TARGET shoppers are fed up with the new limited hours for automatic cash registers in stores, which force them to wait in line at the checkout.
In February, Target officials confirmed that some stores would reduce the hours of self-checkout registers.
Stores can choose to keep kiosks closed early in the morning and late in the evening.
The measure was intended to combat “lack of stock”, but it also caused contempt among buyers.
“Target closing its self-checkout has made going to Target quite unbearable. It actually irritates me,” he wrote a client on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Other he wrote: “My local Target closed the self-checkout lines, so it was back to waiting forever to be checked out.”
“I understand I don’t want people stealing at self-checkout. But don’t punish your customers… have extra cashiers open! I was about to leave.”
Several shoppers also witnessed only one or two traditional cash registers open while the self-checkout registers were closed.
“Seriously, an open checkout. No self-checkout is open. Line looks like Christmas time. Do better,” he wrote a customer.
One buyer even called the move “the dumbest thing ever.”
“The whole thing where @Target keeps the self-checkout lines closed until a certain time in the morning is the dumbest thing ever,” said Doctor Utopia on X.
“I literally just left. I don’t wait in line for 20 minutes just to get a few items.
“Also with my anxiety, I don’t want to talk to the cashier.”
Some customers even said they would start shopping elsewhere.
“Target closing self-checkout? Target in Grass Valley has closed self-checkout and only 2 open registers,” a customer he said.
“The cashier told me that self-checkout is closed until 11am every day.”
“I think I’ll buy more from Amazon.”
EMPLOYEE PERSPECTIVE
Target employees spoke with Business Insider about the new policy when it went into effect.
“If and when we have to close morning and evening self-checkouts, we will have a lot of people extremely upset with us,” a Michigan team member told the outlet.
“I’ll have to explain to them that they’re closed for theft.”
Latest self-checkout changes
Retailers are evolving their self-checkout strategy in an effort to speed checkout times and reduce theft.
Walmart shoppers were shocked when self-checkout lanes at several locations were made available only to Walmart+ members.
Other customers reported that self-checkout was closed at specific times and more cashiers were offered in its place.
While shoppers feared that shoplifting would fuel the upgrades, 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 thwart fiercely contested receipt checks.
However, this test has been discontinued.
At Target, items are being limited in auto-checkout.
Last fall, the brand researched new express self-checkout lanes in 200 stores with 10 items or less for added convenience.
In March 2024, this policy was expanded to 2,000 stores in the US.
On Reddit, another employee stated that self-checkout would only work between 10am and 6:30pm.
Previously, registrations were available from 8 am to 10 pm.
“I understand that SCO usage is very high, but I’m not sure how that will play out with guests,” they wrote.
One Target customer said shopping in the store felt like “an ongoing disaster” after these changes.
Another new store policy sets an age limit for those who can shop alone.
This story originally appeared on The-sun.com read the full story
