MULTIPLE retailers are rolling back self-checkout after experiencing product shrinkage and hefty expenses over the past decade or so.
Walmart, Costco, and Shoprite are some of the companies that have introduced new measures to their stores in hopes of addressing self-checkout problems.
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Despite the fact that many CEOs are claiming theft is the main issue their facing with self-checkout experience, the problem is much more complex.
Self-checkout machines are expensive to install and while they cut costs in terms of hiring more employees, they often demand complex solutions, reports The Atlantic.
The publication calls self-checkout machines a failed experiment, sharing that they often break down, slowing down lines and requiring the assistance of expensive IT experts to resolve the problem.
Since these devices allow for companies to hire less retail workers, most stores are now understaffed, creating a slower and clunkier shopping experience that grates on the nerves of shoppers and workers alike.
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Earlier this year, Walmart confirmed it would be abandoning self-checkout entirely in various locations.
“We continually look at ways to provide our customers with the best shopping experience and that includes adjusting the checkout area in stores," said Walmart spokesperson Josh Havens.
Some of the stores are located in Albuquerque, New Mexico, where Walmart has 14 locations.
Another Walmart in Canada made the same decision, suggesting that the new policy is seriously being considered.
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Shoppers were torn on the change, claiming that there's a lot of people and removing self-checkout could result in long lines.
"Lines are backed up as it is on a normal day, so I feel like they should definitely open up self-checkout," said a customer.
While the store hasn't said that the decision to roll back self-checkout is due to theft, Walmart's CEO Doug McMillon has shared that theft has increased in past years.
"Theft is an issue," he said to CNBC in December.
"It’s higher than what it has historically been."
He warned that if the situation doesn't improve, stores will likely have to increase prices or close down.
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