A LOWE’S customer has hit out at the retailer after being shocked that new changes to self-checkout made the store feel like a prison.
Many retail giants have made big changes to their self-checkout methods, leaving very dissatisfied shoppers in their wake.
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Some customers refuse to use self-service machines, while others beg employees to work traditional checkout lines.
Lowe’s is now among the companies receiving backlash.
A customer asked other X users if anyone had tried the self-checkout changes.
“I was at Lowe’s the other day and was SHOCKED at what has happened over the last 6 months,” they wrote.
READ MORE about Self-Checkout
“Everything locked behind cages. Self-checkout only with standby observers.
“The lighting was dimmed or half of the bulbs were burnt out. It’s difficult to navigate the stocked aisles/stairs.
“The few available workers simply walk around mindlessly asking questions on the radio (assuming they’re not busy talking to their colleagues) and can only unlock the produce cages and bring the goods to the counter for you to earn. don’t steal.
They said they “felt like it was a prison.”
“Either they want everyone to shop online now or they want to make home repairs a miserable experience that you won’t do, @lowes,” the customer concluded.
The US Sun has reached out to Lowe’s for comment.
‘YOU MISSED A SALE’
This wasn’t the first complaint about the changes at the home improvement store.
Another customer said he left the store after approaching the self-checkout.
“Lowe’s, I don’t do self-checkout. I don’t have a box, so I put everything back and left,” they wrote.
“You missed a sale. So how is self-checkout saving you money?”
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.
Shoppers also identified their local Walmart stores restricting customers to 15 items or less to use self-checkout machines.
A third said they would rather stand in line than use the self-checkout machines.
“Dear @loweshomeimprovement, I didn’t like the forced self-checkout,” he wrote on Facebook.
“I will seek reimbursement of the discount for my employee by mail. I hate it,” she declared.
“There is ALWAYS some kind of problem with self-checkout.”
In response to commenters, the user wrote “I hate this.”
They also said, “I’m going to wait in line forever for a cashier.
“There is ALWAYS some kind of problem with self-checkout.”
This story originally appeared on The-sun.com read the full story
