Dollar General removing self-checkout at hundreds of stores
Another major retailer is backing away from self-checkout.
Dollar General is pulling self-checkout stands in 300 stores with the highest levels of shoplifting and merchandise loss, CNN reported. In 9,000 other stores, either some or all self-checkout will be converted to regular lanes staffed by employees. In another 4,500 stores, Dollar General will limit self-checkout to purchases of five items or less.
The move is designed to lower levels of “shrink,” a retail term that covers things like shoplifting, theft, damaged products, online fraud and other factors, CNN reported. Studies have shown retailers with self-service checkouts have a shrink loss rate of about 4%, roughly double the industry average.
READ MORE: Major retailer makes big change to self-checkout
Earlier in the year, Dollar General CEO Todd Vasos said the company had relied too much on self-checkout and it should be treated as a “secondary…vehicle, not a primary.”
More than half of Dollar General’s 20,000 stores have self-checkout stations, with that being the only option at some of its locations.
Self-checkout has become a hot topic in retail. Earlier this month, Target announced it was moving to “Express Start Checkout,” limiting customers to 10 items or less at self-service registers. More traditional lanes staffed by employees will also be added with managers given flexibility to open more traditional lanes or adjust self-checkout hours.