Walmart removing self checkouts, reported results include significant reduction in theft

[John105]

Something is not right with this lady.
I wonder if she is a Hoarder ?

Definitely NOT in control of her life.

There was a YouTube, Walmart, where a person was a prominent physician. It is a sickness, it’s not about the value of the goods. No different than people who on purpose flip meat packages or squeeze bread or destroy products. It’s all in their minds to do these things…

 

[Snagglefoot]

I’m at a loss why Canadians still pack Target. Wife says we sell different things. Really?

Yes, the cross border shoppers like the place. The ladies pronounce it as Tarzchay. Unfortunately, Target made an attempt to come into Canada but the commitment to stock the shelves was not the same as the US and eventually they pulled out. I have a brass plated firewood holder from Target which we found to be unique.

 

[zzyzzx]

Walmart removing self checkouts, reported results include significant reduction in theft​

It's a story that few could have foreseen...

 

[billt460]

There was a YouTube, Walmart, where a person was a prominent physician. It is a sickness, it’s not about the value of the goods. No different than people who on purpose flip meat packages or squeeze bread or destroy products. It’s all in their minds to do these things…

There are people who do it for the excitement it gives them. Much like adrenaline junkies. It's not about the money, it's all about the thrill. Many professional gamblers are much the same. Winning large sums of money doesn't drive them. It's the action itself.

These people will sit at a table for 10 hours or more. It doesn't matter how much they're "up" or "down". Just as long as they keep getting the rush.

 

[Cropduster172]

I'm sure that insurance companies would be tired of cutting "shrinkage " checks at the end of the year as well.

No such insurance exists. Retail theft is simply a hit to the bottom line ...so are workers compensation claims,, general liability claims. Product liability claims get passed through to the manufacturer.

 

[wavinwayne]

The ones near me did as well, but unfortunately they didn’t add any cashiers. At the one closest to my house there’s often only one person working. There’s a kid’s squeaky toy you’re supposed to squeeze to summon the cashier if they’re busy stocking shelves. I can only imagine how many people just walk out the door with their stuff.

If you want a giggle, check out comedian Marshall Patrick on youtube. His Dollar General skits are funny. Caution: there may be some light profanity.

 

[Vil_Riker]

Walmart's asset protection is on a different level, you'd be crazy to even think about trying something there. They're also in cahoots with all the local law enforcement, it's wild to read about some of the minor stuff they can get the local police to prosecute.

I won't step foot in the store, it's a hell hole. My Amex pays for Walmart+ so I let them bring the stuff to me.

Everything is recorded on the self-checkout lanes and saved. Months later they can very quickly pull the video of everything that happened. They have an impressive technology.

 

[SubieRubyRoo]

A Walmart in Missouri with high theft/shoplifting did the unthinkable. Walmart reduced self checkout and increased cashier manning stations.

Results include a very significant shift in losses from theft/ shoplifting.

I find this interesting as it seemed big merchants preferred losses from theft/shoplifting over paying and managing cashiers. I guess at some point, the losses from theft/shoplifting became to high to pass to the customers.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/yourmon...checkout-uturn-surge-police-calls-stores.html

Add this to the “Duh, no (censored) Sherlock” list of accomplishments. Next thing you know, some talking heads on TV will be claiming credit for reducing theft at WMs…

 

[Sumboodie]

For many years I disliked Walmart.

When I was transferred to central Pennsylvania, Walmart was the only retailer of any significance within 75 miles. I learned a lot about Walmart that gave me a second look as a retailer.

A few of the things I really learned to appreciate about included no goofy loyalty card games that are full of trickery about every major grocery store does, no buy two the cost is $2.99 per item, but buy one the cost is $4.59 for one, many name brands to compliment store brands (not overstrength store brands reducing choice), surprisingly large selection of different cheeses, and many other items.

Essentially, Wal Mart was the only major retailer with the exception of Costco that wasn't trying to non-stop trick me during shopping. I didn't need to invest extra brain power to avoid being tricked while shopping at Wal mart. Something Albertsons, Fred Myers, Safeway. King Soopers, Walgreens, CVS, etc all seem to focus extra heavy on.

I think that's illegal here.

I know if I just buy one, it's 50% of price.

 

[Snagglefoot]

I think there are “ accidental” thefts occurring as well”. The shopper rolls the cart up to the checkout, takes items from the cart, scans then puts it on the counter to the right. They leave an item in the card then unload the products from the the counter back into the cart, pay and leave the store. It’s common in Canada not to bag. Of course leaving one item in the cart can be intentional as well.

 

[mk378]

reported results include significant reduction in theft

Again the article does not say that. In the story, Walmart made no comments on the amount of theft either in the number or dollar amount.

The article only says that fewer people were turned over to the police to be prosecuted for theft. In other words fewer were caught stealing. The self-check stand may actually be a good place to catch customers who came to the store trying to steal. Or not. Really nothing at all can be concluded from this tabloid story.

 

[SC Maintenance]

Well there was this women, who couldn't get the self checkout to work, and with an employees help thought she was good, but when trying to leave she was stopped by loss prevention and Leo called. She was with her whole family. Sure its not the first time walmart screwed up.

And you know they screwed up big time if they paid $2.1M and there is no gag order to go along with the "settlement".

Yet I am supposed to feel sorry for Walmart?

 

[Carmudgeon]

Walmart does what's best for Walmart, and that's not necessarily a bellwether for the rest of the retailers.

Even if it means they're an outlier, as the sole remaining large retailer to not accept NFC payments.

On the whole, I prefer the machines at any store, since the majority of time I only have a few items, and the manned "express" lane is anything but.

Typically, I can be done within 30 sec with the checkout machine, and don't have to exchange fake pleasantries (if the effort is even made on their part); it's quick and easy most of the time. (except when the scales aren't calibrated properly and think you're stealing, which requires intervention from the pit boss)

Everything in the store is recorded anyway, and they use BT signals from your phone to track your movements, so just because you're not obviously standing in front of a camera doesn't mean you're not being watched. Their turf, and that's the tradeoff.

But Walmart is one store where it seems the clientele "struggles" more with the machines, and the lines to the pens don't move as fast as other places. Thank goodness oil purchases often qualify for free delivery, even without their membership.

I'm waiting for the big retail clampdown on returns, which many people treat as a de facto "try after you buy" policy, or avenue for other forms of fraud. In many places, return privileges aren't compulsory, they exist only due to competition, so it's an obvious issue to address.

 

[duck__dodgers]

Even if it means they're an outlier, as the sole remaining large retailer to not accept NFC payments.

Don't understand that thinking. Maybe someone can share the rationale. I always thought that my local Walmart (which hasn't been refurbished in years) just was as the bottom of the list for improvements---my 10-min drive radius is chock full of competition from every national and regional chain.

NFC makes life so much easier everywhere else....of course that means carrying only one card or wrapping the others in a sleeve.

 

[SwampSurvivor]

Ugh.
I've noticed this. Our local Walmart is moving back to cashiers. I hate it. Much prefer self checkout.
I'd rather not make small talk about pork chops, yogurt, dog treats or underwear.

 

[SwampSurvivor]

Well there was this women, who couldn't get the self checkout to work, and with an employees help thought she was good, but when trying to leave she was stopped by loss prevention and Leo called. She was with her whole family. Sure its not the first time walmart screwed up.

And you know they screwed up big time if they paid $2.1M and there is no gag order to go along with the "settlement".

Yet I am supposed to feel sorry for Walmart?

I don't know who to feel bad for here - but if someone under the age of 80 doesn't have the metal capacity to figure out how to use a self checkout, there's something else going on.

Actually she might be pretty smart ... if she was able to play dumb and win $2,000,000 ...

 

[duck__dodgers]

>>>she might be pretty smart ... if she was able to play dumb and win $2,000,000 ...

One of many "great filter" tests for intelligence/self-control, when a person gets a windfall.

$2MM (whether before or after taxes, lawyer fees) sounds like a lot more than it is; and not that much for a lifetime (obviously better than $0)

if anything for some (mamy?) people, it's a "Twilight Zone" curse.

but I wouldn't mind being oppressed by Loss Prevention next time at MegaLoMart, lol

 

[Heywood7860]

Well, if they are not spam, there are plenty of videos on Youtube where you can see people scamming
the self checkouts and getting caught and, having the police called on them so, it probably needs to be done
in locations where they have a lot of problems with thieves taking advantage of them.
Just my 2 cents worth.

 

[Carmudgeon]

Don't understand that thinking. Maybe someone can share the rationale. I always thought that my local Walmart (which hasn't been refurbished in years) just was as the bottom of the list for improvements---my 10-min drive radius is chock full of competition from every national and regional chain.

NFC makes life so much easier everywhere else....of course that means carrying only one card or wrapping the others in a sleeve.

Walmart would prefer that their customers use Walmart Pay, via their app.

They're large enough to not care about any potential shopper resistance, and TBF, there are so many ways to make payments now, it's not a practical issue for most people.

However, like Costco, Walmart despises the merchant transaction fees that the credit card associations charge, and if it could get away with not accepting credit cards, it would probably stop. That could discourage a lot of shoppers and any potential sales dent would not be palatable. There was a time when Walmart did not accept AMEX, which has the highest merchant fees. I've run into more than one situation where a vendor has stopped accepting AMEX.

Costco makes its profits on membership fees, and is a place people generally want to shop, as well as having a desirable customer base, so they can choose to limit their card acceptance to the one that gives them the best deal, currently Visa. Along with their soda vendor, which has flipped back to Coca-Cola. Costco also exerts its market power, to do what they think is best for them. It has even banished Apple in the past, which did return, on Costco's terms.

Edit--forgot to add that NFC was part of the package of the big EMV tokenization mandate that forced retailers to upgrade their payment terminals, or bear the liability for fraudulent card activity. So that capability has been in the hardware all along; it was up to the merchant whether to use it. Home Depot and Lowes, which were also among the last of the holdouts, actually accepted NFC early on, albeit unofficially. But they later chose to turn if off.

 

[MasterSolenoid]

There was a YouTube, Walmart, where a person was a prominent physician. It is a sickness, it’s not about the value of the goods. No different than people who on purpose flip meat packages or squeeze bread or destroy products. It’s all in their minds to do these things…

I never heard of people with a problem of squeezing .... bread.
But in the 80's, there was a problem with people squeezing toilet paper.
It got so bad, they had to put a PSA on TV .... it wasn't successful.