Walmart, Costco and other companies rethink self-checkout

TheDawn

TheDawn

https://www.cnn.com/2023/11/13/business/self-checkout-stores-shopping/index.html

Do not know why they want to come back down on self-checkout. It's fantastic! It's quick and easy and you have full control and be able to monitor the price lot better. And if there are any problems, there are still people there to help you. Don't know what's the downside for us. It seems the biggest problem is actually the security problem in that people are actually cheating or downright not paying for items scanned which is causing the stores losing money with these self-checkout systems. Wow people are creative! LOL I guess we are getting poorer. There is a theory that observes that the poorer we are, the more creative people get in "saving money".
 
maxinger said:
Some self-checkout counters have extra-large spy cameras.

It is a good deterrence.
More...

Yeah how often or whether they are monitored irl? If I am scanning bananas for steaks or fake barcodes, you have to catch me in the act for it to be a deterrence. Once I have paid and am gone, I am gone. What are you going to do? Go to my home three days later to make me pay for what I got after the camera footage is checked three days later?
 
TheDawn said:
Go to my home three days later to make me pay for what I got after the camera footage is checked three days later?
More...

In some cases, yes, if the video evidence is clear enough, it could lead to an arrest and prosecution. I'm pretty sure the statute of limitations for theft is longer than three days.
 
BMK said:
In some cases, yes, if the video evidence is clear enough, it could lead to an arrest and prosecution. I'm pretty sure the statute of limitations for theft is longer than three days.
More...

Well judging from the stores wanting to scale back on the self-checkout operations, it's obviously not worth it to go after the theft of just a few dollars.
 
BMK said:
In some cases, yes, if the video evidence is clear enough, it could lead to an arrest and prosecution. I'm pretty sure the statute of limitations for theft is longer than three days.
More...

Not only is that not done today, but many retailers look the other way when witnessing actual shoplifting. In CA many police departments tell retailers to file an online report for anything under $950. They won't even come out and rarely is anyone ever charged. Many others won't allow employees to confront or even report theft when it's outright stealing.

I heard a radio show yesterday morning where they discussed this news item and lots of people called in to admit that they steal from the self checkout regularly. Some of them said they have a routine where they check their phone in the middle of the process and pretend to be distracted while moving certain items to their bags. If you watch the video you'd probably believe they were just distracted and it was an honest mistake - which is the entire point.

Interestingly... nearly everyone that admitted stealing said they only do it to the big retailers and not the mom and pop stores.

Sure it's wrong and makes things more expensive for the rest of us, but when retailers are going to allow customers to take things for free without consequence - more and more people are going to be doing it.
 
Meanwhile across the US people are literally walking into stores filling up baskets of goods and walking out without anything or any body bothering them. Have seen it allll over social media. Unless that's fake too????
 
Most thefts are employee thefts.
Between the two it is difficult for retail businesses to have a reasonable return on capital.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top