Walmart and other giant retailers, as well as some supermarket chains, are starting to remove their self-checkout kiosks. What's frustrating about this is that they are doing this during the busiest time of the year.
Customers shop at a Target store on August 16, 2023 in Chicago, Illinois. Target’s quarterly sales fell for the first time in six years which is being attributed in part to consumer backlash from the sale of Pride Month merchandise.
As of press time, Americans and other people across the globe are trying their best to complete their shopping activities since Christmas is just a few days away.
This is why it is important for them to get the items they purchased out of supermarkets, grocery stores, and other shopping establishments as soon as they can.
Self-checkout kiosks can really be helpful during busy shopping times. However, why are they being pulled out?
Walmart, Other Retailers Remove Self-Checkout Kiosks, During Holiday Season
The Fortune reported that Walmart started removing its self-checkout kiosks back in the fall; affecting three stores in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Aside from Walmart, Safeway-an American supermarket chain-also pulled out its self-checkout machines in its store in Fillmore, California, as reported by The U.S. Sun.
American supermarket chains and retailers are not the only ones removing their self-checkouts. British supermarket chain Booths also announced its decision to get rid of its self-checkout kiosks.
Booths confirmed that it is taking out these shopping machines from the majority of its stores because of customer backlash. In 2022, Wegmans Food Markets Inc., a privately held American supermarket company, discontinued the use of its self-checkout app.
These are just some of the supermarket chains and retailers that are partially or completely removing their self-checkout kiosks and other similar technologies. Now, the question is, why are they doing this?
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Issues With Self-Checkout Kiosks
Shoppers wait in line to pay for their purchases at a Walmart store in Los Angeles, California on November 24, 2009, a few days before �Black Friday� the day after Thanksgiving which kicks off the holiday shopping season. Retailers are hoping �doorbuster� deals will stimulate sales despite the weak economy.
As more and more supermarkets and other similar firms remove their self-checkout technologies, many experts predict that this shopping innovation could soon vanish.
Yes, there's no denying that self-checkout machines usually make shopping faster and easier. However, this technology also has its downsides and issues.
For example, some shoplifters are able to find a workaround that will allow them to self-checkout items without paying for them. They can easily do this since no cashier is present.
Another issue with self-checkout kiosks is bugs. Many shoppers complain that whenever they use these machines, they are faced with numerous errors, making their shopping longer unlike when they are settling their bills with a human cashier.
When it comes to the labor force, the Bureau of Labor Statistics said that self-checkout technologies could reduce the number of cashier jobs, affecting many people who are just trying to find work.
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