TARGET has been criticized by customers who repeatedly face long lines and limited checkout options.
Target shoppers can’t seem to agree whether self-checkout is a good addition to the store, but everyone is begging for more checkouts to be opened.
Several customers reported extremely long lines at the store due to only a few registers being open at any given time.
“Target, your Atlanta locations, particularly Atlantic station and Edgewood, are in desperate need of employees,” one customer pleaded on Xformerly known as Twitter.
“Every time I go, the self-checkout line is longer than ever and only one or two regular checkout lines are available.
“Unacceptable. This is Walmart’s behavior.”
Target apologized to the customer, but this was just one of many common complaints.
“Seriously, Target, keep self-checkout open until closing time or schedule more than one cashier!” he wrote another buyer.
“Ridiculous and completely unfair to your frontline employees. 20 people (at least) with full carts queuing for a checkout.”
This customer was referring to Target’s recent change allowing stores to choose self-checkout opening hours.
Previously, most stores kept cashiers open from 8 am to night. Now stores can open self-checkout until 10am and only remain open until 6pm.
A third customer who had to wait 30 minutes to complete the purchase wrote: “Destination with just one registration is crazy.”
“Their self-checkout line was the length of the store.”
GOING THROUGH CHANGES
Target has taken several steps over the past year to try to improve the customer experience.
By changing self-checkout hours, the store said it was prioritizing traditional cashiers.
“We are opening more traditional avenues with our team associates in all of our stores for guests who have more in their Target carts, need help, or just like to connect with our team to help them get on their way sooner.” , read a press release.
“We also continue to invest in additional training to ensure our teams can continue to provide excellent service to guests during checkout.”
An employee stated that although the store was open from 8am to 10pm, self-checkout would only be available from 10am to 6:30pm.
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 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 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.
“If and when we have to close self-checkouts in the morning and evening, we will have a lot of people extremely upset with us,” said one employee. Business Insider.
Target also changed self-checkout to “express” checkout, limiting it to shoppers with ten items or fewer.
The retailer tested the policy in 200 stores and found that self-checkout lines moved twice as fast.
But customers had a different experience with the new rule.
“Seriously, Target, you can’t kick me out of the ’10 items or less’ self-checkout unless you open a reasonable number of registers,” one shopper wrote.
Another added: “Tonight I was denied a two-minute checkout for 19 small items and had to wait in one of four staffed lines (of 14) to receive a 15-minute checkout.”
Target isn’t the only retailer facing backlash over self-checkout.
Walmart customers have threatened that “things are going to get ugly really fast” under the store’s new self-checkout policy.
One Kroger customer said self-checkout made the store unbearable.
This story originally appeared on The-sun.com read the full story
