A DISAPPOINTED Walmart shopper has criticized the retailer for its self-checkout policy, declaring that they will take their business elsewhere from now on.
The customer was so frustrated that he abandoned his cart at Walmart and went straight to Food Lion.
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Walmart introduced a limit earlier this year on the number of items a customer can have when using self-checkout.
The 15 items or less rule was designed to decrease wait times, but the policy angered many customers.
“I went to Walmart today and each self-checkout box had 15 items or less,” said one shopper he said in a Facebook post.
“I asked and they told me that this is what the company wants. I left my cart there and went to Food Lion.
“I spend over $500 a month at Walmart, but no more,” the user stated.
Customers across the US took to social media to complain about this Walmart policy.
Although the item limit was introduced to decrease queue lengths, some say the change actually increased checkout times.
“What sense does it make to change self-checkout lanes to 15 items or less BUT only have 2-3 registers open?!” a frustrated buyer he wrote.
“MAKE SENSE.”
“This is why I don’t go to the grocery store, because when Walmart starts with 15 items or less on its own, check out those damn lines [are] ridiculous,” another user he said.
The US Sun has reached out to Walmart for comment.
It should be noted that this self-checkout policy does not exist in all Walmart stores, so some shoppers may not experience the issues that come with the controversial policy.
However, Walmart is not the only retailer to adopt this policy and receive backlash.
Target welcomed a similar measure in January 2024, limiting customers to just 10 items when using self-checkout.
Buyers, however, were not impressed with the change.
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.
“The goal of making the self-checkout line have 10 items or less is the worst policing ever,” said one customer.
“I almost never leave Target with less than 10 items – that’s their entire business model!” another wrote.
Shnucks also has a 10 items or less policy and customers have shared similar complaints on social media.
“I always use self-checkout, so this is a no-no for me,” said one customer.
“Making people wait in a 20 minute line while 3 out of 4 self-checkout registers sit unused the entire time is ridiculous,” said another user.
“I will simply never buy more than 10 items from there again.”
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This story originally appeared on The-sun.com read the full story
