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You may soon have to pay for a subscription to use self-checkout.

Walmart, Target may be testing limits on self-checkouts

(Gray News) - There may soon be limits on who can use self-checkout at stores like Walmart and Target.

Some shoppers have reported that some self-checkout lines have been closed off at Walmart, according to TODAY.

“This is the second time this week that I’ve gone to Walmart, and this is a different Walmart, and it’s been right about this time, and all their self-checkouts are closed and they’ve started to open up the regular lines again,” one person said in a TikTok video.

According to a Reddit post, at least one Walmart had a sign blocking self-checkout lanes saying, “Attention: This self-checkout is for Spark shoppers and Walmart Scan & Go only.”

Walmart Scan & Go is only available for Walmart+ members, which is a paid subscription.

Senior Manager of Corporate Communications at Walmart told TODAY that customers may see changes to self-checkout lanes.

“From time to time, our stores adjust the use of staffed checkouts and self-checkouts. For example, a store might start or end the day with staffed checkouts. As the number of shoppers and associate staffing increases, these stores open self-checkout registers to manage the increased customer flow. This process isn’t new,” Bohl said.

Bohl also told TODAY that Walmart store managers are permitted to run their store in a manner that works best for their employees and customers.

Walmart is not alone in potential self-checkout limits. Target has also reportedly limited the use of self-checkout.

Target customers have expressed concerns on social media over closed self-checkout lanes and not enough cashiers available to checkout customers.

According to a Target spokesperson, there have been no changes to its self-checkout policy.

Retailers say self-checkout lanes make theft easier since no employee is ringing up the items people buy, according to Fast Company.

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Teeman has a history of lying.