Target is the latest big retailer to make a major U-turn on self-checkouts
- Target has permanently closed the self-checkouts in at least one store
- READ MORE: Home Depot secretly makes major AI change to self-checkouts
Target is following Walmart in scrapping self-checkouts and swappng back to 'traditional' lanes - but it's not because they care about customer service
After only saying in March that all stores would have the kiosks, it has scrapped them completely in one store.
Entrances to self-checkout areas at the Target in Emeryville, California, have been cordoned off for the past month - and there are no plans to reopen them. The move is thought to be to combat shoplifting
When asked by DailyMail.com if it would do the same in other areas hit by theft, Target did not reply. In the past year, Target has complained of high theft levels and even cited it as a reason for closing stores.
On X, formely Twitter, one customer wrote in response to the death of the kiosks: 'When trying to save a few bucks on minimum wage ends up costing you big bucks.'
It was predicted that the all-self-checkout format - introduced to cut labor costs would eventually become the norm.
Target has had the self-checkout area at its store in Emeryville, California shut for a month. This is a sign from another store
But the kiosks have led to increased thefts and customer complaints - leading to stores reviewing their policies.
Walmart has already ditched self-checkouts completely in five stores in the past year - including two in April.
Dollar General announced it was pulling self-checkout stands entirely from 300 of its stores with the highest level of shoplifting.
Target committed to self-checkouts as recently as March in its 2,000 stores.
At the time it rolled out a ten-item limit to make the lines move faster.
The Target store in Emeryville covers most of the East Bay around Oakland, an area badly hit by thefts.
The store had 440 reports of crime over an 18 month period recently, according to CNBC.
A sign reads: 'Express self-checkout is currently closed. Team members nearby are ready to help you checkout.'
Lines at the store are now longer, shoppers say. Jennifer Mendez told KRON4 that shopping is more complicated for her.
'Usually when I go into Target or another store, if there is no self-checkout, it's harder for me with two toddlers under 5,' she said.
On X, formely Twitter, locals have reacted - after the news was posted by Bay Area State of Mind. The initial post read: 'Target has officially shut down all self-checkout registers after years of rampant shoplifting in Emeryville, California.'
People responsed to say that Target rolled out the kiosks to cut down on staff - and it has backfired. Some resented having to do the scanning themselves, while others objected to the idea that staff may have lost their jobs.
One user wrote: 'No. It isn't shoplifting. Target decided to employ every customer without proper training on Targets checkout system. No pay or benefits either.'
Another tweeted: 'Maybe they should pay me if they want me to work for them?'
Some of the largest retailers have taken steps this year to reverse the failed self-checkout experiment. The machines were designed to cut labor costs but caused increased theft
Target committed to self-checkouts as recently as March in its 2,000 stores
Other big retailers are making changes.
In March, Dollar General announced it was pulling self-checkout stands entirely from 300 of its stores with the highest level of shoplifting and improperly scanned items.
In 9,000 other locations it said it is converting some of its self-checkout registers to regular cashier checkouts, and limiting self-checkout purchases to five items or less in a further 4,500 stores.
Kroger also added traditional checkout lanes at a store in Texas where it had previously been offering only self-checkout machines, The Dallas Morning News reported.
Meanwhile, Costco started placing additional staff in self-checkout areas to supervise shoppers and ensure all items wee being scanned correctly, as well as to ensure membership cards were not being shared.
