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submitted 1 year ago by L4s@lemmy.world to c/technology@lemmy.world

Some Walmart employees say customers are getting hostile at self-checkout — and they blame anti-theft tech::When Walmart's anti-theft self-checkout tech alerts an employee of a missed scan, it can cause some uncomfortable situations.

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[-] garretble@lemmy.world 252 points 1 year ago

You force me to check out my own groceries. Fine.

But don’t get pissed when I have a lot of groceries and have to move my bags because you gave me one square foot of space to bag everything. That’s often my biggest frustration. The robot thinks I’m trying to do some shady stuff, and I’m not.

[-] IrrerPolterer@lemmy.world 151 points 1 year ago

The 'robot' isn't the problem. This design is intentional and human made. Here in the Netherlands self checkout is the norm, even in very small grocery stores. However, it's super easy and not frustrating at all, because the stores TRUST their customers. The self checkout is super simple, you scan a product and put it on your bag, or backpack or whatever you have. No need to weigh the scanned products or anything. Nothing overcomplicated.

Now there are some control measures, but they are designed in a way to not be too intrusive or create unnecessary frustration: First, most places have a gate at the exit that only lets you leave by scamming your receipt (or if you go paperless, you scan your membership card on your phone). Also, some places do random inspection. But that's frustration free too - a worker comes up to you with a hand scanner, scans like four or five random items of yours and leaves. Boom, done.

[-] shiroininja@lemmy.world 130 points 1 year ago

Yeah, you can’t trust Americans. They’ll steal your own land out from under you and Rob your grandma and call it good business sense. Saying this as an American.

[-] tsonfeir@lemm.ee 45 points 1 year ago

Don’t drink the water. There’s blood in the water.

[-] Funkymatt@lemmy.world 41 points 1 year ago

And probably some forever chemicals, but we've made that everyone's problem

[-] tsonfeir@lemm.ee 25 points 1 year ago

Don’t forget microplastics.

[-] Klear@sh.itjust.works 5 points 1 year ago

Comes with the blood.

[-] Zoboomafoo@lemmy.world 9 points 1 year ago

Where isn't there, the Antarctic?

[-] SpaceNoodle@lemmy.world 9 points 1 year ago
[-] wreckedcarzz@lemmy.world 7 points 1 year ago

oil

DID SOMEONE SAY THEY NEED SOME FREEDOM?!? F16s fly overhead, teens getting tossed ARs

WE WILL SAVE YOU ~~and your resources~~

[-] tsonfeir@lemm.ee 2 points 1 year ago
[-] SpaceNoodle@lemmy.world 4 points 1 year ago

The penguins are coated in the oil.

[-] Damage@feddit.it 13 points 1 year ago

However, it’s super easy and not frustrating at all, because the stores TRUST their customers.

lol, I've been at the Albert Heijn near my hotel 3 times and 3 times I had to have my items rescanned. Maybe it's because I'm not blond and tall?

[-] SebKra@feddit.de 10 points 1 year ago

One week in NL and I'm wondering what we're even doing over here.

[-] elbrar@pawb.social 8 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

most places have a gate at the exit that only lets you leave by scamming your receipt

That would be unlawful detention here. Also, what about people that go in and decide they don't actually want to buy anything after all?

Fun fact: You can ignore the receipt checkers at wal-mart in the states. They have no legal authority to require you to stop. Costco, on the other hand, since it's a membership club, can.

[-] SocialEngineer56@notdigg.com 8 points 1 year ago

Costco can stop you from leaving either. They can however revoke your membership for breaking the terms. But if you not longer care about you membership you ignore them like the Walmart checkers

[-] Alexstarfire@lemmy.world 2 points 1 year ago

I did that last time I went to Walmart for something. Long line of people waiting to show their receipts and I just walked out.

[-] boerbiet@feddit.nl 2 points 1 year ago

That would be unlawful detention here. Also, what about people that go in and decide they don't actually want to buy anything after all?

It's not like you're trapped... you can just walk out if you want, but doing so without paying and carrying full bags may raise an eyebrow with employees. Although I think I could easily get away with that in my small village supermarket during quiet hours when nobody is paying attention.

[-] Thymos@lemm.ee 5 points 1 year ago

Also, some places do random inspection. But that’s frustration free too

Yeah, I'm gonna disagree with that. They've recently ramped up those checks because of increased theft due to inflation. They also scan more items now. After having been checked 4 times in a row and them completely emptying my bag each time, I no longer use the self checkout.

[-] IrrerPolterer@lemmy.world 1 points 1 year ago
[-] Thymos@lemm.ee 1 points 1 year ago

NL as well. Maybe it's because it's a big city, poor neighbourhood, more theft, I don't know, but I'm done with it.

[-] IrrerPolterer@lemmy.world 1 points 1 year ago

Sounds frustrating, sorry to hear that

[-] Thymos@lemm.ee 1 points 1 year ago

Thanks, it really was. I had happily used the self-checkouts for years before that, so it's a real shame.

[-] SmashingSquid@notyour.rodeo 36 points 1 year ago

This isn’t about the weight sensors, it’s using “computer vision” to detect you didn’t scan something and forces employees to get involved.

All the Walmarts I’ve been to have the bagging area weight sensors turned off. It seems the local grocery store finally turned theirs off because using a reusable bag used to set it off.

[-] sartalon@futurology.today 23 points 1 year ago

Yeah, I got pinged twice, in one visit because I moved shit around, trying to organize.

Way more false positives, in my opinions.

[-] just_another_person@lemmy.world 18 points 1 year ago

Honestly, those weight systems are so easily defeated, I don't even get the point. Anything that is measured by unit vs weight can easily be stolen.

[-] Stabbitha@lemmy.world 9 points 1 year ago

I use reusable bags. I have to be very slow and deliberate getting the bag ready in the bagging area or it'll flag me.

[-] garretble@lemmy.world 2 points 1 year ago
[-] fushuan@lemm.ee 1 points 1 year ago

I use reusable bags too, I first scan and rest the products on the weighting area, and after paying quickly introduce all the products into my bag. It takes a bit longer but it's way less problems for the workers and me, and it's still faster than going through the regular checkout.

[-] Hyggyldy@sffa.community 4 points 1 year ago

Maybe it's just Colorado but the only store I've been to that had weight verification was a King Soopers (Kroger in other states)

this post was submitted on 14 Oct 2023
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