A RETAILER has lost out to one of his rivals due to a cashier push that is sending customers elsewhere.
Janet Furgason of Georgia took to Facebook to share how, after several decades, she will no longer shop at Lowe’s.
His experience alone was enough to make others flee the retailer.
“I’m definitely anti-self-checkout!!!” Furgason wrote in a publish on the social media platform.
She detailed how a visit to a Lowes store in Smyrna proved to be the last straw after she was forced into a corner thanks to the retailer’s big move, which didn’t give customers other options at checkout.
“I was unhappy with the push for self-checkout here in the past, but now they’ve removed all the cash registers and you have no choice but to use self-checkout to pay for your purchases,” Furgason explained. .
“One time we left our items in the cart and left the store because no cash registers were open.
“Now they won’t even pretend to be available to serve their customers.”
Furgason isn’t the only Lowe’s shopper to abandon her cart after another shopper did the same when faced with an hours-long wait due to another checkout issue.
“I feel like this store and any others that insist on self-checkout do not appreciate our business enough to actually greet us and take our money” continued Furgason.
“We spend a small fortune and have been loyal customers for over 25 years.
“I regret that we will no longer shop at this or any other Lowes store.”
Fellow Lowe’s shoppers agreed with Furgason, as others have already said they boycotted the retailer as a result of its push toward self-checkout.
“I always go to the cashier. Even though self-checkout is available,” commented one customer.
“In my opinion… it helps to maintain jobs. I also agree with you. We don’t work there. So why are we doing checkout and packaging etc.
“Not to mention the hardship this adds to customers with disabilities… Maybe if enough of us speak out against this, we can make a change.”
Another shopper even rejected a farewell trip to the store after reading of Furgason’s experience.
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.
Shoppers also identified their local Walmart stores restricting customers to 15 items or less to use self-checkout machines.
“I’ve decided. I’m going to Home Depot tomorrow,” they said.
The US Sun has reached out to Lowe’s for comment.
Meanwhile, the retailer’s return policy saw another customer abandon the hardware chain after the store refused to give him credit after picking up an item.
It’s not just the changes at Lowe’s that are causing customers to complain and threaten to go elsewhere.
Sam’s Club may be pushing some members to rival Costco after introducing a new anti-theft measure that has some worried about their privacy.
The wholesale retailer installed AI cameras at store exits with the aim of cracking down on theft and streamlining the shopping experience.
Retail analyst Molly Burke has warned retailers about how increased automation could be hurting business.
This story originally appeared on The-sun.com read the full story