2 hours Ago By Chris Bradford
A WALMART shopper was incandescent with rage after running into problems while shopping at one of the chain’s supermarkets. The customer was so apoplectic that she was on the verge of abandoning her cart . Her fury mounted while she was waiting in the checkout line, according to a post on X .
The shopper claimed she had been standing in the line for 20 minutes. “Ready to leave my cart of food and walk out,” she said. The furious shopper then gave the chain an ultimatum.
read more on money “Either open up more cashiers or drop the 15 items at self-checkout?” The shopper asked the chain: “Do you not want people to shop at your stores?” A Walmart spokesperson responded to the customer and said they wanted to assist with the case. A select number of Walmart stores have rolled out a policy that limits customers on how many items self-checkout users can scan. Most read in Money A store in Glenmont, New York, only allows shoppers to use the self-service machines if they have 15 items or less, according to the outlet Q105.
7 . The shopper is not the only customer who has lashed out at the retailer over the policy. Customers have claimed item limits do not make sense, while others have been so enraged that they’ve threatened to boycott the chain.
However, it appears the 15-item policy limit is not a national policy. And it seems looser than similar measures enforced by bosses of other chains. 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.
Target chiefs have tried to limit self-checkout machines to 10 items or less. The measure was trialed last year in around 200 stores before being rolled out more widely. Chiefs said that self-checkout was twice as fast at locations where the idea was being trialed.
As part of the checkout changes, execs revealed that more lines would open to accommodate those who prefer a traditional checkout. Like Walmart, Target has come under fire over the policy – despite the company's intentions. One customer was stunned that shoppers could leave Target with just 10 items in their carts.
Others didn’t welcome the change and said it prompted them to find another retailer . Some were so dissatisfied with the so-called hurdle that they would rather shop at Walmart. Read More on The US Sun Smaller chains such as Schnucks have also rolled out policies that limit the number of items scanned at self-checkout.
The policy was rolled out in February of this year, and bosses said at the time that they wanted to improve customers' experiences while also combatting theft..
