Checkstands
Posted: July 28th, 2018, 10:58 am
Recently in my area two store remodels have taken place and the number of checkstands has been reduced significantly:
Wal Mart: store previously had 10 self checkouts and 24 regular checkouts. Store now has 15 regular checkouts and I am not even sure how many self checkouts... maybe 20... two banks at each door, plus I think 6 of them with conveyer belts so you unload your whole cart onto it then scan items all at once. This is a store where I never saw all 24 regular checkouts open, even during the holidays. But I have seen conditions with lines backed up into clothing due to too few checkouts open. Wal Mart has the reputation it deserves for slow checkout so perhaps customers expect this type of thing.
Smiths: store previously had 8 self checkouts and 8 regular checkouts. Store now has 16 self checkouts and 5 regular checkouts. This is a store that, last year during the holidays, had all of its checkouts open and had lines backing up into the aisles it was so busy. Typically the 5 checkstands is about what they had open and was adequate. Very interesting move. Recent reviews on Google, Yelp, etc. have customers commenting negatively about the store "only having 5 checkouts" and "trying to force customers to use self checkout." It appears the customers in this store, were more used to fast checkout. They are also pushing the "Scan bag and go" program in this store. The machines seem to always be broken. I suspect usage statistics are near zero. At least they have wi-fi in the store now; so something positive has come of that.
Wal Mart: store previously had 10 self checkouts and 24 regular checkouts. Store now has 15 regular checkouts and I am not even sure how many self checkouts... maybe 20... two banks at each door, plus I think 6 of them with conveyer belts so you unload your whole cart onto it then scan items all at once. This is a store where I never saw all 24 regular checkouts open, even during the holidays. But I have seen conditions with lines backed up into clothing due to too few checkouts open. Wal Mart has the reputation it deserves for slow checkout so perhaps customers expect this type of thing.
Smiths: store previously had 8 self checkouts and 8 regular checkouts. Store now has 16 self checkouts and 5 regular checkouts. This is a store that, last year during the holidays, had all of its checkouts open and had lines backing up into the aisles it was so busy. Typically the 5 checkstands is about what they had open and was adequate. Very interesting move. Recent reviews on Google, Yelp, etc. have customers commenting negatively about the store "only having 5 checkouts" and "trying to force customers to use self checkout." It appears the customers in this store, were more used to fast checkout. They are also pushing the "Scan bag and go" program in this store. The machines seem to always be broken. I suspect usage statistics are near zero. At least they have wi-fi in the store now; so something positive has come of that.