Get ready for a change at Walmart and Target stores! The beloved self-checkout lanes might not be available to everyone anymore. Reports suggest that these lanes could be reserved for Walmart+ members and Spark delivery drivers.
Some Walmart shoppers have already experienced confusion when they found self-checkout lines closed. One TikTok user expressed their surprise, saying, “This is the second time this week that I’ve gone to Walmart, and this is a different Walmart, and it’s been right about this time, and all their self-checkouts are closed and they’ve started to open up the regular lines again.”
A picture posted on Reddit showed a sign that read, “Attention: This self-checkout is for Spark shoppers and Walmart Scan & Go only.” This left many customers unhappy, with one commenting, “Oh, I wouldn’t shop there then. I don’t do anything but self-checkout at Walmart.”
Shoppers have become accustomed to the convenience of self-checkout, and waiting in long regular lines can be frustrating. As one customer shared, “That is messed up. Some days you have to wait 45 minutes in line or even longer.”
A Walmart senior manager for corporate communications, Kelsey Bohl, confirmed that select Walmart stores may modify the availability of self-checkout lanes as needed. She explained, “From time-to-time, our stores adjust the use of staffed checkouts and self-checkouts. For example, a store might start or end the day with staffed checkouts. As the number of shoppers and associate staffing increases, these stores open self-checkout registers to manage the increased customer flow.”
Kelsey also clarified that individual store managers have the autonomy to decide whether to close lanes or limit their availability based on their employees’ and customers’ needs.
While many customers expressed their dissatisfaction with these potential changes, it remains to be seen how widespread this practice will become. Some customers have already mentioned their refusal to pay extra for self-checkout, as they believe it is a service that should be provided by the store without additional charges.
Let’s hope that self-checkout remains accessible to everyone, as it has become a convenient and time-saving option for many shoppers.
