in and out of the store instead of being behind the person with the cart full of lumber blocking the aisles when you just have a few small stuff to buy.