Dozens of other retail chains have limited or removed self-checkout kiosks amid complaints about clunky technology and concerns about rising theft. Some studies have found that self-checkout enables more customer theft, such as a 2023 LendingTree survey of 2,000 U.S. consumers found that 15% of self-checkout users purposely stole goods.
Reports of credit card skimmers installed in retailers' self-checkout lanes have been found, such as at several supermarkets in Massachusetts.
Target is limiting self-checkout to 10 items or less starting Sunday, March 17 at most of its stores nationwide.
Target is limiting self-checkout to 10 items or less starting Sunday, March 17 at most of its stores nationwide. The retail giant said the change will improve the customer experience and speed up the process.
Dozens of other retail chains have limited or removed self-checkout kiosks amid complaints about clunky technology and concerns about rising theft. Some studies have found that self-checkout enables more customer theft, such as a 2023 LendingTree survey of 2,000 U.S. consumers found that 15% of self-checkout users purposely stole goods.
Reports of credit card skimmers installed in retailers' self-checkout lanes have been found, such as at several supermarkets in Massachusetts. This poses a financial risk to customers.
Target is launching a new self-checkout policy limiting purchases to 10 items.
Customers who choose self-checkout will be limited to 10 items, otherwise they'll have to purchase their items via a human cashier before leaving stores.
The change comes after the company piloted the program at 200 stores last fall and noted that self-checkout was twice as fast at those locations.
Some studies have found that self-checkout enables more customer theft. For instance, a 2023 LendingTree survey of 2,000 U.S. consumers found that 15% of self-checkout users purposely stole goods and Forty-four percent of self-checkout thieves also said they would do it again.
Some customers are sourcing on self-checkout, with a recent study from Drexel University finding that shoppers feel more loyal to a store and are more likely to revisit if they check out with a human cashier.
Reports of credit card skimmers installed in retailers' self-checkout lanes have been found, such as at several supermarkets in Massachusetts. This poses a financial risk to customers.
Accuracy
No Contradictions at Time
Of
Publication
Deception
(30%)
Target is limiting self-checkout to 10 items in order to improve the customer experience by speeding up the process. However, this decision may also be motivated by concerns about theft and financial risk for customers.
The retailer on Thursday said it's making changes to a key part of the buying process — the checkout line. Customers who choose self-checkout will be limited to 10 items, Target said.
Fallacies
(70%)
The article contains an appeal to authority fallacy by stating that Target's decision was based on the fact that self-checkout was twice as fast at those locations. This statement implies that this is a proven and objective truth without providing any evidence or context for why it might be true.
Target said its impetus for limiting the number of items at self-checkout counters was to improve the customer experience by speeding up the process.
Bias
(85%)
Target is limiting self-checkout to 10 items in order to improve the customer experience by speeding up the process. However, this decision may also be motivated by concerns about theft and financial risk for customers.
A 2023 LendingTree survey of 2,000 U.S. consumers found that 15% of self-checkout users purposely stole goods.
Other retailers also appear to have cooled on self-checkout after doubling down on it during the pandemic.
<p>Reports of credit card skimmers installed in retailers' self-checkout lanes, such as at several supermarkets in Massachusetts.</p>
> Target said its impetus for limiting the number of items at self-checkout counters was to improve the customer experience by speeding up the process.
Target is limiting self-checkout to 10 items or less starting Sunday, March 17 at most of its stores nationwide.
Checking out is one of the most important moments of the Target run and getting guests on their way quickly is critical.
Dozens of other retail chains, including rival Walmart, have limited or removed self-checkout kiosks amid complaints about clunky technology and concerns about rising theft.
Accuracy
Customers who choose self-checkout will be limited to 10 items, otherwise they'll have to purchase their items via a human cashier before leaving stores.
Deception
(50%)
Target is implementing a new policy that limits the number of items customers can have in self-checkout lanes to 10 items or less. This change was tested at select locations and found to be faster than traditional checkout lines. However, it also means that some customers may not be able to use self-checkout if they need more than 10 items.
Target is implementing a new policy that limits the number of items customers can have in self-checkout lanes to 10 items or less.
Fallacies
(85%)
None Found At Time Of
Publication
Bias
(85%)
The article discusses Target's decision to limit the number of items customers can have in self-checkout lanes. The author does not provide any personal opinions or biases and only presents factual information about the change in policy. However, there are a few examples that could be seen as potentially biased.
The article mentions that Dollar General made a similar decision after having a company specializing in artificial intelligence assess its transactions. This statement may suggest an implicit bias towards using technology as the solution rather than hiring more staff or providing adequate training, which could lead to job losses for employees and potentially lower wages for those who remain.
The article mentions that Express Self-Checkout will be available during the busiest shopping times. This statement may suggest an implicit bias towards prioritizing convenience for shoppers over providing adequate staffing to handle high demand, which could lead to longer wait times and frustration for customers who prefer traditional checkout lanes.
The article mentions that many retailers increased self-checkout during the pandemic to make it easier for customers and staffers to avoid close contact. This statement may suggest an implicit bias towards prioritizing safety over providing adequate staffing or training, which could lead to longer wait times and frustration for customers who prefer traditional checkout lanes.
, Starting this weekend, Target said shoppers using self-checkout lanes will be limited to 10 items or less.
During the pandemic, many guests preferred using self-checkout for all their purchases because it offered them a contactless option.
The change comes after the company piloted the program at 200 stores last fall and noted that self-checkout was twice as fast at those locations.
Accuracy
Target is rolling out limitations for shoppers looking to use self-checkout at almost all of its stores.
Customers who choose self-checkout will be limited to 10 items, otherwise they'll have to purchase their items via a human cashier before leaving stores.
Deception
(30%)
The article is deceptive in several ways. Firstly, the author claims that Target has announced a major change to its self-checkout policy when in fact it was only tested at about 200 stores last fall and will now be rolled out across all stores. Secondly, the author states that self-checkout is twice as fast at pilot stores but fails to provide any evidence or data to support this claim. Lastly, the article uses emotional manipulation by stating that checking out is one of the most important moments of a Target run and that a fast and easy experience is critical for guests.
The article uses emotional manipulation by stating that checking out is one of the most important moments of a Target run and that a fast and easy experience is critical for guests.
The author claims that Target has announced a major change to its self-checkout policy when in fact it was only tested at about 200 stores last fall.
Fallacies
(100%)
None Found At Time Of
Publication
Bias
(85%)
The article contains a statement that implies the author has an ideological bias towards convenience and speed in shopping. The author states that checking out is one of the most important moments of the Target run and mentions how many guests preferred using self-checkout during the pandemic because it offered them a contactless option. This suggests that there may be some sort of preference for technology over traditional methods, which could indicate an ideological bias towards convenience and speed in shopping.
The author states that checking out is one of the most important moments of the Target run
This implies that there may be a preference for technology over traditional methods
Site
Conflicts
Of
Interest (50%)
None Found At Time Of
Publication
Author
Conflicts
Of
Interest (50%)
Alexandria Fisher has a conflict of interest on the topic of self-checkout at Target stores. She works for NBC Universal, Inc., which owns and operates Target stores.
. At Target, we're always listening to our guests so we can deliver a joyful and convenient shopping experience. Checking out is one of the most important moments of the Target run, and we know that a fast, easy experience whether at self-checkout or the lanes staffed by our friendly team members is critical to getting guests on their way quickly.
By having the option to pick self-checkout for a quick trip or a traditional staffed lane when their cart is full, guests who were surveyed told us the overall checkout experience was better too.
During the pandemic, many guests preferred using self-checkout for all their purchases because it offered them a contactless option. Today, ease and convenience are top of mind, so, to learn more about guests' self-checkout preferences
Target is limiting self-checkout to 10 items or less starting Sunday, March 17 at most of its stores nationwide.
Dozens of other retail chains have limited or removed self-checkout kiosks amid complaints about clunky technology and concerns about rising theft.
Some studies have found that self-checkout enables more customer theft. For instance, a 2023 LendingTree survey of 2,000 U.S. consumers found that 15% of self-checkout users purposely stole goods and Forty-four percent of self-checkout thieves also said they would do it again.
Reports of credit card skimmers installed in retailers' self-checkout lanes have been found, such as at several supermarkets in Massachusetts. This poses a financial risk to customers.
Accuracy
Target attributed the change partly to shifting consumer patterns, noting that during the height of the pandemic when customers sought minimal contact with others.
Deception
(30%)
The article is deceptive in several ways. Firstly, the author claims that Target will limit self-checkout to 10 items as a way to improve customer experience and speed up the process. However, this statement contradicts information provided later in the article where it states that stores are expanding traditional checkout lanes available. This suggests that limiting self-checkout is not about improving customer experience but rather reducing theft concerns. Secondly, the author claims that Target attributed its decision to shift consumer patterns and a surge in organized retail crime plaguing its stores nationwide as reasons for the change. However, this statement contradicts information provided earlier in the article where it states that Target shuttered nine stores citing concerns over employee safety amid increasingly violent crime. This suggests that theft is not solely responsible for the decision to limit self-checkout and other retail giants have been testing their self check-out options.
The author claims that Target attributed its decision to shift consumer patterns and a surge in organized retail crime plaguing its stores nationwide as reasons for the change. However, this statement contradicts information provided earlier in the article where it states that Target shuttered nine stores citing concerns over employee safety amid increasingly violent crime. This suggests that theft is not solely responsible for the decision to limit self-checkout and other retail giants have been testing their self check-out options.
The author claims that limiting self-checkout will improve customer experience, but this contradicts information provided later in the article where it states that stores are expanding traditional checkout lanes available. This suggests that limiting self-checkout is not about improving customer experience but rather reducing theft concerns.
Fallacies
(70%)
The article contains several fallacies. The author uses an appeal to authority when they mention that Target and other retail chains have limited or removed self-checkout kiosks. They also use inflammatory rhetoric by stating that organized retail crime is a problem for Target and other stores, without providing any evidence of this claim.
Target will limit customers' self-check out items to 10 or less.
Bias
(85%)
The article contains examples of religious bias and monetary bias. The author uses language that dehumanizes those who engage in theft by referring to them as 'organized retail crime'. This is an example of a biased use of language that demonizes one side. Additionally, the article mentions Walmart's decision to close some self-checkout lanes entirely and Target's decision to limit customers' self-checkout hauls. These decisions are likely motivated by financial considerations rather than being based on any objective analysis of customer needs or preferences.
The article mentions Walmart's decision to close some self-checkout lanes entirely and Target's decision to limit customers' self-checkout hauls. These decisions are likely motivated by financial considerations rather than being based on any objective analysis of customer needs or preferences.
The author uses language that dehumanizes those who engage in theft by referring to them as 'organized retail crime'.
Site
Conflicts
Of
Interest (50%)
The article discusses Target's decision to limit self-checkout kiosks in their stores. The author Matthew Sedacca has a financial interest in the topic as he is an employee of the New York Post which owns and operates its own retail chain.
. Minneapolis-based retailer joins dozens of other retail chains, including rival Walmart, that have limited or removed self-checkout kiosks amid complaints about clunky technology and concerns about rising theft. . The change will go into effect Sunday at most of the Minneapolis-based chain's nearly 2000 stores nationwide.
Author
Conflicts
Of
Interest (50%)
The author has a conflict of interest on the topic of self-checkout as they are reporting for Target. The article mentions that Target is limiting or removing self-checkout kiosks and this could be seen as an attempt to promote their own in-store checkout options.
. Minneapolis-based retailer joins dozens of other retail chains, including rival Walmart, that have limited or removed self-checkout kiosks amid complaints about clunky technology and concerns about rising theft. . The change will go into effect Sunday at most of the Minneapolis-based chain's nearly 2000 stores nationwide.
