Super Walmart shutting down ALL self checkouts...

[goofyernmost]

And why is it the fault of any store or scanning method if customers have no idea what their credit card limits are or which ones they can use??? Self scan or 20 registers open has nothing to do with or solve that issue. Also, scanning my own items does not make me a store employee. Anymore than using mobile order at WDW makes me a Disney employee.

I didn't say it was the stores fault did I? I said that it happens and that is the fault of the customer. When it comes to which line to use, Murphy's Law applies very strongly.

As far as the "doesn't make me a store employee" comment. When I go to a live checkout location an employee of the store checks me out, bags my stuff and hands me the receipt. When you go to the self serve, you check out, scan, bag and have to prompt the machine to give you a receipt. That my friend makes you an unpaid employee of whatever store you happen to be in. Denial ain't just a river in Egypt. One less payroll cost to the store. No payroll, no extra benefit and matching tax funds but the price for the thing you purchased is exactly the same and all I have to do is take my card and insert or tap it and my work is done. Oh, yea I do have to put those bags in the cart or carry them out so that part is the same.

One of the negative problems for the store is that apparently they didn't think this thing through because it is not very difficult if one is so inclined to "accidentally" forget to scan something or somethings. Easily done when that one employee that is watching 10 or more active self serve location isn't looking in your direction. Not much of a problem because from my observation that employee is usually having a very animated chat with a fellow employee and not paying attention at all. I predict that in todays societies woeful lack of any moral direction at all, it won't be long before companies are forced to shut down that system and find it cheaper to pay someone minimum wage to process your purchases.

 

[fla4fun]

I went to our local Walmart this morning to pick up a couple of items. I prefer to order online instead of going to the store, but I didn’t need enough to make the online order minimum. Our store has about a dozen regular checkout lanes and about twenty self checkout. Since I was there right when they opened (ours is not a 24 hour store) only one regular lane was open, but there was no line.

 

[Chuck S]

As far as the "doesn't make me a store employee" comment. When I go to a live checkout location an employee of the store checks me out, bags my stuff and hands me the receipt. When you go to the self serve, you check out, scan, bag and have to prompt the machine to give you a receipt. That my friend makes you an unpaid employee of whatever store you happen to be in. Denial ain't just a river in Egypt. One less payroll cost to the store. No payroll, no extra benefit and matching tax funds but the price for the thing you purchased is exactly the same and all I have to do is take my card and insert or tap it and my work is done. Oh, yea I do have to put those bags in the cart or carry them out so that part is the same.

I understand your point, but at the same time, anything that increases the cost of doing business (employee payroll) will also affect the already outrageous prices of groceries. Stores don't just absorb costs, they pass them to the consumer through higher prices. Just as landlords pass on the costs of property taxes, insurance and anticipated repairs into the rental price. And my time to wait in line for a cashier, vs walking up to a self serve kiosk and scanning my phone, justifies it for me.

 

[Imzadi]

Since I was there right when they opened (ours is not a 24 hour store)

I don't think any Walmart store is 24 hours any more. They have been closed down at night since the pandemic. Then due to supply chain issues. Then due to ever increasing inflation.

Usually, when we finish our vacation at the Jersey shore, the last thing we do before coming home is to make a stop at Walmart and stock up on pantry supplies. This way, we have extra time watching the sunset over the ocean, and driving back while still alert. We can shop at Walmart while half asleep at 1am.

I hadn't realized Walmart had not gone back to being open 24 hours. We happened to drive back earlier than usual. So, we were in Walmart about 10:45pm, loading our cart when we heard the announcement over the speakers that Walmart was closing in several minutes. We ran around like that supermarket game show, trying to toss things in our cart as quickly as possible before time is up.

 

[PollyannaMom]

I was at Walmart the other day, and mine had both. I went to a regular line because the one for the self-checkouts seemed longer, but it still took forever. (If I didn't have an insulated bag in my cart, my frozen stuff would have melted. )

I was mostly there for non-grocery items, though. When just food shopping, I normally go to one of two other stores closer to me. One has only staffed check-outs, and the other has a mix - a few staffed lines, a few of those little self-checks with the scales (20 items or less), and a few full-size self-check stations with belts. Those are the ones I like because I can bag my own, but not have to deal with the scales - I must set things down crooked or something, because I always seem to end up having a problem with those. (I refuse to use them in CVS either. It's too frustrating.)

 

[tvguy]

I don't think any Walmart store is 24 hours any more. They have been closed down at night since the pandemic. Then due to supply chain issues. Then due to ever increasing inflation.

Usually, when we finish our vacation at the Jersey shore, the last thing we do before coming home is to make a stop at Walmart and stock up on pantry supplies. This way, we have extra time watching the sunset over the ocean, and driving back while still alert. We can shop at Walmart while half asleep at 1am.

I hadn't realized Walmart had not gone back to being open 24 hours. We happened to drive back earlier than usual. So, we were in Walmart about 10:45pm, loading our cart when we heard the announcement over the speakers that Walmart was closing in several minutes. We ran around like that supermarket game show, trying to toss things in our cart as quickly as possible before time is up.

I worked 11 pm to 7 am for 25 years, then 3 am shift for another 13 years. Grocery stores being open 24 hours kind has been cyclic. When I was in College, (1975-79) the Albertson's Grocery store closest to my College was open 24 hours. In those days, they had a store full of people stocking shelves overnight, and it was no big deal for one of them to stop what they were doing if someone came in at 3 am and check them out. Then it stopped. Mid 1980's the Safeway closest to where I worked was 24 hours. Many of my co-workers that got off work at 11:30 pm would stop on their way home to do their grocery shopping. Although I remember one co-worker who stayed to chat after the end of her shift called me. She got to the store late, and she had to put the beer she was buying back since it was after 2 am.
You're correct, a number of Walmarts used to be 24 hours and cut back during the pandemic. But one thing seems to have changed at Walmart and grocery stores, they no longer have stockers working overnight. They stock the shelves during the day, and customers have to do their shopping around them.

 

[Imzadi]

You're correct, a number of Walmarts used to be 24 hours and cut back during the pandemic. But one thing seems to have changed at Walmart and grocery stores, they no longer have stockers working overnight. They stock the shelves during the day, and customers have to do their shopping around them.

That's not good on two levels. Of course, cluttering up the aisles when working. But, it seems Walmart obiterated the whole overnight shift of workers. Maybe Walmart is just tightening their purse strings, and it's not a sign of financial trouble. Hopefully, they hired more stockers to work the day shift instead of just making the normal day shift stockers do double the work than before.

 

[Meriweather]

I was at Walmart Wednesday and self check still going. There are about 10 stations on each end of the regular.....and 2 each side with the belt that is self checkout. Usually just one side is open with one person watching and helping there.
About 3 regular check out lanes were open too.

 

[tvguy]

That's not good on two levels. Of course, cluttering up the aisles when working. But, it seems Walmart obiterated the whole overnight shift of workers. Maybe Walmart is just tightening their purse strings, and it's not a sign of financial trouble. Hopefully, they hired more stockers to work the day shift instead of just making the normal day shift stockers do double the work than before.

I am in my Neighborhood Walmart at 7 am every Sunday morning. There are stockers on every aisle, pallets of merchandise at the end of aisles. Throw in all the employees they have pulling orders for the online delivery and pickup customers, there are more employees that time of day than customers.
Our chain grocery store is union. Their contract requires anyone working between 11 pm and 5 am to get a shift differential. That is probably why they no longer have anyone working those hours. Like I said, I worked those hours for most of my career. My first 9 years were on overnight shift were in a union shop, but the owner flat out refused to ever pay an overnight shift differential. And given there were only 2 or 3 of us out of 100 who worked those house, the union never pushed it.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

They should stay for those that enjoy paying higher prices for groceries

We've had self-check out for ages at the Walmarts here, long long before the pandemic (ETA: same for grocery pick up which had been around for at least several years before the pandemic; it just exploded more during and after the pandemic). Walmart has been and consistently is the cheapest option around. The self-check out has no impact on that aspect. The other stores are just super high priced and always have been for decades.

One less payroll cost to the store.

Around here employees are so heavily used for grocery pick up there's too many employees employed lol. I laugh because when you're shopping you're constantly having to dodge the employees and I see so many more than I used to. If I had to guess they have more on the payroll than before at least around here to keep up with the demand of grocery pick ups. The self-check out is preferred here and certainly hasn't reduced who is employed. They also have greeters too which I didn't used to see as often maybe 15 years ago.

 

[cayennews]

My store still has a few self checkouts open. They do have a few more regular registers open too, but not enough. The lines are so long. They better get it together before the holiday rush or it will look like black Friday everyday.

 

[LoveDaisy]

I have not been in a Walmart in 10 years, the one by me is gross, dirty, poorly lit, crazy busy, and not well stocked. I would never get food from there, the store has a smell like food that has gone bad. Sadly it had not changed in 10 years. With that said I won a $100 gc from work so went recently to get cleaning supplies and paper goods, they had self checkout and people working at the registers.

 

[Chuck S]

My walmart put flashlight batteries under lock and key. you need an employee to get them for you. I assume due to the Holidays.

 

[goofyernmost]

I understand your point, but at the same time, anything that increases the cost of doing business (employee payroll) will also affect the already outrageous prices of groceries. Stores don't just absorb costs, they pass them to the consumer through higher prices. Just as landlords pass on the costs of property taxes, insurance and anticipated repairs into the rental price. And my time to wait in line for a cashier, vs walking up to a self serve kiosk and scanning my phone, justifies it for me.

That's true and always has been. It's retail. Usually cost plus 15 to 30%. But everyone pays for that and I can assure you that the purchase and maintenance of those self checkouts were not sent down from heaven, free of charge. The increased problem is that many, many stores have found their lost inventory has increased a huge amount caused by them directly. That cost is added in as well but that comes directly from the profit end where the rest is figured in as a standard overhead. So you're paying for that as well as the equipment. Everything comes at a cost and many are seeing that lowering the loss factor pays for more people operating the registers.

If you're worried about the cost factor, here is another bit of unthought of expenditure that ends up affecting the cost of things. During Covid (Part I), stores developed a system where hired help is used to fill phone/website grocery list orders. People could just place their order, someone working for the store would wander around the store filling the orders, bagging it, recording payment and when the customer pulled up to the "pickup" area they notified, via phone, that they were waiting outside and that employee would bring the stuff out and even load it in their car. That was a great service that was important during the time of intense terminal germ passing. Now it continues for those that are to damn lazy to go in the store and do their own shopping. I know that for some it is more of a necessity, but not all. And everyone ate before covid. My daughter is healthy, active and would have no problem negotiating the stores, but she uses that system anyway, because it is something she can do sitting down. She doesn't even have the curtesy to tip the people that go out in the heat or cold and wait on her while she holds the seat of her car down with her butt. All of us pay the extra cost to cater to those situations. And those people could be manning registers to make the lines much more manageable and make it a more enjoyable experience.

 

[goofyernmost]

I have not been in a Walmart in 10 years, the one by me is gross, dirty, poorly lit, crazy busy, and not well stocked. I would never get food from there, the store has a smell like food that has gone bad. Sadly it had not changed in 10 years. With that said I won a $100 gc from work so went recently to get cleaning supplies and paper goods, they had self checkout and people working at the registers.

Just let us know where YOUR Walmart is located so we can avoid it, plus that was 10 years ago. The super Walmart's in my area are clean, well stocked and have all the same food at a lower price than most of the other stores. They don't have the best meats once you get past the ground variety, but everything else is exactly the same that people pay more for because they think there is a difference. There is a difference, it cost more.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Now it continues for those that are to damn lazy to go in the store and do their own shopping.

I know you've harped on this before, this mentality about laziness and it's nutty to think that but whatevs it's your opinion. That said Walmart last year or the year before changed their policy regarding Walmart (.com) orders. If you order an item regardless of what it is through their website and have it for in-store pick up (and some items you can't have delivery or it's stupid expensive to do so) you have to use the grocery pick up system now. We used to have lockers, then a tower that stored people's orders but that has gone away. So grocery pick up is really just any in-store order. Personally I preferred the lockers and the tower seemed to work well.

Walmart seems to really disagree with your mentality towards workload allocation or at the very least you're misinformed as to where the workload should be going.

 

[Marrila]

That's true and always has been. It's retail. Usually cost plus 15 to 30%. But everyone pays for that and I can assure you that the purchase and maintenance of those self checkouts were not sent down from heaven, free of charge. The increased problem is that many, many stores have found their lost inventory has increased a huge amount caused by them directly. That cost is added in as well but that comes directly from the profit end where the rest is figured in as a standard overhead. So you're paying for that as well as the equipment. Everything comes at a cost and many are seeing that lowering the loss factor pays for more people operating the registers.

If you're worried about the cost factor, here is another bit of unthought of expenditure that ends up affecting the cost of things. During Covid (Part I), stores developed a system where hired help is used to fill phone/website grocery list orders. People could just place their order, someone working for the store would wander around the store filling the orders, bagging it, recording payment and when the customer pulled up to the "pickup" area they notified, via phone, that they were waiting outside and that employee would bring the stuff out and even load it in their car. That was a great service that was important during the time of intense terminal germ passing. Now it continues for those that are to damn lazy to go in the store and do their own shopping. I know that for some it is more of a necessity, but not all. And everyone ate before covid. My daughter is healthy, active and would have no problem negotiating the stores, but she uses that system anyway, because it is something she can do sitting down. She doesn't even have the curtesy to tip the people that go out in the heat or cold and wait on her while she holds the seat of her car down with her butt. All of us pay the extra cost to cater to those situations. And those people could be manning registers to make the lines much more manageable and make it a more enjoyable experience.

I think you are making a lot of very unnecessary assumptions. Do what works for you. Maybe let others do what works for them. The stores can do the math and offer what is best for them, profit wise. And they will.
Signed, a tired caregiver that orders her groceries online and does drive thru pick up.

 

[tvguy]

Just let us know where YOUR Walmart is located so we can avoid it, plus that was 10 years ago. The super Walmart's in my area are clean, well stocked and have all the same food at a lower price than most of the other stores. They don't have the best meats once you get past the ground variety, but everything else is exactly the same that people pay more for because they think there is a difference. There is a difference, it cost more.

I can't make a 10 year comparison here. All our old Walmarts have been closed and new locations opened in the last 10 years. So that alone, here could make a huge difference.

 

[LoveDaisy]

Just let us know where YOUR Walmart is located so we can avoid it, plus that was 10 years ago. The super Walmart's in my area are clean, well stocked and have all the same food at a lower price than most of the other stores. They don't have the best meats once you get past the ground variety, but everything else is exactly the same that people pay more for because they think there is a difference. There is a difference, it cost more.

Manchester, CT. I was there with my GC last week and it was the same as 10 years ago. It’s not a super one. I’ve never been in one, I think the closest super one is over an hour away.

Edit: website says it is a super one but it’s the same footprint from when it was built in 1993, so it’s not large.

 

[LoveDaisy]

I can't make a 10 year comparison here. All our old Walmarts have been closed and new locations opened in the last 10 years. So that alone, here could make a huge difference.

This one opened in 1993.