Target (Minneapolis) is adopting a new “express” self-checkout model, limiting customers to 10 items or less when using self-checkout, according to a company press release. The changes began March 17 across nearly 2000 locations. In light of this new policy shift, the stores will be staffing more traditional checkout lanes to accommodate guests. Some self-checkout lanes may also be closed during certain hours at certain locations based on foot traffic.
Walmart (Bentonville, Ark.) has also been experimenting with its self-checkout limits and hours, reports CNBC. A Walmart spokesperson told the Today show, “From time to time, our stores adjust the use of staffed checkouts and self-checkouts … For example, a store might start or end the day with staffed checkouts. As the number of shoppers and assoicate staffing increases, these stores open self-checkout registers to manage the increased customer flow. This process isn’t new.”
Target said in the company release: “During the pandemic, many guests preferred using self-checkout for all their purchases because it offered them a contactless option. Today, ease and convenience are top of mind, so, to learn more about guests’ self-checkout preferences, we piloted the concept of Express Self-Checkout with limits of 10 items or fewer at about 200 stores last fall. The result: Self-checkout was twice as fast at our pilot stores. By having the option to pick self-checkout for a quick trip, or a traditional, staffed lane when their cart is full, guests who were surveyed told us the overall checkout experience was better, too.”