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Post by katlady on Oct 5, 2023 20:29:18 GMT
As of 10/14, they are still there and will be there through the holidays. Posted more in the thread.
I am working from home today so I made a lunch time run to Walmart. I always use the self-checkout. They usually have one, maybe two employees to help out when the customer has issues. It wasn’t busy so I noticed right away there were like 8 employees standing around in the self-checkout corral. One came up to me and led me to a kiosk. He scanned my cart for me while I packed my goods. I then paid as normal on the machines.
Is this their new way to try to prevent loss?! It was nice to not scan my own stuff. But when it gets busy, there will be too many people in the checkout area. We have maybe 15 kiosks, and it is not really a big area. I’ve seen larger self-checkout areas, and this one is on the smaller size. We have to keep the carts close to us to allow room for others to get by. 8 additional people, trying to maneuver around all the customers and their carts sounds like chaos to me. Well, I’ll see how long this last.
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edie3
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,481 
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Post by edie3 on Oct 5, 2023 20:31:00 GMT
Gee, maybe they need to rethink the self check out. Our Walmart has tons of regular registers, but usually only 2 manned. Why not put those 8 people on a register?
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Post by katlady on Oct 5, 2023 20:34:41 GMT
Gee, maybe they need to rethink the self check out. Our Walmart has tons of regular registers, but usually only 2 manned. Why not put those 8 people on a register? There were about 6 regular registers open, and they all had customers. I have noticed that this particular Walmart has a lot of people that use the regular registers and they have about 6-8 regular registers open during the busy time.. But on busy days. even the self checkout registers have a long line. |
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Post by Mel on Oct 5, 2023 20:47:52 GMT
Umm... isn't the whole idea of self-check out being able to check out your self?? If I wanted someone else to scan my goods, I'd go to a manned register. Seems a bit counter productive to me.
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Post by katlady on Oct 5, 2023 20:55:15 GMT
Umm... isn't the whole idea of self-check out being able to check out your self?? If I wanted someone else to scan my goods, I'd go to a manned register. Seems a bit counter productive to me. It does save some time, and energy, because I don't have to unload my cart onto a conveyor belt like I would if I went to a regular cash register. It did feel strange, now after experiencing it, I wouldn't mind doing it again. But like I mentioned, I would hate to see the area when it is a busy time. |
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Post by revirdsuba99 on Oct 5, 2023 20:55:39 GMT
Maybe they were new employees learning the ropes?!
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Post by Basket1lady on Oct 5, 2023 20:56:57 GMT
Maybe they were new employees learning the ropes?! Or corporate people on a field trip? |
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breetheflea
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Post by breetheflea on Oct 5, 2023 21:12:20 GMT
I don't shop at Walmart but at my grocery store I used the self-checkout today. The machine freaked out and called the self-checkout person over, and the screen had a screenshot of one of my items, and asked if I'd actually scanned that item... and flashed "8 items" over and over. It's getting to the point where it would almost be easier to just use a regular checkout, if there were more than two for the entire store...
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leeny
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,637
Location: Northern California
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Jun 27, 2014 1:55:53 GMT
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Post by leeny on Oct 5, 2023 21:23:37 GMT
The self check out is a place where those that want to steal large quantities of goods go. They pretend they are checking out and then leave without paying. Some Walmarts are taking out the self check option. There are many news stories about it.
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Post by pepperwood on Oct 5, 2023 23:26:32 GMT
When I recently went to CVS NONE of the registers were open. There was a single employee standing off to the side watching the customers struggling to operate the two self-service checkouts as the line to use them backed up. I find the self checkout to take longer. If you have more than one or two items, there isn't much room to put them let alone put down your purse as you struggle to get out your credit card and coupons as well as the reusable bag that you brought. At the staffed checkout you can do that as they scan your items.
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Post by littlemama on Oct 5, 2023 23:28:56 GMT
The self check out is a place where those that want to steal large quantities of goods go. They pretend they are checking out and then leave without paying. Some Walmarts are taking out the self check option. There are many news stories about it. Well, they can't have it both ways. Either they want us to do the job of checkout clerk and take the risk of some theft or they want to employ checkout clerks and have enough registers open. I did one walk out of Meijer with a full cart of groceries that I had not paid for. We went back in when I realized it and the worker at self checkout told us she would have just kept going. It was a fiasco because she had already cleared our order from the register (it was only a few minutes) and so someone had to ring in our groceries again. |
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dawnnikol
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Post by dawnnikol on Oct 5, 2023 23:32:02 GMT
I was in Target today and they've now posted signs that the "Self Check-Out is 10 items or less". I was there at 10:20am and they had all 8 self check-out things open and ONE register. This seems like more of a way to limit items people purchase in store, push the purchase from home and pick up, or irritate everybody involved.
Our Wal-Mart was remodeled and now has 30+ self check-outs and there's usually 1 person per 15. They then have a person who checks receipts randomly as you exit. I believe there are a couple of regular check out lanes between the ocean of self check-out though. It's still crazy though.
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edie3
Drama Llama
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Post by edie3 on Oct 6, 2023 1:05:36 GMT
I can't go to Walmart without cussing. What I want is locked up or not in stock, the employees who do the pick up orders that run over you, the lack of manned check outs, the employees at the self check out too busy on their phone, etc. It's not worth it to me. I try to avoid it like the plague.
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Post by rockymtnpea on Oct 6, 2023 1:39:52 GMT
Edie3…agree. Walmart is an all around miserable experience. I avoid it all costs…
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Post by calgaryscrapper on Oct 6, 2023 1:40:05 GMT
It could be that time of the month when the mystery shoppers come in. You can often tell what stores have mystery shoppers.
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Post by mymindseyedpea on Oct 6, 2023 2:14:13 GMT
I vaguely remember something about this where they will wear a vest and guide you towards the shortest lines (I think during the holiday season) but I remember something about scanning your stuff in the cart too to make it quicker. I guess it can be done in self checkout too.
It’s like a half remember seeing it in the store and on tv.
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Post by crazy4scraps on Oct 6, 2023 2:14:26 GMT
I was in Target today and they've now posted signs that the "Self Check-Out is 10 items or less". I was there at 10:20am and they had all 8 self check-out things open and ONE register. This seems like more of a way to limit items people purchase in store, push the purchase from home and pick up, or irritate everybody involved. Our Wal-Mart was remodeled and now has 30+ self check-outs and there's usually 1 person per 15. They then have a person who checks receipts randomly as you exit. I believe there are a couple of regular check out lanes between the ocean of self check-out though. It's still crazy though. I too noticed that change when I was at Target yesterday and thought, well maybe if there were more than two manned registers fewer people would need to go through the self checkout. I’m sure it’s a direct response to all the theft that has been reported locally lately with people skip scanning. LOL, I had to quick look and count how many items I had in my cart: 9, so I was good. Next I wondered how many people would put stuff back (or worse yet, ditch it somewhere it doesn’t go) to have 10 or fewer items in their cart. Kind of seems counterproductive if you ask me. |
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Post by mymindseyedpea on Oct 6, 2023 2:19:30 GMT
The self check out is a place where those that want to steal large quantities of goods go. They pretend they are checking out and then leave without paying. Some Walmarts are taking out the self check option. There are many news stories about it. Well, they can't have it both ways. Either they want us to do the job of checkout clerk and take the risk of some theft or they want to employ checkout clerks and have enough registers open. I did one walk out of Meijer with a full cart of groceries that I had not paid for. We went back in when I realized it and the worker at self checkout told us she would have just kept going. It was a fiasco because she had already cleared our order from the register (it was only a few minutes) and so someone had to ring in our groceries again. Ugh … doesn’t that self checkout worker believe in karma? We have receipt look up in our store. I wonder how they cleared the order. Until someone’s card goes through or cashes it out, it won’t clear. |
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Post by imkat on Oct 6, 2023 11:29:14 GMT
I was at the airport recently, and the cashier standing behind the cash register in an empty store would not check me out. She said I had to use the self service checkout. I said, what if I have cash? And she said I needed a credit card. I was only buying a bottle of water, so I walked out.
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Post by cecilia on Oct 6, 2023 12:50:47 GMT
Maybe they were new employees learning the ropes?! Or corporate people on a field trip? I once had a market employee (above store manager and below the next step) help me once with checking out a customer so it's possible |
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iowgirl
Pearl Clutcher
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Post by iowgirl on Oct 6, 2023 12:59:09 GMT
One came up to me and led me to a kiosk. He scanned my cart for me while I packed my goods. I then paid as normal on the machines. My Walmart has always kind of been this way, but mainly when it isn't super busy. The self checkout is difficult when you have a cart full - because there is no place to put things. If your cart is still full of stuff to be scanned, and there is only space after the scanner for a couple bags - it gets tricky, especially if you are along. Where to put stuff? I have seen employees stop in and help get things scanned faster and help bag and get into the cart. My area is a smaller rural area, I don't know if that makes any difference. The Hy-Vee store is about the same. If not slammed busy, then the front end always helps with self-checkout. I have the Walmart App - so I Scan & Go, so when I go through the self checkout, I just scan the QR code and I'm done. I highly recommend that. |
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Post by monklady123 on Oct 6, 2023 13:33:24 GMT
My Costco started doing this when they put in the self checkouts... one employee for each self-checkout register. One day I was there and there were maybe three self checkouts open, all the other ones were closed. I asked an employee standing nearby why couldn't they open more self-checkouts (there was a pretty long line waiting) and he said it was because they didn't have enough employees. I said "but these are self-checkouts. I'm happy with checking myself out." hahaha To his credit he did open a few more registers. lol -- I don't care if they scan my items because it is faster than when I have to scan, then put the item on the side, then put them all back in my cart. But I also don't mind doing it myself...I mean, I did get in that line on purpose. lol
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styxgirl
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Post by styxgirl on Oct 6, 2023 14:36:40 GMT
Gee, maybe they need to rethink the self check out. Our Walmart has tons of regular registers, but usually only 2 manned. Why not put those 8 people on a register? I AGREE! |
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styxgirl
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Jun 27, 2014 4:51:44 GMT
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Post by styxgirl on Oct 6, 2023 14:39:19 GMT
99% of the time, unless in a dire hurry with a couple of items, I would rather wait in a line for a clerk to scan my order than use self check out.
Lately, the self check out lines have been just as long as the regular lines.
If they are going to have 8 workers in the self check out area, they should just open the regular lanes back up. LOL
One walmart close to me only has about 3 actual manned lanes. The whole rest of the front has been rebuilt into HUGE self check out areas. I hate that Walmart!
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Post by pepperwood on Oct 6, 2023 23:57:55 GMT
Someone posted on Nextdoor that Shop Rite called the police on her elderly father who accidently forgot to scan one of his items at a self-checkout register. She said they would not let the poor man, who was very shaken and scared, leave the store until he signed a confession. She said he was banned from Shop Rite and the police would be called if he tried to enter a Shop Rite
I have no way of knowing if this is a true story, but it is awful if it really happened.
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Post by katlady on Oct 14, 2023 19:54:36 GMT
Update - Went to Walmart today. Busy Saturday morning. Every self-checkout kiosk had a “helper”. This time they asked if I wanted to do the scanning myself or if I wanted her to. I asked her if this is all new. She said they’ll be here through the holidays. So I think it is for loss-prevention. They are not trainees and they are not management watching how things work. There is also one more employee at the exit of the corral and then the one at the main exit door that checks your receipt.
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snyder
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Post by snyder on Oct 14, 2023 19:59:33 GMT
Kind of defeats the purpose of not paying cashiers. Let's just pay people to stand around and watch customers struggle with their checkout proc3ess. Hmmm.
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Post by Lexica on Oct 14, 2023 21:08:49 GMT
I haven’t noticed this in my Walmart yet. I don’t shop there often and when I do, I don’t like to use the self checkout, but I do walk right by it heading for the regular check stands so I see that it is customers only. I prefer to stand and load my bags as the checker checks each item because I like my stuff baggies a certain way, all freezer things together, all refrigerated things, and fragile stuff, etc.. I don’t appreciate smashed bread, which has happened a couple of times at that Walmart. They do have someone to check the receipts at the exit, but in the months that I have been here, only one person took my receipt from me and looked at it. I always have it in my hand and slow down and offer it, but they typically just wave me away. Maybe I look honest? Or more likely, since I have grey hair, they don’t see me as a threat? Or they are profiling a specific type of customer?
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Post by lisae on Oct 14, 2023 21:24:02 GMT
I have a relative who works parttime at Walmart. I'll ask her tomorrow if they are doing this at her location. I did ask her about theft and it is a problem. They have gone to almost entirely self-checkout so it would take a lot of people to cover them all this way.
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Post by Laurie on Oct 14, 2023 23:57:50 GMT
I am in the minority but I am going to hate it if stores start taking away the self checkout. I prefer bagging my stuff how I want it and not have to do the awkward small talk. Plus I always seem to find the cashiers that take their sweet ass time scanning. I like to get in and out of stores as quick as possible.
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