Walmart is tempting me to steal from them

[calguy]

I haven't done it yet. But the temptation is getting stronger. Since our Walmart removed most of the checkout stations and replaced them with self-checkout, I feel like Walmart is forcing me to work for them. Because I'm forced to scan my own items, they're not paying wages to a checkout clerk. Even though I often used self checkout before, it pisses me off that now they're forcing me to.

If they're cutting their expenses by forcing me to scan my own groceries, why shouldn't I get some sort of compensation?

I mean, why can't I put a few smaller items in my bag without scanning them? Why shouldn't I be able to scan only three cans of tuna, when I'm buying four? What's wrong with touching the picture of cheaper apples, when the more expensive variety is on the scale.

If Walmart forces me to do their employees' work, isn't it only fair to force Walmart to give me compensation?

I've always considered myself an honest guy, but when Walmart steals my labor, I'm tempted to retaliate.

[louis-t]

1. You and millions of Americans.

I would be surprised if cutting employees actually makes wally world any money.

[Hortensis]

55. I don't think that should be assumed. There's an old saying that

thieves believe everyone steals (like Republicans believe everyone tries to steal elections, people who'd sell out for money if they had a chance assume everyone does, etc.), but we know that's not the case.

(Confession: When I arrived at the bottom of the parking lot last time and discovered a head of broccoli under a bag, I didn't hike back up to return or pay for it. But that's as far as I'd ever go.)

[kcr]

105. Now that's the wise choice, sadly

Before I would have gone back in to pay for something I accidently took, but I've heard too many stories of people being charged with theft anyway that I would no longer do so, especially if it's a large, corporate chain store.

[Hortensis]

113. Oh, I wasn't the least worried about that and don't think anyone

not stealing should be either. Walmart's extremely impersonal, but those "stories" are balanced by many millions of nonstories. MANY millions for that behemoth.

I would have walked much farther than that if I thought I was doing even Walmart harm, but knew I wasn't. I'm a regular shopper these Covid days, and their substituted items on my on-line orders are frequently more expensive than the originals they charge me for. And it goes both ways, both meat and produce items I pick up curbside are not always items I would have selected in store, the one significant downside to curbside shopping. In fact, this reminds me that I just threw away the second bag of onions from Walmart that went bad strangely fast. Never had that happen before; turns out bad onions smell really bad!.

Supply chain issue? Beats me; but, though I have no onions for tonight, somehow I doubt it's a corporate plot to unload bad onions on me. Just part of the general disruption. It's the second bag, so I'll report it online for a refund. Didn't do that for the first bag since I owed them for the broccoli.

[kcr]

123. I hear you. Personally I just wouldn't take the chance

But I realize others will have their own comfort level as far as risk goes. I understand the conflict though. It's not like I'd feel good about it. Hopefully, it's not something I'll be tested on any time soon. I haven't walked out with anything in years.

[Hortensis]

130. :) Then you obviously also aren't tempted to steal on purpose either.

Seems wise, as well as honest. While one might get away with stealing something initially, and with getting caught with a single-item "accident" another time, self checkout actually strikes me as a particularly bad place to push one's luck.

[TheBlackAdder]

58. Those self-checkouts are heavily monitored. They are hoping to shake-down fraudsters.

.

By placing the onus on the customer to decide the product SKU is correct, the product(mostly food) is selected properly, and that the product was properly scanned opens up the door for them to have their door guy question you on exit, scrutinize your receipt and call the loss prevention folks to take you to the holding area for local police to process you. These firms will often shake-down the shopper, making them pay a multi-hundred dollar fine to prevent more serious charges from being pursued.

Their standard checkout policy is not to open a new line unless there are more than three customers in register queues for extended periods. With the advent of self-checkout, they no longer open up more queues, but hope to dissuade you from using a staffed register. They really aren't saving any money when you watch how many people go through self-checkout and how many people are staffed for assistance and in security monitoring the transactions--versus a couple of staffed express lanes. They use a shitload of cameras and an AI product to assess whether a shopper is possibly stealing or not scanning a product properly.

.

[forgotmylogin]

79. I am sure all stores have calculated a specific amount of shrink into self-checkout.

(This does not imply I advocate theft at all, but I find it interesting.)

"Shrink" being a very minor loss of profit due to actual errors - the cashier thinks they scan four cans of tuna but it only catches three, or the cashier accidentally enters the code for regular bananas instead of more expensive organic bananas... These errors are increased with self-checkout.

Corporations figure these errors are minor and just letting them go increases customer satisfaction/wait time and is easier than forcing a cashier to wait five minutes to do a price check on an item that won't scan or doesn't show a price. Often in that case, cashiers will ask "how much is this?" and believe you and enter it manually. As long as they charge *something* it's not a big deal in the bulk scheme of things.

I actually love self checkout and do it if possible unless it's offline or that line is longer, which can happen but is rare. From what I can gather, the major method to keep people honest is the platform weighs everything scanned, which is *why* you have to bag each item as you go. Those occasional "please wait for an attendant" errors that go away automatically is when your bagged weight goes enough out of phase with the calculated weight the register is expecting. Usually the self-scan monitoring employee just hits the button to clear those with very little thought. I assume it happens due to several lightweight items sometimes not registering small ounce changes on the scale against several pounds of other groceries.

I have two times accidentally not paid for an item:

Once I had a tiny bottle of liquid sweetener that cost about $4 that fell into the corner of my cart and I forgot to scan it, put bags on top, and walked out without discovering it until I was loading groceries into my trunk. I *should* have taken it back and paid for it, but it was much easier on me (and likely the store due to calculated shrink) that I didn't bother.

The other time I was buying bulk sunflower seeds and pumpkin seeds at a store that had about 50 different bins of bulk items sold by weight and you had to write a code marked on the bin on the tag that holds the bag closed to enter at the register to calculate the price per pound. I marked the sunflower seeds which were $1.99/lb but forgot to write the code for the pumpkin seeds at $5.99/lb on the other tag. When I was self checking, again I should have bothered an employee to ask what the correct code was, but in the moment, I just entered the sunflower seed code again and paid the lower price for my pumpkin seeds.

I realize how I could make these "errors" on purpose, but I don't simply because I appreciate the store's understanding because otherwise self-checkout would be a nightmare. I wouldn't doubt there have been times that I scanned an item twice by accident and overpaid as well, but unless it's a high-dollar item I'm not going to quibble about paying for two 99 cent boxes of pasta instead of one because it's barely worth my and the employee's time. That's why they calculate and tolerate an allowable shrink rate into profits, and unless people take major advantage of that, it's not a problem.

And yeah, self-checkout saves the company money because one employee can watch usually 3-6 registers at a time. I've read that drive through also saves fast food a ton because they don't have to maintain a dining room, and wouldn't be surprised if many fast food locations severely limit dine-in hours or eliminate them altogether after the pandemic. We may see many fast foods increase drive-through lanes from one to 2-4 or even more.

[TheBlackAdder]

87. Wal*Mart's the exception. They've turned the self-checkout into a profit center.

.

While doing that in most stores runs minimal risk, not at Wal*Mart.

I only used their self-checkout once, when they only had one staffed register open and 3 large carts were in queue. This was at one of their Super Stores too. Their register policy is not to make it too convenient for staffed register checkout, else the customers might get accustomed to it. Where Target opens extra registers on the fly, Wal*Mart won't. Now, with the incentive to charge customers who mis-scan, there's even less of a reason to open them.

Shrinkage is built into all store's equations, but Wal*Mart is changing that equation.

I would not use those self-checkouts, else that guy at the door will stop you, knowing the error.

.

[forgotmylogin]

88. Walmart is *the worst* with grocery check out.

Before Walmart had extensive grocery stores in every location it wasn't as bad.

Now every single person who goes there usually gets grocery items, which increases the number of scans per order since groceries are smaller. And they use those cursed bagging turntables. Every time I have used cashier check-out at Walmart it takes forever, and 80% of the time it's because the cashier doesn't spin the turntable. They use the two bags closest to them, and when they fill instead of turning it so *you* can put the bags in your cart and they can continue, they will carefully pick up and put the bags in my cart to clear the spaces instead of letting me do it. That means they stop checking for 15 seconds each time, and when you're getting 10 bags of stuff, that adds minutes to checkout time.

Similar problem at Walgreens since they've become a de-facto grocery store and don't use conveyor belts - the customer has to set everything on the two-square-feet of desk in front of the cashier, they have to check and bag and hand the bags over and when people buy a cartload of items it's forever when they're set up and designed for each customer to only have a handful of stuff.

[Ms. Toad]

121. You did make those errors on purpose.

The point at when you choose may be different (i.e. You didn't go into the store planning to steal). But when you choose to use the sunflower code, rather than find out what the correct code for pumpkin seeds was, you made the error on purpose. Same when you drive away with the sweetener, knowing you hadn't paid for it.

If you're fine with stealing, that's one thing, but please don't pretend it was somehow not a purposeful decision, just because you made the decision to steal at a different time.

[forgotmylogin]

142. Okay.

[usaf-vet]

124. Listening to local police scanner in small town with Walmart Super Store. I would guess....

.... that they average at least one grab and run episodes every day. Most runners seem to have a waiting running car at the exit. Their exit routes vary, so rarely do they get caught by the police.

[Midnight Writer]

135. Our Walmart has a reserved parking for police right by the doors.

There are cop cars parked there nearly every time I go there, and it is not uncommon to see cops hauling someone out of there.

[secondwind]

2. Retaliate in a different way.

Stop buying at Wal-Mart.

I know, it’s hard to do.

[FoxNewsSucks]

20. That's definitely the best way.

[lark]

50. You can use their grocery stores to get vaccinated, just don't buy anything.

That was the first place where I could get a vaccination, so I took it and was so glad to get my Moderna protection. Also really happy when husband got his Pfizer shots at CVS a few weeks later.

[calguy]

28. I'd love to boycott Walmart

Unfortunately, in the small town I live in, there isn't any other place to shop. Other stores are afraid to move in and compete against them.

[Blecht]

49. Most people don't understand this

I couldn't understand why anybody would ever shop at Walmart until I lived in a place like that -- there really was no other place to buy groceries. I hated doing it, but I relied on them for food.

I am very happy to live in a place where I am not forced to buy from Walmart now. I have choices, and I never shop there. But people need to understand that not everybody has a choice.

[calguy]

126. We have one other grocery store in town,

I buy everything I can from them. But everything else I need besides groceries, there really isn't anyplace else to go.

[Hortensis]

136. When Covid hit, like you Walmart was closest at 20 miles away and also

the first to set up online shopping/curbside pickup. Before then I shopped a few markets, Publix the next farthest, but it was too expensive to do all my shopping in, and setting up appointments in even two stores for pickup could tie up an afternoon, so I started doing shoppings every 2 weeks at Walmart, and it's worked well.

Walmart Inc's incredibly too large for our own good of course. But personally, as a shopper I've had little to complain about and appreciate much that's helped make isolating this last year a fairly simple business. They don't carry everything I used to get elsewhere, but I learned the superstores actually have a surprisingly broad choice of grocery items. (And their store brand now has some very good stuff for the price. After this is over, I'll still be dropping in for some items.)

The old mom and pop stores and local chains wouldn't have been able to serve our needs nearly so well. In fact, the only small chain market near us this winter not only has narrow aisles but refused to set up Covid precautions, like one-way arrows, 6-foot marks, requiring masks, etc. We not only did boycott that store but now will never return.

All in all, I think reasonable and sensible people appreciate Walmart and other giant businesses for what should be appreciated and disapprove of what is harmful to society, or they just don't like. And of course always vote sensibly for the only party that could or would break up these giant monopolies.

[plimsoll]

60. It's always been their business model.

You'll notice they don't usually start in major metropolitan areas where there is actual competition. They look for smaller locales where the local business' can't really compete on scale and force them out. They can afford to keep the prices low(ish) because there's no competition, but the community still becomes poorer. They're the poverty engine.

[birdographer]

91. We were stuck with them

during quarantine because they were the only store in town that had curbside pickup--order online and go and they load the bags in your car, no contact, no dodging maskless trumpers in the other grocery stores. However, the cat food cans were always dented, and bite-size Shredded Wheat cereal pieces were burned black--clearly they get the seconds (or thirds). Once we got vaccinated we went back to real stores. We were like kids at Christmas walking down the aisles getting to pick out anything we wanted! Bananas that weren't bright green! Name brands!

[MissB]

3. A saner option is to slow it down

And constantly ask for help. Be unable to find the barcode. Be unable to figure out which apples you’re buying and what picture you should touch. Slowwwwwly scan each item, and carefully pack each bag at a snails pace.

Don’t forget to call them over when you want to pay, because you don’t know which buttons to press.

Make it super inconvenient yet legal.

[CoopersDad]

32. This would be uncivil.

The same people who say that they are forced to shop at Walmart ought not to be even further inconvenienced by this behavior, which would probably go unnoticed by the management.

Please, don't encourage this.

[inwiththenew]

4. Is Wal Mart the only place you can buy groceries at?

If not, I'd suggest going somewhere else. That would send a bigger message than stealing a few things.

[HAB911]

5. I refuse to scan my own stuff

or bag my own groceries

[Siwsan]

15. I never mind bagging my own groceries.

At Aldi, that's just the way it is and that's where I do most of my grocery shopping. They have the fastest check out process I've ever seen and since I don't usually buy a cartful of stuff, it just takes a minute of my time. I rent the cart for a quarter, return it to get my quarter back, bag my own groceries and save money.

At other stores it's the only way I can use my own cloth bags, anyway, right now. I bag as they scan and it expedites the process.

And if I'm in a store where I discover that self check out is the ONLY option, I tend to engage the person overseeing those lanes because I might have wine or spirits in my cart, or because I'm a total dufus when it comes to even routine self check out. At one store I've even had that person offer to check out my stuff at the self check because, well, I think they were just bored.

[HAB911]

27. I can understand at Aldi, that's the design

and is part of the reason for shopping there. Almost all we have is Publix here, a few Winn Dixie. Publix has no self check and they pay for employee bagging and take out to the car, and expressly no tipping allowed because they are, comparatively, paid well and employee owned.

Places like Home Depot, I will stand in line rather than do self checkout.

[Siwsan]

52. The local Home Depot RARELY has an employee staffed checkout

When they do, I'm the same - I stand line.

One of the local Krogers always has one personnel run check out lane, the other one I never see one open early in the morning. It's a much nicer store, but if I need something early, I go to the other.

[House of Roberts]

81. Home Depot has to have an open line for large products

like 2x4s, plywood and such. If you have the time, check out at that end of the store.

[Siwsan]

89. They must round someone up for those. The lanes are unlit and unstaffed at the local HD

The garden center check out is always staffed. Previous to working on the house, that is the department I shopped at the most, but of course that is seasonal.

[Treefrog]

73. Don't go to Europe. You have to bring your own bags, pay a deposit for a cart, and bag your items.

I had no problem with it there, and I have no problem with it here.

[Buckeye_Democrat]

75. That's how an Aldi's operates near me.

Need a quarter to unlock the cart from the others. Then the quarter pops out when it's locked back in place.

Bringing your own bags aren't required, though, but they dissuade using their bags by charging for them.

That's how they managed the operation about 10 years ago when I last shopped there anyway. It was closer to my now-deceased mother's home and I did her shopping.

[Treefrog]

76. Yeah, i think they and Lidl both came from Europe. I shopped both stores in Germany.

Tesco in Ireland and England is the same. One of the things I always liked is they allow the cashiers to sit in a chair. SO civilized!

[Buckeye_Democrat]

80. Same at that Aldi's!

They were the only seated cashiers that I remember, now that you mention it. Thanks for the reminder! It was a challenge to keep up with them while bagging, they were so fast. Many customers brought cardboard boxes for faster scooping into them, like me.

Edit: I pushed the more fragile items to the side and scooped the others into the boxes. Then put the fragile stuff on top.

[Treefrog]

85. Some are very fast, but I've gotten faster at bagging lol.

I now load stuff into my cart in the order I want to pack it up! I remember telling a cashier in Ireland that American cashiers had to stand up all shift. He looked amazed, then asked, “even the older ones?” How embarrassing to have to answer honestly.

[Ms. Toad]

129. No need to bring cardboard boxes -

Aldis has them for free - bins of boxes in a couple of aisles, and you're free to rearrange the shelved items in a couple of partially filled boxes to make an empty box.

[Buckeye_Democrat]

131. It's been many years since I shopped there...

... for my mother, but I think that's where I got most of the boxes initially!

Then I found a combination of boxes that stacked nicely within each other and I kept those for future shopping.

I wasn't prepared the first time I shopped there, but I learned quickly.

[Ms. Toad]

132. Cashiers used to have to memorize the prices of everything in the store -

and you could only pay in cash (and possibly by check).

Now they scan everything and accept credit cards.

[Buckeye_Democrat]

133. If I remember correctly, they were also paid better...

... than most cashiers around here.

I never met one who wasn't fast, seemingly both physically and mentally.

[BannonsLiver]

111. +1

Most Americans are spoiled.

[HAB911]

128. I wouldn't have a problem here

but they refuse to pay me to do their job, LOL

[MineralMan]

101. There are supermarkets that will do all that for you.

Yes, there are. If you don't mind paying 10-20% more, they'll be glad to check you out and bag your groceries for you.

You needn't lower yourself to shop at Walmart. Lucky you!

[BannonsLiver]

114. Beats standing in line behind some asshole with 400 items in their cart.

[Humanist_Activist]

6. Wal-Mart stole wages from me, literally, I avoid them like a plague...

but frankly, shoplift from there as often as you can, just don't get caught.

[paleotn]

7. Theft tied to self check out is less....

than the cost of additional check out employees, even at Walmart wages. Trust me, Wallyworld has done the math.

[Buckeye_Democrat]

8. The Walmart closest to me is terrible.

I will never shop there again. Their recent Google reviews tend to express the same attitude.

I made a joke on DU a few weeks ago about vomit in a Walmart aisle, which received two upset replies. I didn't feel like explaining it, but my local Walmart was the explanation because I've seen it there.

Almost no employees to be seen at the registers, so most people use self check-out. Then two off-duty cops at each exit check everyone's receipts and items. So they're paying them, but not employees to operate the registers.

Pretty much the most depressing shopping center that I've personally experienced anywhere.

[Siwsan]

21. The few times I've been in the local Walmart, the employees have been surprisingly friendly

Admittedly it's early in the morning so frustration levels haven't peaked. And they have an employee at the door to check receipts. Well, I guess that's why they are there. I bought a small bag of ice at checkout and the ice box is at the exit so I had my receipt out and ready. Nobody even asked to see it. I could have easily grabbed the jumbo bag, with no problem.

I was REALLY shocked when I went to Home Depot, the other day. Unfortunately it's the ONLY home improvement store that is close by and I'm home improving, right now. Anyway, I was there mid-morning and couldn't take two steps without someone asking me how I was or if I needed help locating anything. I didn't, but pretended I did because normally finding someone for help is IMPOSSIBLE.

[Buckeye_Democrat]

26. My local Walmart was a decent store a few years ago.

If an experienced store manager is in the mood for a MAJOR challenge, that particular store is now the place for them.

[snort]

97. I thought it was funny.

Fuck the humorless.

[Buckeye_Democrat]

107. Thanks!

I was hoping it would be considered funny, but most people have probably never experienced anything like it.

What made it even more disgusting was how it looked mostly DRY, like it was laying there untouched for awhile.

I just looked up Yelp reviews of that particular store too, and here's one of them in a screenshot:


I keep expecting it to close down eventually, but that store somehow stays in business.

[MLAA]

9. Warning cal guy!

The automated check out weighs your bag and compares it to what you have scanned. So if you slip something in the bag without scanning it will loudly make you and everyone around you including the monitor aware of what you are trying to do. So if you plan to not scan something you better shove it in your pocket!

[ProfessorGAC]

103. Not Anymore

The new self-check stations have only one scale and that's the bed scanner, for weighing produce.
They used to have the bag areas with a scale, and if you removed something to put it in the cart, it would tell you.
But, not anymore.
Since they put the gun scanners for large items, they got rid of the bag scales.
Go in, buy 40# of dog food, 25# of cat food, etc. Or a TV, or computer, and other large items. They never even leave the cart, so the scales would be useless

[MLAA]

134. Whoa! The grocery store I go to still has the weighted bags!

If I ever take up shoplifting I’ll have to move to a more progressive city! Haha.

[ProfessorGAC]

139. Could Be Regional, I Suppose

But, we live in the corner of a pretty populated county. (Around 700,000).
So, there's one of their stores 18 miles from us in the next county west. 2 more in a town of around 80,000 south about 18 miles, and 3 or 4 in city of 160,000 & surrounding towns.
So, at one time or another, I've been to a half dozen or more of their sites. Mostly for pet stuff, veggie juices, & the large cans of coffee.
Most of them used to have the bag scales. None have them anymore. Jewel-Osco also changed them out.
Other chains, I don't know.
Besides, I've got a feeling that there are cameras watching those registered to casino floor degree of surveillance. They probably don't need the scales, and it's one more thing to maintain.

[Best_man23]

10. I would strongly advise against this course of action

Do a quick search online. Wally World's employees and security are notorious for being extremely aggressive in pursuing both actual and perceived shoplifters. The Karen Garner case (73 Y/O woman w/Dementia who got her shoulder popped out by the police) is but one example.

I recommend the following

1. Don't shop at Wally World, or

2. As one of the other posts on here suggested, ask for help in scanning each and every item.

[MineralMan]

11. Do you somehow suppose that there aren't cameras

watching those self-check lanes? Really?

I guarantee that there are. Absolutely. So, if you happen to get caught in a receipt check at the door, there will be video evidence of what you did in the self-check line.

Why do you shop in a place that has policies you dislike? I'm betting it is to save money on your purchases. That is your compensation for checking yourself out. If that is not the reason you shop there, no doubt there are supermarkets in your area with live checkers manning traditional check-out lanes.

I'm not defending self-check lanes, though. Yes, they do put people out of work. Yes, they are inconvenient for customers. And yet, the customers keep coming in and using those lanes. Why they do that is almost always to save money.

So, if you continue to shop there, I caution you to avoid your temptation to steal stuff. You might get away with it sometimes. But, then, when you don't get away with it, there will be evidence available of what you did, and you will face some legal consequences for your actions.

Honesty. It is worthwhile. Truly.

[durablend]

100. They most definitely are monitored.

If you try to slip something in the bag without scanning it (or for whatever reason it acts like a pain and just doesn't recognize it), it'll flag for the person on duty and when they use their card to verify, the register plays back the last few seconds of recording on the monitor.

[Scrivener7]

12. Oh FFS. No. Don't shoplift. Because it's stealing and that is wrong.

People murder others too. Does that mean you're good to go on that murder you've been considering?

Shop somewhere else.

[Thtwudbeme]

13. I have to assume that you are at Walmart because

You live 75 miles from any other store? Right?

I haven't stepped foot in one for 20 years.

[StarfishSaver]

14. Everyone who steals claims to have a justification for it

Thinking you have a good reason to steal doesn't make you any less of a thief or criminal when you do it.

If shopping in Walmart tempts you to become a criminal, you should probably stay out of there.

[Diamond_Dog]

16. MineralMan beat me to it.

They have cameras on you at the self checkouts at Walmart so you can’t misbehave.

[FakeNoose]

115. They monitor the weight of each bag

When a customer puts something in the bag, and it hasn't been scanned yet, they know it. You might get away with something that's so lightweight that it doesn't trigger their device, but I wouldn't try it.

[LakeArenal]

17. Not as bad for you as the persons who lost their jobs.

Making only about $10 an hour.

[Chipper Chat]

18. I recently missed scanning a small pack of pentel pens.

When I put things in my car I discovered it. Went right back in to Walmart and scanned and paid. Only about 3 dollars but I felt better.

[USAFRetired_Liberal]

22. I did something similar

And the Walmart worker looked surprised and confused that someone would do this.

[USALiberal]

47. I did same thing, I would of felt bad if I didn't go back to pay! Nt

[KS Toronado]

68. Been there done that......

I discovered it while loading my SUV, was snowing and cold so I went home. Next time going to Wally World
I took the bar code with me and scanned it. I felt good about my actions.

[Historic NY]

19. Look up thats a camera looking at you...Big Brother is always watching its employees and you.

since the pandemic I've found that self-checkouts got upgrades, from Home Depot to Shoprite and others. In addition to sensors they can see you like a ATM camera .

So smile.

[brewens]

23. I ripped off a case of Pepsi at Costco one day and didn't even know it. It was on the bottom

rack below the big basket full of my other stuff. I didn't realize it until I got home without it. I checked me receipt and it wasn't on there, so I never scanned it. Someone got a freebie, unless one of their employees bringing carts in got it back for them.

After that, I knew I could bury a pack of steaks or something and get out with it every time, but I would never do that. Even if caught, I could probably play dumb and get out of it.

[EYESORE 9001]

24. I think your post broke the website

Not one new thread has been posted since 9:50; it's presently 10:32.

Better make amends with Agent Mike.

[Mosby]

25. The employees who used to work the register

Now shop for people who sit at home, put in their orders, and drive to the store where the items are hand delivered to the vehicle.

They also spend hours backstocking items that won't fit on the shelf, so the computer system knows exactly what the store inventory is.

[marie999]

86. I see Walmart employees picking out meat, fruit and vegetables for people to pickup.

2 things I won't do, let people pick out my groceries at any store and lumber at Lowes.

[Mosby]

108. I have mixed feelings about self checkouts.

They are great if you only have a couple things to buy. It doesn't work very well for larger purchases.

I'm not convinced they reduce payroll, because my experience is that the payroll is mostly shifted over to other things like order pickups backstocking.

Theft is a real issue, some places don't use scales like target because they are a pita.

[marie999]

120. Self checkout works even for many items if there are 2 of you. When we shop we take 2 carts.

We use 1 for what we want and when we check out we put what we scan in the other 1. I also find that there are more workers shopping for people than there ever were working as cashiers.

[LisaL]

29. Well, you go to shelves, pick the items, put them into your cart.

Do you consider that labor? I have been ordering delivery during the pandemic. So somebody is doing all of that for me. Why is scanning the items any more of a labor than picking those items from store shelves?
And thou shell not steal.

[FoxNewsSucks]

30. I've always hated those self-checkouts.

There have been grocery chains like Food-4-Less, Aldi and others where you bag your own and I never minded shopping there because the prices were noticeably cheaper so it was worthwhile.

But when the Kroger-owned Dillons started putting them in about 20 years ago, I only used it once. It is a hassle, I can't get it to go as fast as the cashiers, there's the delay to check ID for my wine, entering the loyalty card number is a pain, and I felt that if I'm doing all the work I should either get a paycheck or a discount.

They must not have gotten the usage Kroger wanted, so Dillons ordered the cashiers to start telling their customers in line that they could go use the self-check. I told them why I thought the things suck, and reminded them loudly that it was THEIR JOB being replaced, and did they really want to encourage their customers to go use them???

Now they're everywhere, and I still hate them.

Also as others have said, don't shoplift. They will catch you, it's not worth it. Just go elsewhere if you can. At the time I wrote about, I lived in Wichita and Dillons & Walmart were pretty much the only two lousy choices one had, as pretty much every IGA, Thriftway or other locally owned independent had closed up. I can guarantee, grocery prices in Wichita were not cheap.

[LisaL]

33. During the pandemic, self-checkouts are going to be safer.

Cashiers have been exposed to many people. They could easily be asymptomatic covid carriers.

[Treefrog]

72. Thank you. My thought also.

I prefer self checkouts. All of the stores I visit are hiring like crazy, so no one is losing any jobs over this imo.

[snowybirdie]

31. Watch out

The greeters at the door now check your receipt at the door. No telling if they're carrying or not. See story about 73 year old dementia victim who got her arm broken after mistakenly not paying at a Walmart. Never a good idea to steal imho.

[calguy]

34. Don't get me wrong, folks. I'm not going to steal anything.

It's just that they're tempting me every time I'm forced to do something I used to choose to do.
Call it my Sunday morning rant.

[USALiberal]

51. Tempting you????? Is taking stuff off shelf to put in cart too much work too??? Nt

[Ziggysmom]

54. A friend in a rural area joined a sort of car pool where every 2 weeks she and others

Drive the longer distance to a Costco or other stores just to avoid Walmart. One of them has a van and they chip in for his gas money or make him homemade baked goodies. She tells me the idea has really caught on and others at her church have organized these shopping excursions to avoid the wallyworld. She tells me they also feel safer than shopping alone and have a little fun doing it!

[orleans]

61. good. glad to hear you don't really intend to steal

you can order from target and they will ship a lot of grocery items that don't need to be refrigerated (ketchup, soup, kleenex, shampoo, toothpaste etc)

so when you have to go to walmart for bread or frozen items or veggies you won't spend as much time there shopping and scanning

the less money you spend at walmart the better

[everyonematters]

35. I have run into the situation occasionally at walmart where there is not barcode on an item.

A company that makes as much as they do should be able to barcode all of their items. This really is a temptation for just walking out with it.

[USALiberal]

45. Yes, theft is a great idea! Nt

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

36. I haven't been to a Walmart in decades.

As someone else has already posted, unless you are 75 miles from another store, there's no reason to shop at Walmart.

[EX500rider]

41. "there's no reason to shop at Walmart" Unless you are on a tight budget?

If all you have near you is a Walmart or a Publix the Walmart will be cheaper.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

64. Every time someone does a price comparison between Walmart and

other grocery stores, the other stores invariably come out cheaper. With a few exceptions, one of which is apparently diapers.

I don't have Publix where I am. Nor Aldi. Just some other chain supermarkets. And I am on a tight budget. I will not use the self-checkout because I want to do my small bit to help employment.

If you are fine subsidizing Republicans and a company who has famously paid its employees so little that how to register for food stamps is part of orientation, then go right ahead.

[EX500rider]

90. I don't believe their pay scale is much different from other stores

And it's over 20% cheaper than Publix for shopping imo

I don't use the blacksmith much anymore either some jobs just go away with time.

[EX500rider]

119. "Every time someone does a price comparison between Walmart..."

Here’s are the report’s rankings for grocery retailers according to price:

Aldi
Market Basket
WinCo Foods
Lidl
Food 4 Less
Costco
Walmart
Trader Joe’s
Sam’s Club
H-E-B
Amazon
BJ’s
Fareway
ShopRite

Walmart ranks 7th there but I only have a Aldi's and a Costco in my county making Walmart 3erd for me and the Walmart is significantly closer. I actually go to SaveALot more but they don't have the selection Walmart does.


https://clark.com/shopping-retail/cheapest-grocery-stores/

[Buckeye_Democrat]

122. I'm not surprised that Aldi is near the top for speed too.

Expect irritable expressions from other customers if you struggle to bag your items quickly.

They had multiple check-out lanes with fast cashiers at all of them when I used to shop there, so an occasional slow-poke wasn't too bad.

Empty boxes worked best for me. I kept them stacked at the bottom of my cart until it was time to check out.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

137. Of all of those listed, Costco is the only one

remotely near me, and it's in Albuquerque. I live in Santa Fe so I don't shop at one.
I am reasonably happy with my two local foodstore chains, Albertson's and Smith's. I do have a Trader Joe's, and other than their excellent prices on alcohol I do not understand the appeal of them. I never find foods I'm willing to buy. Clearly, that is just me, since they have a very loyal following.

Many years ago, when my son was very young, he'd watched TV and seen ads for some particular local grocery chain, and so he strong encouraged me to shop there. I did so. At the time, my weekly market basket was largely the same one very week. I spent noticeably more money at this new store, and politely explained to my son I'd be going back to the original one.

For what it's worth I never use coupons. Another many years ago story, I decided to try coupons, and discovered that somehow I was again spending more money for the same market basket as at a different store without coupons. Which has permanently left me highly skeptical of the tales of couponers who wind up more or less getting paid for what they've bought. Really? Then why the huge disparity between their experience and mine? What exactly is going on?

[MuseRider]

37. I have not and never will use those.

They did not need the extra money they are getting by letting all those check out people go. Can you imagine the money this is saving this? It isn't any faster, in fact it is slower.
Until they want to pay me for doing it I will not do it. Even then...rethinking...NOPE. I want people to have jobs and the Walmart folks do not need one more dime for the next millennia they could probably get their families by in a style most of us will never know so fuck them. It is the closest store to me by miles but I am done just stopping by for anything.

[USALiberal]

43. I love self checkout! Many do! Nt

[Treefrog]

53. I do too. I prefer to pack my own items.

Never mind the fact that’s one less set of hands touching my stuff during a pandemic.

[Sherman A1]

38. Easy fix

since you are stuck with WalMart as your shopping option. Go to their online ordering and do most of your shopping there for either delivery or curbside pickup. That puts the original checkout work back on their staff and will add additional work for either the delivery or to bring it to your vehicle.

[LisaL]

46. Yep, do delivery or curbside pickup.

Then more things will be done for you, so you won't feel that you are doing the work.

[Buckeye_Democrat]

59. I'm still doing that at my local Kroger...

... even after being vaccinated.

I finally walked inside the store, masked-up, a few days ago to pick up some coffee filters. Used self checkout, but it was just one item anyway. EVERYONE was properly masked in there and there were regular reminders over their PA system about it. So that was nice to observe, after more than a year of never going inside.

My plan for the latest pick-up order was to walk inside if they had some unfulfilled items again... but ironically they had everything that I ordered for the first time in months!

Anyway, that will continue to be my plan going forward.

[EX500rider]

39. A store can pick their own check out polices..don't see why what they pick is license to steal.

If they cut costs to keep prices down it is a good thing for poor people. Rich people can go to Publix.

[USALiberal]

40. FFS, really? Same for pumping gas and ATMs? Silly! Nt

[Ptah]

42. What about all the workers that lost their jobs when

What about all the workers that lost their jobs when the
stores stopped putting price tags on all the items.

Will you join me in demanding they re-hire all the price tag people lost their careers?

[Treefrog]

44. Shop elsewhere?

[Generic Brad]

48. Or you could buy online and have it delivered to your house

But if you want to get yourself in unnecessary trouble, have at it.

[Disaffected]

56. R-i-i-ght

Funny how folks can rationalize illegal or anti-social behaviour...

[berniesandersmittens]

57. Don't be a thief.

Now write it 100 more times on wide rule notebook paper using a #2 pencil...

[SCantiGOP]

62. What I learned from this thread:

A lot of people are dishonest, and a lot of people are lazy.

[Treefrog]

83. Boy, are you spot on with this!

Alex, I’ll take threads that make du look bad for $500.

[BannonsLiver]

112. Don't forget spoiled rotten.

[KentuckyWoman]

63. I think Walmart takes at least some blame that is wrongly placed.

I'm old. I remember the first Walmart that came to town. We had a small IGA in town. The Walmart went up about 4 miles outside town. It was very small by today's standards. They didn't have grocery then. It was more like a larger Woolworth or Kresge - but add tires and batteries.

They pulled in customers by having more variety. Stuff was mostly USA made. Due to volume, the prices were slightly cheaper. If people abandoned the locally owned stores it was a personal choice to seek the cheapest. For a variety of reasons. Loss of income, lack of raises to keep up with inflation, personal greed of getting a better deal.

We begged people to keep supporting local shops.
We begged people to spend a little more and buy American when the foreign goods started coming.

But Americans as a whole decided a walk in closet full of $5 shirts was more important than a few well made $20 shirts that kept Americans working and local shops in business.

And here we are. Too many towns with only 1 option for shopping - filled with goods made by underpaid and often abused workers.
Walmart does not get ALL the blame for that.

[marybourg]

84. Yeah, I'm old too and remember the same things.

[crim son]

65. The poster is not tempted to steal and is only making a point.

I agree with you, calguy. I refuse to use the self-checkout and because they open only two or three registers even on the busiest days, I go to Walmart when I have no other option i.e. not often.

[Buckeye_Democrat]

67. It was clearly tongue-in-cheek to me. nt

[JohnnyRingo]

66. Workplace theft. Worse they'll do is fire you.

Then you'll have to go to Aldis.

I suppose they could call the cops for accidentally mis-scanning the price of a few apples, or for "missing" a can of tuna, but think of how absurd that would sound in court.

Until they give you proper training it's on them to accept that some will make "mistakes" at the job, regardless the scare tactics some use to dissuade you. If you're someone who would lose sleep for cheating a member of the Walton family, don't do it.

[nwliberalkiwi]

69. Don't Use Self-check out

Don't Use Self-check out anywhere. Save a neighbors job.

[BobTheSubgenius]

70. I can't tell you how much I resent "having to" shop there.

The problem is, I can't cut off my hand to spite my arm. It really is cheaper, overall, although there are sometimes certain items cheaper across the street, or things they just don't stock. That "place across the street" is no worker's paradise, either. Owned by BC's only self-made billionaire, proud of the fact he's leaving his family nothing, and that, to build Expo 86, he used the local version of the Republican party to break the back of the union movement here. Expo was merely their fig leaf.

We are by no means starving, or hitchhiking, or sitting in the dark, reading library books by candlelight, but living on pensions is no joke, and we don't want to give up driving, nor the "com package" of phone, cable and Internet.

So, while I hate to admit it, principles sometimes take a backseat to a little extra comfort.

[nwliberalkiwi]

71. Don't Use Self-check out

Don't Use Self-check out anywhere. Save a neighbors job.

[Rebl2]

74. All of a sudden our grocery store

we shop at has added these self check out lines. No thank you. I know what you’re up to. It’s hard to imagine they lost money last year since more people were eating at home.

[TlalocW]

77. I sometimes use them

If I'm in a rush, and they're available... or if the more annoying cashier who wants to talk about every single one of my purchases is the only one available, but I get where you're coming from. I have a good friend who refuses to use them on principle. We'll be in line with just a couple things next to the self-checkouts, and a worker will let her know they're available if we don't want to wait, and she'll ask if she gets a discount for doing their work. It's a little Karen-esque as it's not their fault.

TlalocW

[panader0]

78. I once asked a Walmart cashier for $80 cash back.

On the way to my truck, I looked at the four bills. Three twenties on top and a hundred dollar bill on the bottom.
I put my stuff in the truck and went back in and told the cashier what happened. She was SO appreciative
and the lady in line said it was great to see such honesty. The cashier said the missing money would have
come out of her pay.
I have to live with myself, and I think stealing is one of the worst things to do.

[peppertree]

82. Good on you.

Reminds me of a Dave Letterman joke from the early '90s:

Top Ten Ways to Get Rich During the Recession:

Number 5: Ask Dan Quayle for two 10s for a 5; repeat, until rich.

[cagefreesoylentgreen]

92. A self-checkout machine has never judged me for being trans

I don’t think they pass judgment on people who have to use EBT cards either.

[mac2766]

93. Self-Service Gas Stations

One of my earliest jobs was working for a gas station. We had 2 mini-serve islands and one full-service island. The only difference between the mini and full-service islands was that the customer pumped their own gas. We checked tire pressure, washed windows, etc... on both, but we also pumped gas on the full-service island.

This was way before the credit card/pay at the pump gadgets made their way into America as well, so we had to take cash and make change. We sold cigarettes, oil, other miscellaneous fluids, and soda (some people call it cola, I call it soda). Who would have thought that gas stations would become completely self-service back then?

So it looks like retailers are going to a similar model. I don't necessarily dislike the model. I use it when it's more convenient for me, but I'd rather go through the normal checkout line if one is available.

Same thing with fast food. The kiosks they've set up are okay I suppose. I guess I like to pick my battles a little more carefully.

As for Walmart... I'm really not a fan of the big box stores. Once they've driven out all of the local competition, they tend to increase their prices. Once you're stuck going to them, they stick it to you. We've got options here... Winn-Dixie (not a huge fan), and Publix. There are a few others actually. I seldom ever go into a Walmart store. Not for the self-serve issue though.

[The Jungle 1]

94. Corporate America played the same game with gas pumps and cable TV

Pump your own it is cheaper. Buy cable and you have no advertising.
Corporate America is not offering anything this time. All they do is under staff the registers so you will us the self checkout.
The fast food industry is starting the same thing. The technology is there to make a burger with no human help. It will be like using a vending machine.
How will the get me to wipe down my own table and clean up. I guess the plates will just disappear like they do at home.

[Fla Dem]

95. Same as gas stations. Been pumping our own gas for over 30 years.

Imagine if these super stations with 100 pumps had to pay people to pump gas. Of course the companies say it keeps the coast of gas down, so we are benefitting monetarily.

The Buc-ee's in St. Johns County is nearing completion at 200 World Commerce Parkway, next to World Golf Village on the southwest side of the Interstate 95/International Golf Parkway interchange (Exit 323). The gas station will have 104 fueling pumps, briefly making it the largest in Florida when it opens.

https://www.news-journalonline.com/story/business/real-estate/2020/12/23/buc-ees-open-mega-gas-stations-in-daytona-st-augustine-in-early-2021/3929285001/

[alphafemale]

149. So you'd want to wait an hour for your $10 of gas?

Really?

[Fla Dem]

152. Have no clue the point you're trying to make.

[alphafemale]

153. 100+ pumps would be no more You would have maybe 10

With two employees.

Gas is something a station barely turns a profit on, sometimes it is even a loss.

Money is made in the convenience store.

There is no rational reason to pay an employee to pump gas.

[Talitha]

96. My local Wal-Mart uses 2-3 REALLY SLOW cashiers.

Before the self-checkout machines were installed, customers knew who these slo-pokes were, and chose to stand in a different line. Now, you have no choice unless you don't mind standing in line for 1/2 hour when there's only 2 people ahead of you. It's ridiculous.

[krawhitham]

98. Walmart will claim your compensation is lower prices

[krawhitham]

99. "why can't I put a few smaller items in my bag without scanning them?"

Because the checkout tables have scales in them and if the weight is higher than the items scanned they will know

[ironflange]

125. "Unexpected item in bagging area"

[Goonch]

102. ;-{)

[Hekate]

104. Just don't be an 80-pound old lady when you do it

[Ka-Dinh Oy]

106. The Walmart where I am at is nasty.

Employees are treated badly, the restrooms are always nasty, lately, they have not much in stock, and it is people of color who mostly get their receipts checked on the way out.

I try not to go there but there are some things that are less expensive. I am lucky that I have a Safeway and Shop-n- kart near me.

My main thing is cat litter. They have the least expensive 35 pound container of Tidy cat in both Lewis and Thurston counties.

I look at it this way, if I have to buy it at Walmart I have the pleasure of knowing that something from there is getting shit on.

[obamanut2012]

109. .....

"eyes:

[BannonsLiver]

110. Go for it and see what happens

Their loss prevention efforts are quite robust.

[David__77]

116. There are better reasons to risk arrest, in my opinion.

...

[Ms. Toad]

117. I prefer self checkouts, or better yet, the scan as you go apps.

Both allow me to check the price as i scan, to make sure the things that i bought only because of the sale price actually ring up properly. That is increasingly impossible at staffed registers in stores taking proper COVID precautions. The only store I can count on to rigorously enforce masking has also moved the pay station to the front end of the conveyor belt, where it is impossible to see the items ring up.

In addition, I get to bag my own groceries, so the mangoes I carefully selected at peak ripeness aren't dropped in the bottom of a bag with cans of soup thrown on top, and I don't get thirty bags because i got thirty cans of something and the bagger decided each needed its own bag.

With the scan (and bag) as you go, I can also take my time to organize which bag i out things in, to make unpacking at home much more efficient.

[diehardblue]

118. Don't do it. They have sensors for anything that is not scanned and goes out the store.

[SYFROYH]

127. I assume you go to Wal-mart for lower prices. Why be upset at their strategies for lowering prices?

If you want the former, you get the latter. Or wait in the long check-out line.

[Luciferous]

138. Maybe you should shop somewhere else...

[joetheman]

140. For the past 20 years folks have been complaining about those "foreigners" coming here taking jobs.

It's been automation all the time that is taking the jobs. It was just another way for the RW batshit crazies to vent their racism.

[Demovictory9]

141. they are watching..you could find yourself in handcuffs

[ecstatic]

143. Well don't end up like that one lady.

Jk

[Rhiannon12866]

144. At the Walmart where I get my prescriptions, the mask checker at the door also checks receipts

Not everyone's, but often enough that I noticed.

[canetoad]

145. Calguy - I was like you

I said all those things, loudly to anyone who would listen (or not). Twelve or fifteen years ago.

At some point I felt like King Canute. Nothing I did or said would roll back the tide. In a small town you get to know the supermarket staff, so I asked about automation.

It actually creates some jobs - trainers, programmers, security. The staff I spoke with are neither happy nor unhappy.

Ned and the Luddites are accused of breaking the stocking looms that replaced skilled workers. And on we go. Sigh.

[Kaleva]

147. If you aren't tempted by the companies who force you to pump your own gas, you're just talk

[durablend]

154. Nevermind all the horse and buggy drivers they put out of work

"Your own car? How freaking DARE you. Think of those people unemployed now!"

[Rustyeye77]

148. I hear you.

The scanners take away jobs.
You do the work.

Its a tough call and I understand where you're coming from....but...

At the end of the day ,you have to look in the mirror.

Youre going to get away with a few bucks? Is it worth it?

Do what you heart tells you.

[Bettie]

150. Good luck! People will purposefully misinterpret

your words to the worst possible meaning.

I get that it was tongue in cheek and I see what you are saying, but many here are VERY literal when they choose to be!

I despise self-checkout. I like the tiny moment of human interaction in my day.

[lagomorph777]

151. I like self-checkout. No cashier's hands on my stuff, and it's several times faster.

I don't feel like I'm working for the store; the store just works better for me.

It is unfortunate that one more category of low-end job is replaced by automation, but the advantages are too compelling, both for the corporation, and the customer.