this post was submitted on 24 Jun 2025
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Technology

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61
Walmart Scales Back Self-Checkout Amid Security and Customer Feedback (styleonmain.net)
submitted 3 weeks ago by sabreW4K3@lazysoci.al to c/technology@beehaw.org
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[–] ptz@dubvee.org 24 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago) (2 children)

Good. May other retailers and grocery chains follow.

I hate those things - they treat you like a thief by default. I rarely use them and prefer to wait in line for the 1-2 cashiers, but I did the other day because I only had a few bottles of water to check out, and it was unsurprisingly horrible.

Scanned and bagged all my stuff. More slowly than I'd have liked, but otherwise uneventfully. I unpocket my wallet to get my shopper's card and debit card out. "Oh no, you didn't!" the machine said as it called for backup. Cue waiting 3-4 minutes for the attendant to get to me.

The machine asked the attendant if I was stealing and showed a replay of what it assumed must be me trying some Ocean's 11 level of grand larceny. In the video? It was me getting my wallet out to pay.

Absolutely no time was saved. Nothing was more convenient, and to top it off, I was once again accused of stealing by a bathroom scale with delusions of grandeur.

[–] SatyrSack@lemmy.sdf.org 6 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

Is this experience at Walmart specifically? The only store I go to regularly that has self-checkout machines is a local grocery store and I love them. No issues for me.

[–] ptz@dubvee.org 5 points 3 weeks ago

I rarely go to Walmart. This is from the local Kroger (grocery store).

[–] Saik0Shinigami@lemmy.saik0.com 5 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

Now realize those things are internet connected... and that video was definitely uploaded.

I rather not need mass surveillance to buy a fucking snickers.

[–] kobra@lemmy.zip 6 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

I doubt you can find a snickers being sold that isn’t under camera surveillance uploaded somewhere at this point.

It’s 2025. If you’re outside, you’re on video.

[–] Saik0Shinigami@lemmy.saik0.com 5 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

Okay? And that is equally bad. What's the point? We should be striving for less IMO.

[–] kobra@lemmy.zip 8 points 3 weeks ago (2 children)

Idk? I just said words back to the words you said. What’s the point of anything?

[–] zach@lemmy.dbzer0.com 3 points 3 weeks ago

I’m not the person you replied to but I wanted to hop in and say this comment made me bust out laughing

[–] SteevyT@beehaw.org 1 points 3 weeks ago

Something something pass the butter.

[–] GammaGames@beehaw.org 16 points 3 weeks ago (2 children)

Never had a problem with them, they always save me time even if I have to wait a few minutes in line 🤷 good for the workers though

[–] sabreW4K3@lazysoci.al 3 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

Where are you based? I have a theory that the European implementation is just way better

[–] GammaGames@beehaw.org 3 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

Montana

[–] sabreW4K3@lazysoci.al 3 points 3 weeks ago

Oh, that's not UK.

[–] Clasm@ttrpg.network 3 points 3 weeks ago

Bold of you to assume this means they are hiring more workers...

[–] audaxdreik@pawb.social 16 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago) (1 children)

The Safeways here in WA (at least in parts) have shifted from the old weight-based system(?) to some new AI/camera system. It gets upset if you move incorrectly in front of it because it thinks you may have bagged something you hadn't scanned yet.

Last time I went shopping I got stuck waiting for 5+ minutes when the machine flagged me and there wasn't any available staff to review it with me. When the manager finally came over, we had to watch the video capture of me scanning (love the privacy invasion) and then she counted the items in my bag "just to make sure". Afterwards she stood behind me and watched me finish scanning "in case it happens again". Whatever. This feels neither efficient nor convenient. It feels like something else.

[–] Megaman_EXE@beehaw.org 14 points 3 weeks ago

This has been my issue with it. They keep making self checkout (or even the regular shopping experience) more like going through security checkpoints. It feels like I'm a criminal even though I'm doing everything properly.

At my local Wal-Mart they have you walk through one way gates, and two or three metal detectors, cameras filming you regardless of which checkout you go through. They also have started locking up more and more items.

I understand they are trying to reduce theft. But it feels like they are trying to put a bandaid on a wound when they're part of the problem to begin with lol. You also see these changes roll out over the years as people begin to struggle more and more. It seems like the solution should be obvious, but instead of being treated like people, we're treated like resources for companies. Just value extraction units. Extract value through work, extract value through consumption

[–] schmorpel@slrpnk.net 6 points 3 weeks ago

A friend told me about her experience in a fully automated hostel with sleeping pods where the automatic doors may or may not malfunction when you try to open them with a magnetic wrist band. That's horror film material imo. I hope this shit gets wrecked and forgotten together with the self checkout. I'd like to meet some real people please, all you profit hungry corporation go shove these robots up yours yesterday.

[–] Powderhorn@beehaw.org 5 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

So, a couple of things about this story ... first, the formatting is atrocious. Subheds and interstitial, irrelevant photos after every graf as the piece continues can't possibly be how anyone wants to read news.

Seriously, what does this art have to do with a story about self checkout?

That's just irritating. The larger issue is just how sympathetic this is toward Walmart. Straight news never includes the word "innovative," so that's a red flag we're reading marketing, and it's far from the only example.

The reporting overall isn't terrible when it's not fawning over the company, but that serves only to provide the illusion that this isn't spin but merely an angle. Unfortunately, fawn it does. Like, who the hell was ever going to Walmart for the human experience and personalized service?

[–] borari@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 points 3 weeks ago

I mean google says it’s a fashion and style blog, so I don’t think anyone is under the impression this blog site publishes news per se, or is anything more than a gussied up marketing channel.

[–] melroy@kbin.melroy.org 5 points 3 weeks ago

Self checkout in our shops works really well.

[–] xylol@leminal.space 3 points 3 weeks ago

Good I prefer the cashiers because they usually miss scanning something so i get random discounts