Could This Come To Utah? Retailers Consider Charging For Self Checkout

I'm tired of being nickel and dimed to death. For example, the movie theaters encourage us to go online and buy our tickets and select our seats before coming to the show. O.K. I like the convenience of that and avoiding the concession line is a good plan. But then, there's the catch. Oh, we'll add a service charge of $2.98 for you buying your tickets online.

I'm sorry, you're charging me to do the job you used to pay someone else to do? Oh....we'll waive the fee if you join our whatever it's called club. Or you can come to the theater and buy the tickets at our kiosk for no charge, but then there's that line possibility again. Pay the fee, join the club, it's all nickel and diming to me.

So, imagine my surprise when I read this report from WSMV television that indicated that a couple of retail stores are looking in to the possibility of charging people to use the self serve check out. Wait?!? What?!?

I know, I've written several times, and spoken on the radio that businesses have the right to run their operations the way they see fit. But that doesn't mean I get excited when I hear things that don't make sense to me.

I mean, I never have gotten in to the whole self check out thing as it is. And I don't think I'm alone.

Self-checkout kiosks have become ubiquitous in modern retail, promising efficiency and convenience. However, they've also sparked a wave of disdain among some consumers. One common complaint is the supposed loss of human interaction, as these machines replace cashier-staffed lanes. For many, the checkout process was a chance for brief social interaction, a moment of connection in an otherwise transactional experience.

For years, my mom was a cashier at the grocery store in the little town where I grew up. Customers at Goodwins in Crestline, California knew my mom and engaged in community discussion as they were going through the check out process. It's how she and we found out what was going on in town, and some of it was even true!

Additionally, technical glitches and errors can frustrate users, leading to longer wait times and heightened stress levels. Privacy concerns also arise, as some worry about the security of personal information when using these automated systems.

So, what retailers are looking into paying for self-checkout? The answer shouldn't surprise you.

In the case of Walmart, the use of self-checkout would be limited to “Scan & Go” which is only available to Walmart+ customers, and that's a paid subscription. Not sure what the Target game plan is as they are saying there has not been a change in self-checkout policy.

So, will this all be coming here to Utah? The corporate office for Walmart says individual store managers are able to run their stores in a manner that works best for their customers and employees, so we'll see.

The silver lining to this? In the case of Walmart, they are opening up more check out stands staffed with real people again. Maybe I can have my social engagement and keep my nickels and dimes.