Target is quietly pulling self-checkout stations from more stores as retailers become more concerned about theft. In March, the retailer committed to installing self-checkouts in all 2,000 U.S. locations, but the store has walked back that plan through a series of quiet U-turns. While the company has declined to comment, shoppers and employees are reporting the self-checkout kiosks being removed. Last year, Walmart removed many of their stores’ self-checkouts and replaced them with traditional manned lanes. Shoppers complained that either there were too few manned checkout lanes open, or the wait was extremely long. Other retailers who have either removed self-checkout kiosks or have changed the guidelines for using them include Dollar General, Costco, Walmart and Kroger. Despite all Target has done, the retailer has consistently reported millions of dollars worth of products that have been lost to sticky-fingered guests.
