Walmart manager begs shoppers to ‘be patient’ as 2 self-checkout changes hit store overnight

A WALMART manager has announced an “exciting” checkout transformation on the way later this week, with two big changes set to hit a store overnight.

She pleaded with shoppers to be patient as the location rolled out the much-anticipated changes to the checkout area, which were a direct result of customer feedback.

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Walmart is tweaking its approach to self-checkout in the face of theft and customer complaints[/caption]

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A Walmart store will soon roll out a checkout transformation in response to shopper feedback[/caption]

Self-checkout became a mainstream part of the retail experience during the COVID-19 pandemic thanks to labor shortages and social distancing needs.

The self-service machines – originally created to reduce labor costs as well as shopper wait times – have sparked endless controversy and encouraged costly theft issues, prompting many retailers to rethink their stance on the kiosks.

Walmart, for example, has reduced its reliance on self-checkout, axing some self-serve lanes or eliminating them entirely in some locations.

Over at a store in Ardmore, Oklahoma – roughly 100 miles from Oklahoma City – the spot is adjusting its self-checkout operations, a manager shared in a Facebook post on Sunday.

“Big News, Ardmore! Starting September 7th, your Ardmore Walmart front end will begin an exciting checkout transformation!” wrote store manager Summer Willis.

She detailed two key changes that shoppers can expect, attributing the switch-ups to customer feedback.

The first checkout tweak at the Ardmore store is the addition of eight new manned registers, likely meaning there will be fewer self-checkout options as the location increases its reliance on traditional checkout lanes.

The second change, according to Willis, is that all of the self-service machines will be moved to the outer lanes.

This switch-up is intended to encourage “faster flow,” she said, with the store layout strategy aimed at improving traffic flow and reducing bottlenecks in the front of the Walmart.

The goal is to separate shoppers with smaller, quicker transactions from those with more time-consuming purchases. 

Regardless of how a customer prefers to check out, the two changes at the Ardmore Walmart will result in “a smoother experience so you can get in and out quickly,” said Willis.

She noted that the checkout transformation would be implemented overnight, expected to be completed by September 14.

“During this time, please be patient with us as we make the upgrades. Our management team and associates will be onsite to help answer any questions you may have,” said the manager.

“We heard you – loud and clear – and can’t wait for you to see the new setup!”

SELF-CHECKOUT SHUFFLE

Walmart is not the only company tweaking its self-checkout operations to better align with the modern retail landscape.

Although Aldi has not officially confirmed that the move is a nationwide decision, for example, shoppers in states like Illinois, California, Maryland, and Missouri have been reporting that their stores are getting rid of self-checkout. 

One noted on Reddit that their local store in Chicago had axed all seven of the machines due to shoplifting, while another shopper on Facebook shared that the newly built Aldi in his neighborhood lacked the machines.

A cashier informed him that the German-based grocer was not installing self-checkout at new stores and was also “going to remove all the shelf-checkout in the rest of the company stores going forward.”

Aldi’s decision to move away from self-checkout is due to two main reasons, retail expert Dominick Miserandino previously told The U.S. Sun: theft and shopper dissatisfaction.

“Shoppers don’t go to stores for the experience of being their own cashier,” he said, saying that what began as a cost-saving measure has only caused issues for both companies and customers.

“At its core, we go to retail for experiences, and Aldi may simply be returning to that experiential fact.”

As Aldi scales back on the self-serve machines, the company is exploring AI-powered payment systems, with some shoppers speculating that the chain is planning to replace the kiosks with the newer systems, similar to the ones at Sam’s Club.

Check out the three major changes coming to Walmart, Target, and Best Buy that could affect how shoppers use self-checkouts and what they can spend their money on.

Plus, read up on the huge self-checkout change coming to all stores from September 21.