Self-checkouts are nothing new, they have been around for a couple of years now. You can find them in grocery stores, hardware stores, even McDonald’s has the option to use a self-checkout instead of a traditional cashier. A Walmart store is starting to switch to a self-checkout store only.
via shutterstock
Walmart Self-Checkout
Fayetteville, Arkansas is doing a new test for its Walmart. They will only be having self-checkouts at their store, no cashiers. This is a new experiment for them to see what works better.
If all goes well and the test is successful, then Walmart will do the same thing in more locations and across the country.
While they did not have a set date in place for these to take effect, it could happen sooner rather than later. These new decisions will also depend on many different things.
One factor is feedback from their employees as well as the customers. The main concern is Walmart just wants to do things that are easiest for both their employees and their customers.
Why the Change
Some people wonder why the need for a change and if it will help employees or just make things worse.
One of the main reasons for this change is self-checkout is very cost-efficient. Having a customer do the same work you would normally pay an employee does save the company a lot of money.
One report found that checking someone into their flight at the airport with a cashier costs around $3 dollars. If the customer checks themselves in, it only costs about 14 cents, which is a significant difference.
Another positive is the privacy that customers get when they buy things. If someone gets a personal item or something they might be embarrassed to get, having the self-checkout allows them to keep their purchases private.
Negatives of Self-Checkouts
A lot of customers actually are against self-checkouts. They feel that they are doing all the work and not getting paid for it.
Others find the machine to be difficult to use and cause more problems and takes up more time. Especially the older people who don’t use technology too often may have more problems with the self-checkouts than others.
Oftentimes customers have to ask the employees for help, which is basically like having a cashier anyway. With there being only one or two employees around to help a dozen or more self-checkout stations, it could end up taking more time on customers to get the things they need.
One other negative is that it does put workers out of a job. With the way the economy is going, we need more jobs open for people to live in this world.
With the way things are going, Walmart may be the first to change out cashiers for a self-checkout only system. Which way do you prefer?
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377 comments on “Walmart Store Switches to Self-Checkout Only”
I find that most people, especially younger people tend to steal using the self checkout. I’ve found this out because most people aren’t ashamed to say that they do this. This effects people whom do pay full price like myself. That would be the only reason I don’t like them.
They should do both. A small Walmart Neighborhood store close to.my house switched to.only self checkout and I can’t go with my girls. I have a 2 yr old and 5 yr old. I would normally load my groceries on conveyer and then put bags in while keeping my girls occupied. With no conveyor. It stack as many groceries as you can in small area but if you don’t have enough room you are having to swap out scanned bagged items for ones that haven’t been and if you are swapping you are scanning so checking out can take twice to 3 times as long as before and my kids are going crazy in the cart putting things I already scanned back in the small area. So yeah some self checkout for people who want to but some of us need the help.
The article says Fayetteville is the first Walmart to go cashierless. Guess they don’t know about your  store? Btw, if you use the regular aisle scan and go lanes you can unload your entire cart on the belt just like you always could. Don’t use the small capacity registers.
there are no cashiers where I shop either in orlando
My Walmart took out all the long belts, now we only have the small stations.
Mr Walton is rolling over in his grave. He was a Christian man. He was all about the customer and the employees. The store now is all about the bottom line.
You will be loosing lots of customers. If I have a few ideas, no big deal. If I have a cart full, NOPE!
Checkout please
Self checkout please
Agree!!
I hate self checkout! When I’m forced to by use them, 1/2 the time I have an issue with the system and have to wait on the attending cashier to come fix the issue.
I do not lioe the self checkout. Ot is not efficient. It puts employees out of a job. As customers we are not paid to do their job. It is going to lead to a huge negative impact on employees and customers.
No it takes way to long to use the self check if you have a buggy full of groceries and we don’t get paid to spend money on there high priced merchandise.
I pay everything by check. I am not comfortable doing my own check out.