All Walmart Shoppers Should Read This Before They Go Shopping- Walmart Has Announced That They Are
Have you ever gone shopping and found yourself face-to-face with a self-checkout machine instead of a cashier? For many shoppers, scanning their own items and swiping their cards makes for a quicker, more convenient experience—especially when buying just a few things. But while self-checkout lanes offer speed, not everyone is a fan of doing the job themselves. And surprisingly, long lines can still form even without traditional cashiers.
In response to this, Walmart introduced a new concept designed to make the checkout process even faster—without the wait. Several stores tested out a feature called Scan and Go, where customers could scan items as they shopped, pay directly from their phones, and then walk through a special Mobile Express lane for a quick exit.
The goal was simple: make shopping faster and more convenient. “We’re always looking for new ways to help our customers save time, and these innovations are just the latest examples of how we continue to invest in our stores and bring greater convenience to customers,” said Ray Korsch, a Walmart market manager.
But despite the convenience, the shift didn’t go as smoothly as expected.
Some customers found the new systems confusing or impersonal, and many missed the helpfulness of human cashiers. Walmart, which has already faced criticism for its customer service, saw its customer satisfaction score drop. According to the American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI), Walmart’s rating slipped from 72 in 2016 to 71 in 2017—placing it near the bottom among major U.S. retailers.
“It took Walmart almost a year to figure out what the rest of us already know: you can’t convince customers to do the job of a cashier just because you don’t want to pay for the work,” said Randy Parraz, director at Making Change at Walmart (MCAW).
In light of the feedback and declining satisfaction scores, Walmart made the decision to bring back more human cashiers in many of its locations—aiming to improve the shopping experience and reconnect with customers.
Technology continues to change how we shop, but one thing remains clear: people still value personal interaction. As retailers like Walmart test new methods, finding the right balance between convenience and customer care is key.
Have you tried self-checkout or mobile pay systems at stores like Walmart? How did you find the experience? Do you prefer technology or traditional checkout with a cashier? Let us know your thoughts!