TARGET has doubled down on its self-checkout stance after customers expressed their fury at the rumoured policy hurdle.
The major US retailer has clarified its position for its customers who were being sent into a tailspin – but the store is being left behind.
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The US Sun recently reported on the suggestion that Target was removing self-checkouts from its stores.
It was thought that this was being done to crackdown on retail theft or shopper dissatisfaction.
This wouldn’t be the first time that Target had switched its policy to combat theft.
In March 2024, Target capped self-checkouts at 10 items maximum for shoppers.
SHOPPER FURY
Shoppers were furious at the self-checkout news, sharing their “shock” at the “extreme move”.
One person said on Reddit: “The Target I live near completely got rid of self checkout.
“[I’m] expressing shock at how sudden and extreme this was.
Another added: “I will be devastated if this happens at my target.
“I exclusively use self-checkout anywhere that offers it.”
But it wasn’t just shoppers that spoke about the potential fallout, experts and employees did, too.
Neil Saunders, a retail expert at GlobalData told DailyMail.com.: “Target‘s self-checkout policy has been through a lot of changes and has caused frustration for customers.
“The problem with Target is a lot of decisions are being taken centrally without proper thought about what they mean on the ground.”
One employee also spoke out on Reddit: “Our self checkout has been closed for months.
“It seems like theft from our store has gone way down because there is always armed security you have to get past at the front door.”
TARGET SPEAKS OUT
But Target has set the record straight in a statement to The US Sun.
The spokesperson said: “Target is not removing self-checkout.
“We offer it in the vast majority of our stores and have no plans to change this”
This suggests that any self-checkout policy switches would only happen on a store-by-store basis.
So Target shoppers can seemingly rest easy knowing that self-checkouts are not going anywhere in the large majority of its spots.
But in the wake of Target‘s confirmation, it might have just let itself trail behind the competiton.
Latest self-checkout changes
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.
The US Sun also reported on Sam’s Club’s plan to remove self-checkouts from all of its 600 locations in favor of Scan & Go.
Sam’s Club President and CEO Chris Nicholas said: “This is one of the fastest, most scalable transformations happening in retail today.
“We’re investing with intention — in our fleet, our associates and the member experience — to become the world’s best club retailer.
“We are not limited by our physicality — we are enabled by it.
“Our omnichannel model creates more opportunities to engage with members where they are, and how they want to shop.”
With Walmart eyeing a similar move, Target doubling down could soon leave it defending the old way of checking out all on its own.
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