General Discussion

Munu

(113 posts) Mon Jan 12, 2026, 06:29 PM Monday

Interesting development at my local Walmart.

For the past several years it has been mostly self-checkout, with a few cashier lanes at the far end.
So it was last week.

Today, it was all cashier lanes with just a few self-checkouts at the far end.
Most of the cashier lanes were closed, but it wasn't very busy when I was there.

I want to think this is a positive development, but I'm not sure.
Observations anyone?

10 replies

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Interesting development at my local Walmart. (Original Post) Munu Monday OP

No change at Safeway. Aristus Monday #1

Most likely due to theft and staffing. flvegan Monday #2

Hmm. Munu Monday #3

I read that some Walmarts are going more to cashier checkout. Irish_Dem Monday #4

I also have read somewhere that they have falsely BlueKota Monday #8

I believe Walmart said a year or ago they were going to phase out rurallib Monday #5

If they have to hire people to watch the self-checkouts milestogo Monday #6

They often have one person supervising quite a few self check out. Irish_Dem Monday #9

Then there is the urban legend of a man's thinning hair setting off an alarm in the monitoring booth. John1956PA Monday #7

The Walmart near me ditched all of their self-checkout lines within the last year. Intractable Monday #10

Aristus

(71,707 posts)

1. No change at Safeway.

Reply to Munu (Original post)

Mon Jan 12, 2026, 06:33 PM

Monday

I was there yesterday. Mid-level business traffic. Only one cashier lane open. Long line; they finally opened a second lane by the time I got up to the cashier. Self-checkout busy as always.

flvegan

(65,819 posts)

2. Most likely due to theft and staffing.

Reply to Munu (Original post)

Mon Jan 12, 2026, 06:38 PM

Monday

Too many people steal in self-checkout (allegedly) and if they don't have enough "watchers" either on the floor or in "the booth" they shut them down.

It's not to enhance the customer experience. It's WalMart, they don't care.