‘Hurting not helping,’ says Kroger shopper as he rails against self-checkout policy – a change is ‘warranted’ now
SELF-CHECKOUTS are once again a hot topic after a Kroger shopper urged the retailer to make a change.
Retailers are struggling to find the balance between keeping operational costs low, protecting inventory, and giving customers the option of self-service.
GettyKroger has been urged to make a change after one shopper said a regular issue has gone on for too long (stock image)[/caption]
GettyThe retailer has been accused of allowing long lines to build up unnecessarily by reducing its self-checkouts (stock image)[/caption]
As a result, a number of stores have launched trials and made changes to their self-checkout areas which have been identified as a problem area for theft.
According to a recent survey by LendingTree, 69% of people questioned believe that the self-service machines make theft easier with 15% saying they have committed theft.
More shockingly, 44% of them said they would do so again.
Now, a Kroger store in Indiana has come under fire after it reduced the availability of self-checkout registers.
“@kroger I think your store should really consider opening both self-checkout areas during peak hours at 10679 N Michigan Rd,” one shopper said on X, formerly Twitter.
“You’re trying your best but I think a change is warranted at this point.
“The new system unfortunately is hurting not helping.”
Kroger responded thanking the customer for his feedback saying it would be forwarded to the leadership team.
The customer’s complaints come just weeks after a fellow Kroger shopper shared their horror experience at the self-checkout of a location in Arkansas.
After experiencing long lines at the checkout, the shopper threatened the retailer with the competition of a rival store that had just opened in the area.
“The new competition from Edwards Food Giant doesn’t seem to have sunk in,” the shopper said on X.
In a picture accompanying the post, two rows of self-checkouts had been closed off.
Kroger apologized for the frustrating lines at the store but fellow customers shared their own experiences with one having lines to the back of the store.
Another said that they refuse to visit the store during certain times.
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.
On X, the shopper claimed that in the morning the employees at self-checkout “stand around” and “talk up a storm” while not doing their jobs.
After becoming so frustrated he demanded the return of cashiered lanes and the removal of self-checkouts.
“Put people back to work,” he demanded.
Kroger has been contacted for comment.
Other retailers have also received the same criticism especially Target after it introduced a new policy limiting self-checkouts to 10 items.
However, more self-checkout changes may be on the way if a proposed law is passed in California.
Under the legislation, Walmart and other retailers may be forced to follow Target’s item-limiting policy and add staff to its self-checkouts.
GettyMore self-checkout changes across numerous major retailers may be on their way due to a proposed law in California (stock image)[/caption]
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