Walmart is reversing one of its most ambitious retail experiments after revealing surprising data about the cost of their self-checkout.
In their Shrewsbury, Missouri, location, the retail giant has permanently removed all self-checkout machines, and the results speak for themselves. The decision apparently came after a sharp rise in theft-related incidents at the store, which prompted local law enforcement to act.
According to the Webster-Kirkwood Times, Shrewsbury Police responded to 509 calls from the Walmart between January and May last year. But after the self-checkouts were removed, the number of calls dropped significantly, with only 183 calls recorded during the same period this year. Arrests also halved, from 108 to 49.
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While self-checkouts were once hailed as the future of shopping, the technology has faced significant challenges. Customers often struggle with glitches, and some bypass the scanning process altogether. Something that was supposed to save the store money ended up causing it to lose more due to the rise in theft, but not all customers are happy about it.
“That sucks cuz I love self checkout. All this does is make the lines unbearably long again because they definitely aren’t going to staff them properly,” one person shared on Reddit.
Another shared, “Damn. I hope they don't do that at my store. We barely have enough cashiers to cover the regular registers.”
“Theft prevention. The pennies they saved on wages they reaped a thousand fold in theft on sco,” a third noted.
This change in Missouri isn't an isolated case, either. Walmart has also removed self-checkouts in Cleveland, Ohio, and is reportedly reassessing its overall approach to the technology.
However, Walmart isn't completely stepping back from technology. The company is currently testing its Scan & Go system at select Sam's Club locations. This system uses a mobile app to track purchases and combine QR codes with AI technology, offering a more secure and efficient alternative.
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