by Riley Blankenship

As technology has evolved over the decades, an increasing number of major retail stores have been implementing self-checkouts which customers have embraced and become accustomed to using. During the COVID-19 pandemic, major retailers such as Dollar General, Target and Walmart saw an opportunity to install more self-checkouts for customers in order to cut back lines as well as reduce staffing costs. Customers are now finding clever ways to scan items as different items and leave the store without paying. As we head into 2024, retailers are questioning whether rolling out self-checkouts was a good idea in the first place.

Rumors began circulating on social media on March 14 that major retailers such as Walmart, Dollar General and Target would soon limit the use of self-checkouts.  Frantic customers began investigating the rumors, only to find confirmation from major news networks and retailers themselves that they are indeed scaling back self-checkout and imposing limits on the number of items customers can scan. According to an article by NPR, retailers are encountering constant troubleshooting issues with self-checkout, as well as theft and complaints from the older generation.

Although I see why people are for the rollout and the ultimate end of self-checkout, I side with keeping self-checkout for customers. I agree with certain retailers such as Dollar General who are implying new rules for customers using self-checkout for only a few items. I believe stores implying stricter regulations on self-checkout shoplifters as well as giving customers another option instead of just self-checkout will be more effective.