Target’s new self-checkout policy: how does it work and when does it start?
Target continues to tweak its self-checkout policy by implementing more guidelines. Beginning today, only customers with up to 10 items can use the kiosk.
Target is limiting the use of its self-checkout counters in all of its stores to customers purchasing up to 10 items. The retailer is rolling out its express self-checkout lanes on Sunday, March 17 at most of its nearly 2,000 stores throughout the US.
According to a company statement, the counters will be available during the busiest shopping hours of the day, although their exact hours of operation will depend on the specific needs of individual stores.
The store will also offer more traditional checkout lanes staffed with cashiers for shoppers with more purchases or who prefer to be attended to by people.
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Target rethinks self-checkout
Late last year, Target began experimenting with self-checkout lanes that would be limited to 10 items at select locations to reduce wait times.
The retailer’s tests with these express self-checkout lanes found the process was “twice as fast at our pilot stores,” according to the company.
Target also shortened the operating hours of self-checkout kiosks at some of its stores earlier this year as a result of million-dollar losses from thefts.
The losses incurred by self-checkout systems are not only due to pilferage. Sometimes, customers fail to scan items properly, leading to what is known as “partial shrink”.
Aside from inventory loss, long lines have also caused problems for the retailer at self-checkout lanes.
Problems with scanning the items and varying numbers of goods to be paid for are just some of the factors that contributed to long waits for those wanting to use the service.
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The rise and fall of self-checkout
Stores saw a boom in the use of self-checkout in recent years brought about by the covid-19 pandemic, when many shoppers began to use it to minimize interaction with other customers and store personnel.
Retail giants and various grocery chains incorporated self-checkout lanes as a standard feature in many of their stores.
However, aside from Target, big retailers like Walmart and Costco are now reconsidering their use of the technology in light of the problems they have been dealing with recently.