Self-Checkout Could Be No More At Oklahoma Walmarts

Walmart has been removing self-checkout from its stores. Is Oklahoma next?

A few years ago, self checkout was all the rage in supermarkets, especially Walmart. Over the years, especially during the pandemic, we saw more and more self checkout lanes and hardly any cashier lanes open at Walmart. But now, Walmart is beginning to remove self checkout lanes and is bringing back cashiers.

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In October, KQRE out of Albuquerque, New Mexico, reported that two local Walmarts removed self-checkout lanes completely and a third store was soon to follow.

Some locals spoke to the station and said the removal of the self-checkout lanes was an inconvenience as they only had a small amount of items but still had to wait in a long checkout line. Others said it wouldn't affect their shopping as they always checkout with a cashier.

When asked about the change, a Walmart spokesperson told KQRE the following:

We continually look at ways to provide our customers with the best shopping experience possible and that includes adjusting the checkout area in stores.

Could no self-checkout and only cashiers become the norm? Again?

In early November, CNN reported that Walmart and other top American supermarkets are beginning to dial back self-checkout strategies. According to CNN, the reason for removing self-checkout is because a loss in revenue due to increased stealing, which is made easier by self-checkout.

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A recent report from Lending Tree found that "60 percent of self-checkout users think it makes stealing easier, and 15 percent of shoppers admit to purposely doing so." Well, that's one way to cut grocery prices during a cost of living crisis.

We've seen some stores try to limit the stealing at self-checkout already by adding cameras and weight sensors, but these have also come with increased staffing in the self-checkout lanes because the machines can often be faulty.

So what do you think? Should Walmart and other retailers do away with self-checkout completely and go back to cashier lanes only? Or should Walmart and other retailers limit self-checkout options? Let us know by messaging us on our station app!

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