WALMART shoppers are becoming increasingly fed up with the store’s new checkout policies.
Following an already lengthy wait to check out their items, one frustrated Walmart shopper finally hit their boiling point.
Consumers nationwide are growing aggravated as similar, recurring issues plague big-box retailers and grocery chains alike.
One shopper shared their less-than-stellar in-store experience directly with Walmart’s social media team, only to be told to reach out to the retailer to discuss the matter privately.
“@Walmart half the self checkout registers are down,” X user Danlbooner, known as @danlbooner on the social media platform, wrote.
“The one we used wouldn’t weigh produce and the employee expected us to go back to wait in another line.”
They added an emoji with a slanted face and rolling eyes to their message, further showcasing their frustration.
“We just left three bags of items with her and said, ‘We’re done,'” they added.
“@Walmart Sucks!” they added, underscoring their anger.
Walmart has recently come under fire for their check out process, with customers venting about the new procedures.
The brand has started to limit its use of self-checkout kiosks, reserving many lanes for Walmart+ subscribers.
Following Target’s footsteps, the retailer has also started to limit the number of items allowed per transaction to 15 items or less.
Shoppers with more than 15 items in their carts, or those who aren’t Walmart+ subscribers, are forced to use cashier-manned lanes.
This wouldn’t necessarily be a problem, though customers have also flooded Walmart’s social media channels with complaints about the lack of available cashier lanes.
Staffing shortages, even during peak hours, leave Walmart without the necessary amount of staff to man multiple checkout lanes.
This time around, Danlbooner was already waiting in a lengthy line to pay for items.
However, without warning, they discovered that their self-checkout kiosk was encountering technical difficulties, making it impossible to properly weigh produce, and therefore, impossible to accurately price items.
Then, they were expected to simply leave the self-checkout kiosk with their items, and get back into a different lane – and wait even longer to check out.
Walmart promptly responded to Danlbooner on social media.
Latest self-checkout changes
Retailers are evolving their self-checkout strategy in an effort to speed up checkout times and reduce theft.
Walmart shoppers were shocked when self-checkout lanes at various locations were made available only for Walmart+ members.
Other customers reported that self-checkout was closed during specific hours, and more cashiers were offered instead.
While shoppers feared that shoplifting fueled 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 stop the fiercely contested receipt checks.
However, that test run has been phased out.
At Target, items are being limited at self-checkout.
Last fall, the brand surveyed new express self-checkout lanes across 200 stores with 10 items or less for more convenience.
As of March 2024, this policy has been expanded across 2,000 stores in the US.
Shoppers have also spotted their local Walmart stores restricting customers to 15 items or less to use self-checkout machines.
“Dan, please reach out to us in a DM with more information regarding your visit, thank you,” they wrote.
Danlbooner, clearly not over the situation, had some choice words for the retailer.
“H*ll no, you need to ‘reach out’ and put damn cashiers back at those empty registers instead of having four employees standing there with their thumbs up their butts!”
Customers like Danlbooner have quickly noticed that not all Walmart locations are as short-staffed as others.
However, the employees working aren’t behind cashier lanes, or even necessarily “helping” customers with their purchases.
Instead, they’re torn between monitoring self-checkout kiosks to ensure customers are scanning items properly, and cross-checking receipts with customer purchases before they exit the store.
“And stop moving everything to a different place! WTF!” he added.
Many customers have also voiced similar frustrations about the store moving around items – and even aisles – while rearranging their stores.
Rearranging products is a common tactic used by retailers, ensuring that even regular customers spend more time in the store.
The more time a customer spends in a store looking for items they need to buy, the more likely they are to find additional products to buy.
Once again, Walmart was quick to reply to Danlbooner.
“Here to help, Dan. Please send a DM with the store location, so this can be looked into,” a social media team member replied.
The U.S. Sun has reached out to Walmart for comment.
Walmart stores closed in 2024
So far, Walmart has closed the following stores in 2024:
- San Diego, California – February 9
- El Cajon, California – February 9
- Columbus, Ohio – February 16
- West Covina, California – March 29
- Towson, Maryland – April 5
- Granite Bay, California – April 12
- Milwaukee, Wisconsin – May 19
- Fremont, California – May 24
- Aurora, Colorado – June 7
WALMART WOES
This isn’t the only problem Walmart has faced in recent months.
From poor customer service to lengthy lines at checkout, the retailer is facing more and more complaints from customers by the day.
Despite the chain trying its best to provide quality service and affordable prices, customers continue to slam the store for its “enhanced” security measures.
From locking everyday essentials behind plexiglass display cases and remodeling stores to checking receipts upon exit, many customers are close to their limit.
Plus, even pickup and delivery orders have received their fair share of complaints, from customers complaining about surcharges and shipping fees to long wait times.