Walmart said it will remove self-checkout counters at two more stores — including one where retail theft has gotten so bad that shoppers say going there has become downright “scary.”
The Arkansas-based retail giant didn’t address the problems of retail theft, saying it was ditching the self-checkout lanes at the store in Cleveland and another in Shrewsbury, Mo., as part of a wider move to improve the “in-store shopping experience.”
Shoppers who frequented the Walmart at the Steelyard Commons section of Cleveland criticized the move, saying that paying for their items in a regular checkout lane means they won’t be able to swiftly move in and out of a store that has seen several incidents of retail theft.
“I am probably going to end up going to a different Walmart then because I don’t like to have to wait down here,” Leah Burchnell told WEWS-TV.
“Especially with all the crime that’s been going down here. It’s very scary. It really is.”
Another shopper, Cory Sheneman, told the news station that he did not think removing the self-checkout lanes would improve the shopping experience.
“Last week we were standing in the doorway as some guy was getting tased for stealing a jacket and had his pockets fully loaded with everything he could grab, I was like, ‘Whoa,’” said Sheneman.
Last year, Walmart removed self-checkout options from three of its stores in Albuquerque, NM.
A Walmart spokesman said the company made the latest move after absorbing feedback from employees and customers as well as taking into account shopping patterns and business needs in the area.
“As part of our announced plans for additional investments and improvements to facilities across the country, we’ve decided to remove self-checkout lanes and replace them with staffed lanes at select locations,” Bryan K. Little told Supermarket News.
“We believe the changes will improve the in-store shopping experience and give our associates the chance to provide more personalized and efficient service,” Little said.
The Post reached out to Walmart for comment.
Last year, Walmart employees complained that the crackdown on self-checkout counters led to “hostile” encounters with shoppers.
The big-box chain — one of many retailers battling increasing theft that has eaten into their bottom lines — has armed employees with handheld devices that track purchases at self-checkout registers, a Business Insider report revealed.
However, the workers claim they are not properly trained to handle sticky-fingered shoppers, many of whom have hurled things at them or become aggressive when confronted for not scanning all their purchases, the outlet reported.
Last month, Dollar General said it would pull self-checkout stands entirely from 300 of its stores where there are more instances of shoplifting and mis-scanned items.
The company said it was making the change to reduce “shrink” — the industry term for merchandise loss due to theft, damaged items and administrative errors.
Dollar General said it would also convert some of its self-checkout counters to regular cashier checkouts in 9,000 other locations.
Target said it would be limiting the number of items shoppers can buy at self-checkout lanes.
The Post has sought comment from Dollar General and Target.
