A HARRIS Teeter shopper has urged the grocery chain to “be better” after what seemed like a less-than-ideal experience.
The customer was far from thrilled after only one register seemed to be working at a store in Alexandria, Virginia.
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And, they seemed to encounter problems when they turned to the self-checkouts, according to an X post.
They claimed that only four of the six self-service machines were working.
“Come on,” the shopper said.
“Be better.”
The shopper went one step further and said they would boycott Harris Teeter as a consequence.
A Harris Teeter spokesperson rushed to try to address the customer’s issues.
“We are so sorry and would love to address this issue,” the spokesperson said.
The shopper is not the only Harris Teeter customer who has voiced complaints relating to the checkout experience.
Another shopper urged the chain to dedicate a lane to Instacart drivers.
A store representative seemed to welcome the suggestion, per a post on X.
But shoppers have voiced grievances relating to the self-checkout experience.
One customer claimed they had been “subject” to the chain’s self-checkout video review process.
They lashed out at the retailer, posting: “I’m not stealing lettuce.”
Last year, Harris Teeter bosses installed cameras above self-checkout stations.
Latest self-checkout changes
Retailers are evolving their self-checkout strategy in an effort to speed up checkout times and reduce theft.
Walmart shoppers were shocked when self-checkout lanes at various locations were made available only for Walmart+ members.
Other customers reported that self-checkout was closed during specific hours, and more cashiers were offered instead.
While shoppers feared that shoplifting fueled the updates, a Walmart spokesperson revealed that store managers are simply experimenting with ways to improve checkout performance.
One bizarre experiment included an RFID-powered self-checkout kiosk that would stop the fiercely contested receipt checks.
However, that test run has been phased out.
At Target, items are being limited at self-checkout.
Last fall, the brand surveyed new express self-checkout lanes across 200 stores with 10 items or less for more convenience.
As of March 2024, this policy has been expanded across 2,000 stores in the US.
Shoppers have also spotted their local Walmart stores restricting customers to 15 items or less to use self-checkout machines.
The video software was designed to ensure accuracy, according to The News & Observer.
Signs were put up in stores that explained to customers how the process worked.
If a shopper fails to scan an item, an alert will pop up on the kiosk, warning them to check it out again.
But if a customer didn’t scan the item for a second time, a staffer would be notified to rectify the problem.
Cameras were installed at a time when retailers grappled with the scourge of theft.
Harris Teeter also hit the headlines when bosses announced that certain types of bags were banned from stores.
In April, bosses in Washington DC announced measures that banned suitcases, oversized backpacks, and roller bags from stores.
A representative told the Fox affiliate WTTG-TV that the chain had seen an uptick in theft.
Receipt inspections were also rolled out, adding another checkout measure for shoppers.
The chain seemed to defend the measures, claiming they would help keep prices low.
Receipt checks are common at wholesalers such as Costco and Sam’s Club as bosses want to ensure goods have been checked out accurately.
But the inspections have irked some shoppers as they’ve started to creep in at grocery stores.
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