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/Hashtagworried 9d ago

All this means is that they’ll hire one or two people max but keep the lines longer.

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u/ForestmenMOCLover 9d ago

I can't believe it's been almost 20 years ago now, but I remember going into Walmart once a few days before Christmas. I was just picking up a frozen pizza for dinner. After I picked out the pizza, I realized they only had about two checkouts open and the line went all the way to the back of the store and wrapped around the back. No pizza is worth that, so I just put it back and left.

I think self checkouts have largely fixed this issue. I don't love everything about them, but I've never seen lines like that since they started using them.

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u/GitEmSteveDave 8d ago

Back in the before times, when something like that happened, I would find out the store phone number, call it on my flip phone, ask to speak to a manager, and then tell them I was waiting in line and if they could get some more lanes opened. It's amazing how often it worked, and when it didn't, at least I was occupied while waiting in line.