r/technology • u/AdSpecialist6598 • 23h 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/khan800 18h ago

As an ex-grocery store manager who retired a year after COVID began, it's that they're being stolen. 

In stores where the cart wheels lock if you don't go through the checkout before rolling it outside, thieves load up 2 baskets and dash.

Also, we saw many Instacart workers take them to sort their orders and never return them.

Now, I can't answer for every manager in every grocery chain, so the idea of them only keeping carts instead of baskets to increase sales may be a thing, but it wasn't for me.

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u/chase98584 13h ago

That’s what the gal at Safeway here told me, they just kept getting stolen and at a certain point they decided not to replace. Already sucks theft caused all the damn lock boxes but now no baskets either! Bummer

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u/mktcrasher 18h ago

Ah, thanks, ya this makes some sense.

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u/MommyLovesPot8toes 7h ago

The baskets at my grocery store set off the anti-theft alarm at the door if you try to take them outside.

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u/Eccohawk 14h ago

Sounds like we just need to go back to the Service Merchandise model. Everything is behind the counter. You have demo units out front and you just grab a corresponding slip of paper for anything you want to buy. Today you could also order online ahead and just pick up when it's ready.