A LOWE’S customer strongly criticized the hardware store’s switch to self-checkout.
The customer described the newly introduced self-checkout registers as “catastrophic” and threatened to shop elsewhere.
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An X user took to social media to share his experience at Lowe’s.
The former customer stated that he had to wait a “drastically” long time at the self-checkout counter.
“@Lowes, your decision to eliminate cashiers and introduce self-checkout lanes is disastrous,” he wrote.
“Waiting times at the checkout have increased dramatically and now people with large loads (like wood) are blocking the open kiosks, making you have to wait!
“I’m taking my business to a corner shop!”
This isn’t the first time a customer has complained about Lowe’s self-checkout kiosks.
Another customer shared, “@Lowes I visited your E. Gilbert location.
“I took a bunch of tools and went to the checkout. Only self-service checkouts were open.
He further said that he approached an employee and asked if there were other payment alternatives.
“I asked an employee where I could pay without self-checkout.
“They told me it wasn’t possible. They just lost my business.”
PROBLEMS IN RETAIL?
Lowe’s isn’t the only retailer facing heavy criticism for its self-checkout lanes.
Stores like Walmart and Target have recently come under criticism for changes to their stores.
Latest changes to self-checkout
Retailers are developing their self-checkout strategies to shorten checkout times and reduce theft.
Walmart customers were shocked when self-checkout lanes at several locations were made available only to Walmart+ members.
Other customers reported that the self-checkout lanes were closed at certain times and more cashiers were offered instead.
While customers feared that shoplifting was the reason for the changes, a Walmart spokesperson said store managers were simply experimenting with ways to improve checkout performance.
One bizarre experiment involved an RFID-supported self-checkout kiosk that was intended to eliminate the hotly contested receipt check.
However, this test run was discontinued.
At Target, the number of items at self-checkout lanes is limited.
Last fall, the brand tested new express self-checkout lanes with a maximum of 10 items in 200 stores to increase convenience.
Starting in March 2024, this policy will be expanded to 2,000 stores in the United States.
Customers have also noticed that their local Walmart stores are limiting the number of customers at self-checkout lanes to 15 items or less.
Walmart recently reduced the number of self-checkouts to 15 items or less, and customers have been sharing their thoughts on social media.
“Dundalk Walmart is so fucking shitty dude,” one user shared on X.
“I have 23 items and therefore cannot use the self-service checkout.
“So for them it’s quick if I stand in line behind eight people who have 70 items in their shopping carts.
“That makes sooo much sense. Why not just limit the self-checkout to maybe 35 items or less?”
Target has also implemented a similar policy of 10 items or less.
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