Many grocery stores started using self-checkout technology during the Covid-19 pandemic. Experts say the technology makes it easier for shoplifters to sneak by.

Wegmans, the East Coast supermarket chain, said Monday that it would stop using its self-checkout app until the system could be improved because its stores were experiencing losses.

The chain, which stretches from New York to North Carolina, said it rolled out its app, called Scan, early in the Covid-19 pandemic. Customers at certain locations could scan items on the app as they shopped and then pay at a self-checkout register.



Wegmans joined a wave of grocery stores using self-checkout technology during the pandemic to compensate for worker shortages and to limit worker and customer interactions. But the technology makes it easier for shoplifters to sneak by, retail experts have said.

Wegmans said in a statement that while users enjoyed the convenience of the Scan app, it needed to be improved to meet business needs.

“Unfortunately, the losses we are experiencing prevent us from continuing to make it available in its current state,” said Deana Percassi, a Wegman’s spokeswoman.



Wegmans is a family-owned chain with more than 100 locations. Its supermarkets have a cult following, where customers for more than a century have enjoyed shopping in sprawling emporiums.

The chain began using its self-checkout app during the pandemic. Other stores, including Amazon.com Inc.’s Go shops, had already been using checkout-free technology in stores.

Grocery stores have nearly doubled their self-checkout usage since the pandemic started, comprising nearly a third of all transactions last year, according to a report by FMI-The Food Industry Association. Some shoppers, however, have reported that they were frustrated by the technology which caused them to double-scan items or have trouble looking up produce.


LINK; https://www.wsj.com/articles/w...=3&mod=WTRN#cxrecs_s

If there is a process, people will find a way to circumvent it, and in this day an age, there will be a TikTok video, utoob, reddit page all titled

"How to get groceries for Free"
"Click Here"
" Watch to end"


I like self checkout and have no proclivities to steal from merchants. Use the self checkout lanes at Y'all Mart all the time, mainly because you used to be unable to find an open lane with a cashier available, it was long lines and two checkout lanes..

Now with self checkout the actual cashiers are available, if I see that I'll use the cashier so they keep their job...

For members of Walmart+, the app has a "Scan & Go" feature. I absolutely love it. I can scan and bag an entire shopping cart full of stuff as I shop, and then self checkout in less than five seconds. It's amazing.

I suppose Walmart does it a little smarter than Wegmans as you must be a Walmart+ subscriber to use the feature.

I am a law and order guy. However, I have zero sympathy. Pay a fucking cashier to do the job and quit making me your fucking employee. I find self checkouts to be nothing but a boon to the store. Doesn't help me at all. Yes, it is quicker but that is only because they have decided to shut most of the cashier lanes. Open them back up and it ain't quicker anymore.

This is the easiest problem to solve in the world.

As for Walmart+, does the plus mean less human trash shopping the aisles? lol`

quote:

Originally posted by Balzé Halzé:

For members of Walmart+, the app has a "Scan & Go" feature. I absolutely love it. I can scan and bag an entire shopping cart full of stuff as I shop, and then self checkout in less than five seconds. It's amazing.

I have a few questions about Walmart+, if you don't mind answering them -- answers might be on Walmart website, but they don't make it easy to find things.

1. Does the membership include spouse? Or is that additional cost?
   
   
2. You say scan as you go, then self checkout in less than five seconds. Is that checkout done at a self-serve register? The lines for these, at local Walmart, are way longer than five seconds.
   
   
3. How do you handle where something scans for more than the shelf-tag price? This happened to me yesterday, shelf tag was $10.88, scanned price was $12.88, royal pain in the ass to get a Walmart person to manually over-ride the price.

Linkadinkadoo

What types of Walmart+ plans are available?


Monthly: $12.95/month. Annual: $98/year. Plus applicable taxes.

Pedropcola would be aghast at paying $12 a month to be his own bagger and cashier LOL

quote:

Originally posted by V-Tail:
I have a few questions about Walmart+, if you don't mind answering them -- answers might be on Walmart website, but they don't make it easy to find things.

1. Does the membership include spouse? Or is that additional cost?
   
   
2. You say scan as you go, then self checkout in less than five seconds. Is that checkout done at a self-serve register? The lines for these, at local Walmart, are way longer than five seconds.
   
   
3. How do you handle where something scans for more than the shelf-tag price? This happened to me yesterday, shelf tag was $10.88, scanned price was $12.88, royal pain in the ass to get a Walmart person to manually over-ride the price.

First of all, I get Walmart+ free as a benefit with my American Express Platinum Card otherwise not sure if I would have it. But it is nice to have. Kind of similar to Prime as you get free shipping on their website, etc. And yes your spouse can just download the app and use your log in info to use it. My wife loves it because she can order stuff from the local Walmart and have it delivered that day right to the door. very convenient for a mom home by herself with two young kids and an infant when I'm away for weeks at a time.

And by 5 seconds, yes I mean once you are at the self checkout machine. You still have to wait for one available. But I literally walk up, scan the code off the screen, confirm payment, and walk out. Takes the same amount of time whether I have one item or 100 items in my shopping cart.

As far as price discrepancies, I never had that issue but I imagine it would still be a pain in the ass. I also have never used it for stuff that needs to be weighed like produce as I never buy that kind of stuff at Walmart.

quote:

does the plus mean less human trash shopping the aisles?

That would be a definite plus. Almost like they weren't outside of WM either.

But I'd still know they were there.

People who ignore human nature will be surprised and disappointed by it.

quote:

I get Walmart+ free as a benefit with my American Express Platinum Card

I will have to check that out, don't remember seeing the offer from AMEX on that...

quote:

Originally posted by HRK:

quote:

I get Walmart+ free as a benefit with my American Express Platinum Card

I will have to check that out, don't remember seeing the offer from AMEX on that...

It's not an offer. It's a membership benefit. You get a monthly credit on your statement. Yeah look into it. It's something you should definitely be taking advantage of if you have the Platinum card.

This is disappointing but not surprising.

During the COVID slowdown when my regular workload dropped off significantly, I started working part time at a major grocery store to supplement my income (and essentially get paid to exercise). One of the problems I’ve seen is that stores can’t find enough good, hardworking employees to man the checkout lanes or even adequately staff self-checkout lanes. Higher pay would help but grocery prices are already skyrocketing, leading many shoppers to actively search for deals, markdowns, and adequate store brands instead of the name brand they would have traditionally purchased.

I don’t know how Wegmans is in comparison to my store but suspect they’re dealing with similar issues with respect to inflationary pressures and employee recruitment and retention. I wish them well in finding the staff to run those checkouts without raising prices even more.

This self-checkout bullshit keeps getting worse and worse. The latest are Lowes and Home Depot who now have ZERO live checkout people except for the returns and contractor lane. I was in my local Lowes the other day and not ONE...not TWO...but THREE employees STOOD THERE and watched as a line got longer...and longer...and longer at the TWO FUNCTIONING self-checkout lanes.

These geniuses thought it was appropriate to stand there and stare at an increasingly irritated line of customers rather than open up more self checkouts or to just open a regular checkout lane or two. It's very frustrating

I remember reading in a doctor's office magazine when Trump was president, that an average of 5% of revenue was lost in grocery store self-checkout transactions. That's $50,000 for every million. And I'm sure it is higher now.

quote:

Originally posted by Balzé Halzé:
For members of Walmart+, the app has a "Scan & Go" feature. I absolutely love it. I can scan and bag an entire shopping cart full of stuff as I shop, and then self checkout in less than five seconds. It's amazing.

I suppose Walmart does it a little smarter than Wegmans as you must be a Walmart+ subscriber to use the feature.

Just watched a video on this feature given how convenient it appears. But.....how in the heck does Walmart (or any vendor I guess) know what's in your boxes, bags, etc, and what's been scanned or not? Say I put two six packs in my storage box in the cart but only scan one? How does that get caught? I'm really curious how they approach fraud prevention with this feature.

quote:

Originally posted by bigdeal:


But.....how in the heck does Walmart (or any vendor I guess) know what's in your boxes, bags, etc, and what's been scanned or not? Say I put two six packs in my storage box in the cart but only scan one? How does that get caught? I'm really curious how they approach fraud prevention with this feature.

My guess is RFID tags on everything.

quote:

Originally posted by bigdeal:
I'm really curious how they approach fraud prevention with this feature.

Best I can figure is that they operate under the honor code. I can't tell what if anything they do to prevent theft.

quote:

Originally posted by PASig:


My guess is RFID tags on everything.

For items like clothes, sure. But butter, eggs? They can't monitor whether you scan two packs of butter and take three. I guess they just hope they make it up in membership fees.

quote:

Originally posted by bigdeal:
I'm really curious how they approach fraud prevention with this feature.


Best I can figure is that they operate under the honor code. I can't tell what if anything they do to prevent theft.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
All stores that size have an eye in the sky just like the casinos. They tape the transactions and get a pic. There is software that will select sections of tape where the customer fails to scan the item. They may miss a few but they do not have to pay cashiers. They ALL have someone available for double scan errors and the like. You just yell and wait.

Self checkouts are a boon for thieves. Not too long ago your normal shoplifters were the classic “ push outs” now it mostly is shortchanging your items in the self checkout. Scan one of something put the other two or three of the same items in the bag w/ it.

I don’t know if the Walmart + app is better than the regular Walmart app for pick up. Because everytime we’ve used it the dips that gather your items will get half of the shit you ordered wrong.

quote:

Originally posted by ZSMICHAEL:

quote:

Originally posted by bigdeal:
I'm really curious how they approach fraud prevention with this feature.


Best I can figure is that they operate under the honor code. I can't tell what if anything they do to prevent theft.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
All stores that size have an eye in the sky just like the casinos. They tape the transactions and get a pic. There is software that will select sections of tape where the customer fails to scan the item. They may miss a few but they do not have to pay cashiers. They ALL have someone available for double scan errors and the like. You just yell and wait.

Perhaps, but I've personally watched people stand at the self scanning machine and scan one of multiple items while putting the others in the bag. Not once have I seen anyone ever detained headed out the front door from the self checkout machines.