Customers slam Kroger’s self-checkout saying they still have to wait for help to ring up popular item

SHOPPERS have blasted Kroger after waiting in long lines at the self-checkout.

Customers have taken to Reddit to report issues they’ve encountered while using the self-checkout lanes, particularly when purchasing alcohol.

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Back in July, Kroger in Franklin, Tennessee, fully transitioned its grocery store to self-checkout after a successful checkoutless location in Dallas.

The grocery chain told WKRN that the switch was due to more shoppers opting for self-checkout.

However, not all customers are enthusiastic about the move.

Some grocery shoppers find that while they may shop faster from others, they often end up taking longer because certain items, like alcohol, still need a companion.

One Reddit user said, “Self-checkouts are almost never self-checkouts.”

“They are flawed…the scales in them often cause disruption in the process, [and] If you buy alcohol, over-the-counter drugs, etc., you need someone to help you.”

The user also added that those who have more than a larger number of items are more likely to be affected by the disruptions.

“If you have more than 10 items, the chance that a machine will break down and you need a bridging or ID check etc. increases to about 100%. They’re annoying,” they added.

The US Sun did not immediately get a response from Kroger.

CHECK YOURSELF

The Kroger in Franklin converted the entire location to a self-checkout-only store on Friday, July 21.

Kroger also added wide checkouts to give shoppers with larger orders more checkout space.

Additionally, the grocery giant confirmed to WKRN that not all locations will be exclusively self-checkout stores.

Kroger also told the news agency that while some job titles have changed, no positions have been eliminated.

SELF CHECKOUT

In 2022, a study by VideoMining found that U.S. grocery shoppers are far more likely to use a self-checkout machine than a cashier.

The study found that transactions at self-checkout machines were recorded 55 percent of all grocery sales.

An increase from 48 percent in 2021.

Kroger isn’t the only big store to switch to self-checkout.

Retailers like Walmart, Lowe’s, Home Depot, and Target have also added multiple stores, which has angered many in the process.

In fact, in an X post (formerly known as Twitter), a buyer demanded that stores should pay for clients’ labor.

“Please use cashiers at the tills again or give customers a 25 percent discount at self-checkout,” the buyer demanded.

“If we have your work to do, we deserve a discount.”

Another Kroger shopper criticized the self-checkout, saying it was “making a mistake” and slowing down the process.

Also, Target customers just figured out a free self-checkout trick.