A WALMART shopper has lashed out at the retailer following a checkout saga where he had to un-pack his items before leaving the store.
The customer, known only as Dan, was less than impressed as he had forked out money to be a Walmart plus shopper.
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Walmart+ is a subscription that costs $98 for the year.
Dan took advantage of the scan and go service – an alternative to checking out items at a self-service machine or register, but was still forced to use traditional checkout methods, per an X thread.
“Why be a + customer if everytime I scan & go my items need to be checked by an associate on the app & like today when don’t know how they cancel my scan & go order forcing me to have to unbag & rescan everything at a register,” he complained.
Dan described the in-store saga as “ridiculous.”
A Walmart representative invited the shopper to shed more light on the in-store incident.
“You deserve a better experience!” they admitted.
They asked Dan to send a direct message. It’s unclear if he did so.
Scan and go is exclusive to Walmart+ subscribers and the service is available in the Walmart app.
Shoppers must have location services activated; otherwise, scan and go will not work.
Users can scan the barcodes of products as they wander up and down the aisles.
However, they still have to go to a self-checkout station to complete transactions.
This is unlike scan and go services at other retailers where customers can pay using their cell phones.
But, scores of shoppers have lashed out at the checkout tool.
“It’s never worked for me. It’s infuriating,” a Redditor said.
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.
Meanwhile, other shoppers have claimed they’ve been accused of stealing after using the tool.
One Redditor claimed they were hauled into a side office before being probed about the items in their cart.
They claimed a staffer looked at their receipt for five minutes, scrutinizing it to match their shopping.
“That was the last time I paid for freaking Walmart+ or used scan and go,” they said.
Shoppers have also claimed that scan and go hasn’t worked for them when they tried to use it.
But, the checkout tool has proved popular among other shoppers.
It is a big hit at retailers like Sam’s Club and has prompted Costco shoppers to call for the service to be rolled out.
Sam’s Club chiefs have even opened a store where shoppers must use scan and go checkout.
A store in Grapevine, Texas, has removed traditional checkout lanes.
What is Walmart’s Scan and Go?
Walmart’s Scan and Go was made to save time for shoppers
Walmart’s Scan and Go system was created to help customers scan items as they shop, pay, and leave without waiting in long checkout lines.
The retailer describes the new system to be done in a few easy steps:
- Customers first need to have the Walmart app downloaded on their phones with their location access enabled.
- On the Store Mode landing page, shoppers must click the Scan and Go option.
- Customers can scan each item and place them in their carts as they shop.
- At the end, they’ll be prompted to view the cart to make sure the quantity on the app matches the ones in their carts.
- Shoppers will press “Check Out” and head to a self-checkout kiosk.
- They’ll be prompted to scan the provided QR code at the register and confirm their payment method.
- Once the transaction is complete, shoppers can leave the store without worry.
