Another major retailer reportedly making big self-checkout change

Another major retailer reportedly making big self-checkout change

Another major retailer is reportedly eyeing a change to a growingly controversial element of modern shopping – self-checkout.

According to RetailWire, Target is limiting access to self-checkout terminals in some locations in part to reduce “shrink,” or losses due to theft or errors. Self-checkout lanes in select stores will only be open from 10 a.m. or 11 a.m. until 7 p.m. or 8 p.m. Regular business hours at most Target stores are 7 a.m. or 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Employees told Business Insider Target is aiming to keep the percentage of overall store sales processed through self-checkout below a certain threshold, though that level was not clear. The change isn’t taking place in every store and appears to depend on staffing levels and sales volumes.

Target had reportedly already started limiting self-checkout to customers buying 10 or fewer items. Customers with more than 10 items are being directed to full-service lanes.

According to Business Insider, the self-checkout changes are designed to prevent shoplifting and theft when a customer puts in a cheaper code for a fruit or vegetable they are purchasing. Studies have shown retailers with self-service checkouts have a shrink loss rate of about 4%, roughly double the industry average.

Target is just the latest retailer to move away from self-checkout. Earlier this year, Dollar General CEO Todd Vasos said the company had relief too much of self-checkout and will shift towards staffed checkout. More than half of Dollar General’s 19,000 stores have self-checkout stations.