Customers at certain Walmart locations will have to get used to staffed checkout lanes, as more stores are eliminating self-checkout options .
Two stores — one in Missouri and one in Ohio — are hoping to improve customers’ in-store experience by eliminating self-checkout lanes. The grocery giant confirmed that construction in the Cleveland Steelyard location and a St. Louis-area Supercenter will take place after hours and will be finalized in close to two weeks.
Based on feedback from customers, employees and the trend of local shopping patterns , spokesperson Brian Little says the move helps the service provided to shoppers.
“We believe the change will improve the in-store shopping experience and give our associates the chance to provide more personalized and efficient service,” he said.
Several of the country’s largest retailers have been reevaluating their self-checkout lanes. According to Fast Company , in February 2024, Target cut back on self-checkout lanes in select stores by reducing the hours of customer usage . Their decision helped combat the “shrink” in the retail industry — the loss of products due to theft.