Shoppers' fury at new self-checkout rule to crack down on Shoplifting

01 May 2023 , 22:38

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A branch of US supermarket chain Giant in Rockville, Maryland, has implemented a new limit to customers using self-service (Image: Rockville nights)

A US grocery store has implemented a limit to shoppers using self-checkouts in an attempt to crack down on high rates of shoplifting.

Now, shoppers hoping to use the self-checkout at the Giant supermarket in Rockville, Maryland, are met with a sign saying: "Self-checkout is limited to 20 items or less".

The change was brought about in the suburb 15 miles outside of Washington DC in response to high rates of shoplifting, according to Rockville Nights.

Giant president Ira Kress said in a message to customers that the change will "mitigate the impact of theft to our business". It means those planning on making large purchases or carrying out the weekly shop for a family, will now have to go to manned registers.

However, this could become an issue for customers shopping at night, when Giant reportedly has less staff on hand and relies more on self-checkout lanes.

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Shoppers hoping to use the self-checkout have been met with a limit when they go to checkout (Rockville nights)

"We know that these changes may cause some inconvenience or be disruptive to the experience you are used to", said Kress. I assure you that we are making these changes out of necessity to prioritise the safety of our associates and customers."

However, many shoppers were left disgruntled at the changes. They took to the comment section of the Rockville Nights article to share their upset.

"Once again, the rest of us law-abiding folks have to suffer and be inconvenienced... because of the increasing criminal element," said one reader.

Another simply said: "This is dumb!!"

"If people want to shoplift, they can just walk out with the stuff. Why punish everyone?"

But Giant isn't the only store to have brought in this approach in recent years. IN 2021, Canadian chain No Frills brought in a 15-item limit at their self-checkouts, according to a tweet from the company.

The limit has proved controversial for shoppers (Rockville nights)

The chain also banned customers from bringing full-sized shopping trolleys into the self-checkout areas.

While some customers feel they're being "punished" as a result of the actions of others, there are other shoppers who actually wish stores had more restrictions in place.

One customer has even started a petition urging American retail giant Walmart to follow No Frills' suit, by limiting shoppers in the self-checkout lanes to just 15 items.

" Supermarkets are crowded enough as it is," said the creator. "People who checkout with a full cart load of items hold up people in line with few items.

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"Many people want to only get a few items and spend a minimal amount of time in the store."

Fiona Leishman