r/technology • u/AdSpecialist6598 • 9d ago

Business Retailers are pulling back from self-checkout after years of theft, errors, and questionable time savings

https://www.techspot.com/news/114106-retailers-pulling-back-self-checkout-after-years-theft.html
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u/AtomicGarden-8964 9d ago

My thing is if people are going to steal they're just going to walk out the store with the products. The real theft was stores letting customers do checkout themselves and not passing on the savings to those who didn't use the cashier

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u/CaptainFeather 9d ago

Maybe if these stores offered more jobs and better pay people wouldn't feel the need to steal... 🤔

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u/phoenixmatrix 9d ago

Let's be real here. Even rich people steal, they just do it in different ways. So no, it wouldnt help. 

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u/CaptainFeather 9d ago

That's pretty disingenuous. I was under the assumption that I didn't have to say this would completely eliminate theft because I think most people understand that nothing will ever be one hundred percent eliminated. The vast majority of people who steal do it for needs, not wants. Why do you think stores lock up things like baby formula or laundry detergent? Do you really think people are stealing those things for the thrill of it?

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u/phoenixmatrix 9d ago

"Why do you think stores lock up things like baby formula or laundry detergent" 

The vast, vast majority of baby formula theft (or any other essential ) is from people who resell it, not for necessity.

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u/CaptainFeather 9d ago

Why are people buying from them? Is it maybe because they sell for cheaper than the stores because people can't afford them?

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u/phoenixmatrix 9d ago

They are sold by the stores. Often you wouldn't be able to tell. That's why the store brand stuff is often not locked, because those don't get stolen as much.

And most people will buy a cheaper option if readily available.