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January 1, Target Self-Checkouts: Convenience vs Theft, New Anti-Theft Tech Looms
Over the past year, Target has implemented numerous changes to its self-checkout system, including item limits, increased security, and reduced hours of operation. These measures are aimed at preventing theft, but many customers find them frustrating.
Loss prevention experts argue that these self-checkout kiosks are a financial liability for Target due to rising theft rates. Cory Lowe, Director of Research at the Loss Prevention Research Council (LPRC), says, “It’s essentially putting customers on the honor system, which you can only imagine how bad that can go.”
While self-checkout is “very desirable” for customers, it comes with a “risk of shopper error while using the systems,” according to Lowe. One example of this occurred recently in Florida, where a man was accused of swapping barcode stickers on Pokémon trading card packs at Target’s self-checkout machines.
Richard Reppert is now facing more than two dozen counts of theft and fraud after he allegedly paid $4.99 for items that normally cost over $50 each. He reportedly did this for three consecutive months before being caught. Lowe refers to this type of fraud as an “enormous issue.”
Target is trying various strategies to combat this problem, including “receipt checking” and “reducing the number of items that are allowed to be scanned at a self-checkout area.” Lowe also suggests that a self-checkout loyalty membership may be helpful in the future.
“Restricting self-checkouts to only people who have identified themselves, so if I’m a loyalty card member,” Lowe says. “It’s a value exchange, right? I’m trading as personally identifiable information for reduced friction, shopping.”
Target has not yet indicated plans for a membership program like this, but they are reportedly planning to install new anti-theft technology called Truscan in their self-checkout lanes. This technology will detect anything near a kiosk that has not been scanned, releasing audio and visual cues if an item isn’t scanned correctly. It will also keep a digital record of customers with a history of improper scanning.
Truscan is expected to roll out sometime this year, according to reports.
As our loyal readers, we encourage you to share your thoughts and opinions on this issue. Let your voice be heard and join the discussion below.
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Jeff Taylor
June 17, 2024 at 6:17 am
Well they still have an employee at the self checkout so why bother with self checkout? Just put a register there instead. Peoples morals aren’t high enough anymore to trust them with a self checkout anyway.
Kent Sinclair
June 17, 2024 at 6:25 am
How about they quit being so cheap and hire more register people and do away with self check it would be cheaper in the long run.
Elaine Sautter
June 17, 2024 at 7:57 am
How about HIRINg Competent workers
Liz
June 17, 2024 at 10:39 am
If they are losing money via self checkout why not pay workers who can check people correctly.
M
June 17, 2024 at 8:43 am
After being in several stores and watching items walk out the door without being paid for, I asked a couple of store managers why nothing was being done. They have been told by the corporations NOT to engage shoplifting customers for fear of injury or weapons being used. They’ll just increase the prices to make up for the theft loss. Have you also noticed that, in the stores where alarms went off at the door is something wasn’t paid for, that those alarms aren’t working anymore? They have all turned them off.
SO………..why am I paying for my stuff???
Are the customers rewarding the agreeable employees off property?
“The prices will increase until the theft stops.”
FedAllTheWayUpAndThenSome
June 17, 2024 at 10:26 am
Who would have thought that people would actually abuse the system and do something shady? They try the same things at the regular check-out, but at least there’s a human there to catch it. Just go back to using humans. It’s called ‘customer service’, a lot of us miss that.
Gerald A Cady
June 17, 2024 at 10:35 am
I thought that self check out was for small amount not a basket fully for a month supply
David Campbell
June 17, 2024 at 10:36 am
Why don’t they spend less time and money and employ people instead? Because technological changes can be made doesn’t mean they always should. If Target wants to identify with people, try using people! How’s that for a concept?
EMMA
June 17, 2024 at 12:00 pm
IF YOU NEED HELP, NEVER ASK A EMPLOYEE, THEY WILL SEND YOU ON A GOOSE CHASE, BECAUSE THEY EITHER CAN’T BE BOTHERED ,OR THEY REALLY DO NOT KNOW WHERE ANYTHING IS LOCATED IN THE STORE. OR YOU STAND AROUND FOR A HR WAITING AFTER THEY PAGE SOMEONE TO COME AND HELP YOU.
SELF CHECK OUTS ARE A BIG MISTAKE, THERE IS NO HONOR IN OUR COUNTRY, LIE AND CHEAT IS THE NEW MOTTO.
Bill Carithers
June 17, 2024 at 2:48 pm
There is a surprising of information about label paper that is in stock and fully printable that would be deactivated by going through the check out stand ( or by a store associate with a hand held unit) otherwize they would activate a siren which could attract store security AND GIVE SECURITY THE POWER TO DETAIN SHOPLIFTERS !!! I have been out of the paper and related products industry for 50 yrs or so but this clear printable material would not ony slow or stop shoplifting but not cost too much more since the plain clear plastic label would be removed and replaced with this label product. With the reader – cancelling equipment built in to the check out equipment the whole process should be smoother and faster. SEEMS TO ME THE PURCHASING EXECS WITH GIANT RETAIL OPERATIONS / WALMART/ TARGET COSTCO ETC ETC WOULD DEMAND SOMETHING LIKE THIS! ! ! IF FULL LABELS ARE TOO EXPENSIVE THEN APPLY THE MANUFACTURERS OR STORE LABEL TO EVERY PACKAGE AS IT IS BING PACKED FOR SHIPMENT
J. R. Voigtsberger
June 19, 2024 at 3:15 am
Yeah, self-checkout? It’s a lot easier just to bring a sledgehammer. Bust in the stores’ windows and doors, and make off with whatever you want. No questions asked. No prosecutions.